R56 Ebay Strut Brace
#1
03-24-2013 | 02:43 PM
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,409
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From: Southern NH
Ebay Strut Brace
Does anyone with a R55/56/57/58/59 have this strut brace installed? If so where did you find it? I've looked at just about every MINI parts vendors in North American. I can only find it on Ebay UK. Which I really do not want to order from.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Mini-Coo...-/170920632546
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Mini-Coo...-/170920632546
#3
03-24-2013 | 03:07 PM
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,409
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From: Southern NH
#7
03-24-2013 | 04:33 PM
Trending Topics
#11
03-24-2013 | 04:47 PM
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 341
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From: rancho
Check this out
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13641687013072 theres this place too heres some pics of the 1 they sell its pretty SIK!
#12
03-24-2013 | 04:48 PM
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 4
From: rancho
Except....
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13641687013072 theres this place too heres some pics of the 1 they sell its pretty SIK!
#13
03-24-2013 | 04:55 PM
#15
03-24-2013 | 07:08 PM
#18
03-25-2013 | 07:18 AM
I have the JCW Strut Brace and don't really notice much of a difference in handling. Most of the cars listed in Braminators post above benefit from the strut brace because they have long engine bays with front wheel suspensions located farther away from the bracing around the fire-wall. With the MINI, the suspension is located so close to the firewall, that it's likely that the strut brace is not providing any additional support.
Strut braces were very popular on R53's due to the mushrooming that they have on top of the suspension mounts, but that hasn't been an issue with the R56, so this is really more for bling.
Can't hurt to have though, only affects the wallet so to each his own.
Strut braces were very popular on R53's due to the mushrooming that they have on top of the suspension mounts, but that hasn't been an issue with the R56, so this is really more for bling.
Can't hurt to have though, only affects the wallet so to each his own.
#21
03-25-2013 | 08:43 AM
Most of the cars listed in Braminators post above benefit from the strut brace because they have long engine bays with front wheel suspensions located farther away from the bracing around the fire-wall. With the MINI, the suspension is located so close to the firewall, that it's likely that the strut brace is not providing any additional support.
Put one on and see how your MINI does not have as many rattles.
#23
03-25-2013 | 09:48 AM
Some of you might want to read up on what a strut brace supposedly do.
http://www.seriousmf.com/index.php/p...s-a-strut-work
http://www.seriousmf.com/index.php/p...s-a-strut-work
#24
03-25-2013 | 09:51 AM
Some of you might want to read up on what a strut brace supposedly do.
But what it does is firm up the whole car, it adds rigidity to the shell, reducing flexing when you're driving hard.
The terms "strut bar", "stress bar", and "strut brace" are all generally refer to the same kind of device, a bar mounted between the front strut towers. The purpose of this bar is to reduce the flex that these towers experience during hard cornering. Reducing the flex will keep the wheels in position and in the desired position on the road, allowing the suspension to work as engineered without the added factor of chassis flex changing camber and caster settings. This will help to improve traction on the turns, increasing turn-in response, and help to reduce understeer. However, unless you choose carefully you may end up with a bar that looks great but does not meet your legitimate performance objectives.
Many of these bars look sturdy, shiny, and just plain cool. However, looks have little to do with performance. To reduce the flex between struts the stress bar setup should be as rigid as possible. The bar should be designed to take horizontal pressure during a turn without flexing or losing rigidity. The bar should not bend, flex, or pivot at the point it is attached to the strut cap otherwise the towers can move freely as they did before:
By solidifying and isolating the struts in their original configuration, it allows the suspension components (stock or modified) to retain their geometry and to function as designed. Typically, steering will seem quicker and more responsive, but in reality, it is the suspension doing its job properly. Benefits are not limited to high performance driving. Most people find a strut bar improves low speed turn-in response as well. A final advantage is the structural longevity of the vehicle; by giving everything extra support, the chassis will retain that "like new" stiffness for a much longer period of time. In particular, convertible model owners will see noticeable decreases in cowl shake.
From driver school participants and autocrossers to the typical enthusiast, the strut bar has become a widely accepted solution to the annoying problems of chassis flex in modern production cars and professional race cars.
