volley1

Is there any reason why I would spend 200-300 dollars on a front strut tower bar when I could get an ebay one or other types for 50 bucks? Is there any performance difference or is it just looks?

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

Good question but a little too late for me. I just bought one from Ebay. Total cost w/shipping was 45.00. It's the one that has 4 holes on each side of the bar. They're probably not as rigid as the OEM bars, but look great nontheless!!.

rynberg

Well, I don't know where you're seeing strut braces for $200-300. You can get a Cusco one for about $150 from several stores.

I'm sure the OEM or Cusco bars are more rigid than the ebay brace. That said, I have seen the Bomz brace in person, and it actually looked pretty well built and fit perfectly.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I don't understand why anyone would pay 200-300 for an R1/Logo bar. Just because it says R1, does NOT add $150 to its value. Any bar that fits right will do the same job. Some are adjustable, so that is a nice feature.

volley1

Yeah, I was talking about the R1 bar.

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

Save some bucks. Get the "Non-OEM" bar and spend your savings on something else for your FD. !!

volley1

Oh yeah, I am not worried about it saying RX7 on it. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be paying for something that didn't even work if I got a cheaper one.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I am a Cheap bastard, so obviously I would get the cheaper bar. In comparing two properly fitting bars, even if one bar were less rigid, I doubt that anyone would be able to detect ANY difference in performance.

rynberg

Haha, it's my one concession to fashion with my car....

I admit I paid $180 shipped for a used R1 strut brace. It's functional, adjustable, and looks damn good.

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

Is the OEM R1 bar made of aluminum?? And doesn't it have a "half moon" bolt plate on each end?? Seems like a Bar that has full round bolt plates would provide greater stability when needed.

Talek

I decided to go cheap and purchased the BOMZ one from ebay, I spent I think about $45 w/shipping also. I'm pleased with it, it looks pretty good and seems to be well built. Very solid aluminum. The fit is good, installation was easy, and I really doubt it's worse performance wise compared to something more expensive, as the only thing that would really test the rigidity past what it can do easily under normal operation would be a collision.

volley1

I just saw one on ebay for 14.99, what do you think about that one?

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I think RX7_8U bought one of those. He's cheaper than me if you can believe that. He was very happy with it.

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I think the one sold for 14.99 is sold by F! Sports. Looks pretty nice. The one Ii just bought resembles the R1 OEM brace, but it's not red, just bare aluminum. It usually sells for 29.95.

rynberg

The OEM bar is steel with lots of holes punched out to reduce weight. I seriously doubt that the 2-hole plate suffers stability vs a 3-hole plate.

As long as the bar is decently rigid and fits, there's no performance advantage of a more expensive bar. I just wanted an OEM bar, plain and simple.

I also think the OEM bar fits better than some of the others, due to the fact that it's thinner than some aftermarket bars I've seen. This may give greater clearance for IC piping, aftermarket hoods, etc.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I agree. If the plate is mounted solidly, and won't move, it doesnt matter how many bolts it has

volley1

Where can you get the one that looks like the OEM brace?

areXseven

iTrader: (1)

volley1 : You can find it on Ebay. Do a search for "rx7 strut". Look for the one that's starting bid is $29.95. That's the one.

Jasooner

I got mine from ebay a few weeks ago, final bid price was 11.00, shipping was about 12.00. It looks and fits nicely, although, the only thing I have a problem with is that it fits a little too snug against my intake hardpipes. I solved that by using a couple of washers to give it a mm or so of clearance.

r_ed_line53

OEM

volley1

I couldn't find the one that starts at 29.99 on ebay. The only ones I saw with that starting price were for fc's. I like the look of the flat as opposed to round braces.

megalex

I can't decide between these two cheapies...help

F! Racing


Driving Gear

RX7 8U

iTrader: (1)

yes I am cheap as adamc says. I bought a 20 dollar one on Ebay. It's polished metal. adjustable. Looks good, fits good. These bars really only work under very hard cornering like autocrossing. They are subjected to very small loads too so the cheapy ones are fine for any kind of driving other than all out road racing with sticky race tires.

Jasooner

That driving gear one is the exact same one I got on my car.

megalex

Yeah, that one looks good. Is that bar flattened any?