The "Today I did something to my car" thread

CianRyan

I always assumed struts were for chassis stiffness, would I be wrong or is that what you're saying?

conzy

CianRyan wrote: »

I always assumed struts were for chassis stiffness, would I be wrong or is that what you're saying?

Yeah theres nothing to stop the two strut towers moving independently. A strut brace stiffens the chassis by locking them together on top at least

wandererz

Gary ITR wrote: »

Lads ifye think a strut brace will stiffen the suspension you're mistaken. The idea of a strut brace is to keep the car square under hard cornering, when an upper and lower brace is fitted it keeps the geometry in line

Yep, like i said originally it's to improve the cornering. However it does that i don't care. First step is the upper brace as i was able to get it off a nice guy who ended up being rear-ended.

If it makes a difference it makes a difference. If not, then there's always alternatives.

In this case it's just an example of what i did to my car today...

MetzgerMeister

dgt wrote: »

People never think of a lower brace...

It's not very often you can find a manufacturer who makes a lower brace for a given car

dgt

CianRyan wrote: »

I always assumed struts were for chassis stiffness, would I be wrong or is that what you're saying?

That's my understanding of strut braces, limit twisting/movement of the turret and subframe if a lower brace is fitted.

Sometimes it makes naff all difference, like here. The design of the car means the turrets are welded to the bulkhead some upper braces are designed like this

Nissan doctor

How well an upper strut brace will work depends on the car its fitted too. Modern cars incorporate a lot of chassis strength in their design for reasons of crash safety etc so old tech mods like strut braces have little benefit.

Uprated anti roll bars would give a vastly better and more noticeable improvement even with factory shocks/springs.

dgt

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

It's not very often you can find a manufacturer who makes a lower brace for a given car

If in doubt, make one

gollywog

Nissan doctor wrote: »

How well an upper strut brace will work depends on the car its fitted too. Modern cars incorporate a lot of chassis strength in their design for reasons of crash safety etc so old tech mods like strut braces have little benefit.

Uprated anti roll bars would give a vastly better and more noticeable improvement even with factory shocks/springs.

I changed the s line anti roll bar on the A4 for the thicker, stiffer rs4 one. Fits grand and made a really noticeable difference for around 100 bobs. Best money I spent on the car

CianRyan

Anti rolls bars you say.. Hmm...

*scurries off to ebay.

dgt

CianRyan wrote: »

Anti rolls bars you say.. Hmm...

*scurries off to ebay.

Have TD100 arbs on my van... Basically binned the standard arbs for thick heavy ones from a diesel Bravo.

Coupled with coilys and low pros there is no roll in the corners, its something else from a road car especially a converted van

No comparison, a worthy swap :cool:

challengemaster

dgt wrote: »

Have TD100 arbs on my van... Basically binned the standard arbs for thick heavy ones from a diesel Bravo.

Coupled with coilys and low pros there is no roll in the corners, its something else from a road car especially a converted van

No comparison, a worthy swap :cool:

Is there anything left original on your cars?

dgt

challengemaster wrote: »

Is there anything left original on your cars?

Apart from the subframe, rack and column.... No :pac:

166man

challengemaster wrote: »

Is there anything left original on your cars?

He's got an Alfa interior on the Bravo... Likes to think he has a real car obviously...










*Waits for someone to point out they are the same thing.

homer90

166man wrote: »

*Waits for someone to point out they are the same thing.

They are the same thing :pac:

andyseadog

lowered the glanza there yesterday

front before



front after



rear before



rear after



trolley jack got stuck under the skirt, so i had to use the jack from the boot to get it back :pac:



and heres a photo of the difference with just the front down



waiting until its clean to take pics of it all

edit, half me pics are fecking sideways ???

Hal1

What's that 40mm all round? have you gone for a test ride yet?

andyseadog

yup, just 40mm springs in an "old" pair of shocks. its very (read : uncomfortably) firm. had a front and back seat passenger in it and no rubbing on 185 14's

only drove it a few miles to make sure all was well, dropped it off to be re-tracked this morning, take it for a good rip then :pac:

E39MSport

gollywog wrote: »

NOOOOOOOOOOO! only kidding man, say it must be tough saying goodbye though?

Thanks

It will be but I have the 8er to get back into and it should be in rude health by then with perhaps a few mods to make it even better....

BUBBLE WRAP

andyseadog wrote: »

yup, just 40mm springs in an "old" pair of shocks. its very (read : uncomfortably) firm. had a front and back seat passenger in it and no rubbing on 185 14's

only drove it a few miles to make sure all was well, dropped it off to be re-tracked this morning, take it for a good rip then :pac:

I hope lukozade sport are paying you to "advertice" there product.............now off to the shop I go, I feel some lukozade sport.

andyseadog

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

I hope lukozade sport are paying you to "advertice" there product.............now off to the shop I go, I feel some lukozade sport.

picked up the blackcurrent one by accident, tasted ****e :mad:.

i wanted to take photos with a tape to get ballpark dimensions of the actual drop but sure totoally forgot.

BUBBLE WRAP

andyseadog wrote: »

picked up the blackcurrent one by accident, tasted ****e :mad:.

i wanted to take photos with a tape to get ballpark dimensions of the actual drop but sure totoally forgot.

It tasted so bad that, you stick it in you wheel arch.

Aw, youl have that.

Big Nasty

I thought a Coke can underneath the skirts was the 'ultimate test'? :pac:

andyseadog

MCMLXXV wrote: »

I thought a Coke can underneath the skirts was the 'ultimate test'? :pac:

*runs outside*

sorry, only have fanta in the press, could go down another 10-15mm before its right on top of it :pac:

Big Nasty

andyseadog wrote: »

*runs outside*

sorry, only have fanta in the press, could go down another 10-15mm before its right on top of it :pac:

Assuming the drop springs are brand new they've to settle in a bit yet.

CianRyan

If your shoe fits in the wheel arch, your car is too high.

andyseadog

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Assuming the drop springs are brand new they've to settle in a bit yet.

no fear of that, they're second hand springs in second hand shocks there's a recession dont you know.

it was very noisy on the way home, looked under the back while doing the coke can exercise and the top 7 coils of the rear springs are all touching :eek: they are progressively wound springs and the tightest coils were at the top, surely this isn't right? back shocks must be fooked perhaps?

car could probably rise up a bit if the job was done right :pac:

dgt

166man wrote: »

He's got an Alfa interior on the Bravo... Likes to think he has a real car obviously...

You forgot the rear axle, discs, calipers, handbrake and door handles... Alfa Romeo should start making vans again :pac:

dgt

Decided to try sort a lighting issue on the 406... Then ended up doing this:







Need some clutch bolts... Cleaning the engine and the bay, THEY STINK OF FARM!!!! :mad::mad::mad:

Voodoomelon

Just ordered a complete suspension kit from OEMBimmerparts in the US. Gonna rebuild the entire rear end, no point in replacing it a bit at a time over the years, just quicker and easier to do the whole lot in one go.

€480 shipped, not bad at all. All Meyle parts.

carbon nanotube

what about duty?

i wouldnt mind a lowering kit for my accord, rides too high.