Strut Bars [Merged]

[RocketDSM]

Whatever you do, don't get Matrix or OBX. I've tried both and they both suck in all departments. Don't look good, don't hold stiff, don't install easily....don't anything.

 

[gsx97]

is it me or is all the strut bars really dinky looking ive seen some huge thick strut bars for skylines etc ...but not any dsms, does anybody know how to get some beefed up strut bars

 

[NeoStreamGSX]

any front strut bar is ok, but you only need a front bar, not tha rear. tha rear bar makes you understeer more, which our cars do not need, but tha front helps reduce understeer. a roll cage is always nice too..haha

 

[jim97gst]

Don't get that Doctor Design strut bar if you want to legally run SCCA autocross in the street prepared category. You're not allowed any strut bar in the stock category. I'm not sure about the higher categories, I'd have to check.

I have a Matrix bar and it fits OK. I can't vouch for how stiff it is as I don't have another bar to compare it with and I can't really see under the hood while cornering to see if it is flexing. As for the looks, they're subjective. It's just a silver bar with a little sticker that says Matrix on it. For about $50 you can't go too wrong. A lot of the other bars are $100+. If I could do it over again I might have bought a nicer bar, but I don't really know if I would have been any happier.

 

[nowayout]

There no reason to over spend on a strut bar. I got mine from Ebay for $32.

 

[snox135]

Originally posted by nowayout
There no reason to over spend on a strut bar. I got mine from Ebay for $32.

I you want a strut bar for looks yeah then don't overspend and go buy one on ebay

 

[lowridin2g]

www.stillen.com

 

[turbo90laser]

does it matter whether you have a turbo or n/a for a front strut bar?

 

[1LE]

Not that I know of? Might be different for 1.8litre though?

 

[cucumber]

I had a turbo strut bar on my old non-turbo. I don't think it matters.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

As long as it fits I don't think there is a difference.

 

[97GSTURBO]

On a 2G Turbo a N/A front strut bar will not fit because the turbo bar has an area that is bumped up to clear the manifold. I'm not sure about 1G's though... Might be the same.

L8R

 

[matt23o]

I have goldline springs with a 2.0 drop. I am kinda interested in strutbars since they are not very expensive. I know strut bars help in suspension and cornering but with they stiffen my ride more and make it bouncier or will they help smooth out the ride quality? thanks for the help

 

[herostar]

it shouldn't affect how bouncy/smooth your ride is, but make the handling a little tighter in the corners, I think ( but not sure) that it'll increase your skidpad rating (lateral traction/handling) it could be a little bumpier in the corners, but not too bad... I'm getting mine in a couple of days, so I'll be back to let you know what I think

 

[talon614]

It does not make things bumper(er) all it does is make the car turn flatter.

 

[SetH]

It does not make things bumper(er) all it does is make the car turn flatter.

Yep!

 

[herostar]

ok, well the guy sold my strut bar to someone else so I cannot help you yet... damnit, now i'm pissed, but anyways, i'll probably get one next week so i'll keep ya updated

 

[Wikkedson]

If you get a cheap little weak one like on ebay or something then it probable wont do much at all. The main thing are the side mounts where it bolts to the car, if these flex then its doing little or nothing.

Try to find one that is as straight across as possible also.
Road race Engineering sells some pretty good ones.

 

[solareclipse]

The Parts List in this site says that Greddy makes a strut tower bar for the 2GNT. I haven't been able to find one anywhere. If anyone knows where one can be found or knows if they exist for the 2GNT, please respond.

I also have seen that both Neuspeed and APR have strut tower bars for the Eclipse but, of course, none of the companies say if they are for the turbo or NT. And if anyone knows, is there a difference between the bolt patterns where a strut bar would mount on a turbo and NT? Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[DSMTommy]

No, the strut bars for the rear will fit both turbo and n/t. Just a hint... check Ebay for some great prices, I just bought one for $12.00 brand new...

 

[KPWSerpiente]

I searched this and did some shopping. Just want to check.
The consensus seems to be that for a daily driver that won't be seeing any real hard turns a cheap set of front and rear strut tower bars will be fine and will improve the handling a bit.
Has anyone tried the ractive ones out? They are around 30 dollars and I can get them in a shiny blue color.

-T

 

[Defiant]

If the shiny blue has caught your eye, you're probably doomed to spend the $30 (which means you might have to skip one movie with popcorn, a candy bar and a soda [as though there was anything out there worth going to see]).
I got the polished plain aluminums off eBay (Procarparts) for $12 each, and they further stabilize the already-pretty-stable strut-tops just as well as any others.
You could make your own out of some ugly electrical conduit, and _they'd_ work about as well, too.

 

[KPWSerpiente]

Alright then, thank you for the response.
I'm thinking I'll go with the shiny blue unless I see a even shinier pair on ebay for less.

-T

 

[Injenpwr]

i just got an APR front strut tower bar for my N/T

 

[speedaddicts]

I got my strut bars on ebay for $14 each. Front and rear shipped for like $40. I am in the market now for sway bars. Actually did a search for sway bars and thats how I found this link. Now I am trying to figure out if it is worth getting the RM Sway Bars (front and rear) for $300 or getting just a rear from say Suspension techniques for like $150.

Strut bars definity make a difference in handling.....
Sway bars do make a bigger difference, I had them on my old Integra....