05-20-2006, 03:20 AM
ViPER1313 Wrote:Why do certain cars come with them from the factory? I want to see a real test that shows an improvement or no improvement.
Well, speculation has it that they do help, and heres an explanation everyone can benefit from, although wether there is actually weakness in that part of the car.
Think of a cardboard box, now push inwards or try to crush the box, very very easy. Now think of one little cardboard piece going across (like across a strut bar in middle of the engine bay) and try to crush the cardboard box. It will be much harder, there will be more strength. This is somewhat what you can think of , like a hole in your frame, the larger space where your engine is.
Other benefits are to keep the "side to side" motion of the strut towers linked at the top mount, less slop in the suspension. Go take your car out without the bar and go around a corner hard with a pothole or crack in the middle. Then take it out with the bar on, you will notice that with the strut bar on, when you hit it with one wheel, the other one also bounces and it does a "popping" motion where the whole front end moves together.
I am not saying this as pure scientific fact and it is very hard to speculate that this is all true. However, these are the supposed reasons. Almost like why u would put in a roll cage, as it helps strengthen the chassis, same logical reason behind the strut or tension bar. I did it because it was 40 bucks for both front and rear and it supposedly helped, at least on dsms. I tried it and I am 99% sure they worked, but I have no statistical proof, and we all know how accurate the butt dyno and g-meter does.
Feersty- Where are you located, and why the hell do you have to drill holes? If you need to, I am located in NOVA and got a drill and jack stands so let me know, I am always willing to help.