Hi,

Well I cant find the OEM R1 Strut Bar anywhere - I can get it new through the dealer for $1100, good deal eh? lol

Anyone have any experience with an aftermarket bar? I would love any recommendations as well as any difference you noticed after install.

Thanks

RXJoey

 

I see them all the time on Ebay, otherwise I have a Greddy one and it seems to do the job.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...975477445&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...975257472&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...974592532&rd=1

 

I have a cusco and that works good for me. Honestly it really dosent matter what you get because they all function the same. If you go with a brand name you usually get a quality product.

 

Great! Thaks for the info and the links!

 

there is a cusco for sale here on the forum also.

 

why dont you just buy a cheap one of ebay it doesnt have to be r1 it will do the same got one on my r1

 

I say go for the ebay one. never had a problem with mine

 

There are three nice things about getting an OEM R1 bar:

1. OEM build quality, these things are built like tanks and look great.
2. The R1 bar is adjustable.
3. I love the RX7 badge on the middle of the bar, it's classy.

You shouldn't have any problem finding an OEM bar, just be a little patient.

 

I was looking closely at the OEM R1 Bars for sale on eBay, they are adjustable.

Am i wrong in thinking that the area on the bar where these are adjustable represent 2 weak links? I would think the non adjustable ones would have to be more sturdy.

Thanks

RXJoey

 

The adjustability has zero effect on the strength of the bar in tension or compression.

 

RXJoey,

It's just not that serious...

As long as it's not one of those poorly constructed eBay bars (some of them are ok), it will do what it needs to do.

Just get a Cusco bar and be done with it:
http://www.rx7.com/store/rx7/fdsuspension.html

 

I used the $79 bar from rx7.com for years and it's a great piece. It has adjustable ends as well.


I recently installed an OEM R1 bar on my car and I can honestly say that without a doubt the R1 bar is NOT as sturdy as my cheap one was. The R1 bar itself is plenty stout, but the thin stamped brackets it uses are not nearly as strong as the thicker welded up ones on my "cheap" bar. With the R1 bar installed I can grasp it and make the brackets flex by pushing and pulling; that didn't happen with my other one.

The only reason I went to the R1 bar is because in Solo2 the original bar is the only one legal to run. Without those rules to follow I would have been perfectly happy with my "cheap" bar that everyone insists is not as good as the factory R1 bar. To top it off my old bar was lighter too.

 

Buy any bar that you like the looks of. Cheapo or OEM, they all work about the same. Just make sure it fits right, and you are good to go

 

I got my OEM bar on Ebay for $120 about a month ago. I have a carbon fiber JIC Magic bar on my other FD but I wanted the OEM one just because of the way it looks. They pretty much work the same so just get the one you think looks nice.

 

Thanks for the posts on this. The OEM bar looks great, but it just makes me feel that it is somewhat cheap of a build if you can actually bend it by pressing on it. I may have to sacrifice the coolness factor of how this looks for a sturdier one. I know its just a strut bar , but I have a bit of an OCD when it comes to my RX

I'll use spiderman as an example, the Green Goblin is on top of the bridge holding my house in one hand, my RX in the other, which one do i choose? for a split second I say to myself, "screw the house I will live out of my car"

 

You can't, Damon said he could get the brackets to flex....I think this is more of a matter of the mounting plates not being circular but only using two mounting points.

Regardless of the mounting plate strength, the bar is as rigid as you would ever need it to be in COMPRESSION AND TENSION, which is the only vector you care about!

But like others have said, anything but a hugely cheap POS will get the job done, it's just that the OEM bar looks far classier IMO.

 

Why is the OEM one adjustable? Does the distance between strut towers change?

 

Mazdaspeed ones are pretty easy to come by. If you wanna keep it OEM Mazda but upgrade. Its the same as a Cusco or JIC, but with gold brackets and a Mazdaspeed badge.

 

The adjustable link should let you adjust preload in compression or tension. That being said, you don't really wanna pre-load the bar. with an unequal A arm front end like we have, a strut bar doesn't do a ton for you. When i got my R1 bar ($80 on ebay) I didn't really notice a huge difference in corners. It does seem to help a little with chassis flex/rattles over bumps though.

 

These cars are 20+ years old with different owners, care and use history. And from experience working my way through college at a family collision shop, there were differences even from new. An adjustable one is probably a handy thing...especially now.

 

This -^

I had a miata before which uses same suspension as the fd and strut tower bars were concidered bling more then performance

If its really just for show does it really matter which one you get ?? And more to the point why get one at all and put more weight over the.front ..?? I would really like to understand why on the double wishbone suspension its even needed.

 

There's one for sale in the classifieds right now.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...-bars-1060945/

 

sorry to bump my own post but I am curious if anyone can come up for a good reason for using the front shock tower brace in the first place ?

 

It solidifies the front end of the car, making it more rigid. If it is more rigid, it will handle better. There is less body flex. There is definitely a difference with a brace.

It may be that some people dont drive well enough to notice it. I have been autocrossing for over 30 years. I notice it.