SPD Tuning Service

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Question: Are strut tower braces a waste of time? 

The tower bar was made popular on the 510 Datsun, Ford Escort and other early uni-body chassis, which had towers farther from the firewall and in general, much less torsional stiffness. The Impreza generally does not need a front tower brace, because the towers are so close to the firewall. There is already a lateral tube under the dash panel reinforcing the short cantilever represented by the foot well/corner dash area to the strut tower. This is typical of the Impreza's very well engineered chassis that has notable stiffness. The 5-door wagon could benefit from a rear tower bar, but the sedan has a box section between the rear towers already.

IF you are running 400 lb./in front spring and 300-lb./in rear springs then a strut tower bar will be of benefit, however you will find a full steel roll cage to be of even more benefit in this case, because the chassis in going to be flexing at other locations other than the strut towers.

All this said, we sell a mean STI Fuji Aerospace, 1 kg., titanium, forged aluminum, carbon fiber strut bar. Just incase that seems a bit hoaky, Fuju Aerospace also makes all F-16 wings. The price is $378.

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Last modified: May 23, 2000