Front Strut Brace Question

[Hammer]

Hi guys

Some piece of advise....what do you think of the front strut brace sold by N*Power? I like the price ($50) but do people know of their quality?

[sliq]

Hi guys

Some piece of advise....what do you think of the front strut brace sold by N*Power? I like the price ($50) but do people know of their quality?

you get what you pay for, i would say, hammer.

[Matty]

From an engineering point of view it looks crap, for multiple reasons.

[philz]

If you want something cheap, full welds, and no pivot joints.

Try Ultra racing- http://www.ultraracingaustralia.com/page15.htm

[Noodle]

From an engineering point of view it looks crap, for multiple reasons.

Could you please elaborate?

[Steampunk]

From an engineering point of view it looks crap, for multiple reasons.

Could you please elaborate?

Compare the generic NPower one to the one in the Ultra Racing link, as well as the ones made from Beatrush, Cusco, etc, and you'll have an idea as to what Matty is eluding to.

Hammer, why not stick with OEM equipment and source a good second hand brace from an NB8B?
They go for $150-$200-ish.

[Matty]

From an engineering point of view it looks crap, for multiple reasons.

Could you please elaborate?

OK...
1) the bar has a couple of large bends in it, which will significantly reduce its compression/tensile stiffness between the bolts.
2) the bar section is ovalised, which will further decrease its ability to resist bending.
3) the cross bar is bolted to the upright with a single bolt around which it will pivot, thereby providing no bending stiffness at this joint.
4) the upright is quite flimsy looking in construction, and has no strength in the longitudinal direction (if this is indeed necessary).
5) the upright only has a one-sided U shape, hence will have no stiffness under compressive forces (the base platform can lift away from the suspension tower if you push it out)

Have a look at the OEM design for something better:


Not that any of this really matters since the car doesn't have struts anyway and doesn't put significant lateral loads through these points to begin with.

[Fatty]

has anyone tried any of the ultra racing braces? they have a large selection of decent looking stuff , but i've never heard any reports about them????

[philz]

they are fairly new in Australia, probably 1 year or so.

But they have a huge range for most models and makes, the quality is quite good, they don't have the "jdm" factor like cusco or carbing, but meh.. they are just good quality bar at a decent price, I would put them in the same category as whiteline, if not better.

[Hammer]

Hammer, why not stick with OEM equipment and source a good second hand brace from an NB8B?
They go for $150-$200-ish.

It's not for my NB, its for the NA. Do the NB front strut fit the NA?

[Mokesta]

OK...
1) the bar has a couple of large bends in it, which will significantly reduce its compression/tensile stiffness between the bolts.
2) the bar section is ovalised, which will further decrease its ability to resist bending.
3) the cross bar is bolted to the upright with a single bolt around which it will pivot, thereby providing no bending stiffness at this joint.
4) the upright is quite flimsy looking in construction, and has no strength in the longitudinal direction (if this is indeed necessary).
5) the upright only has a one-sided U shape, hence will have no stiffness under compressive forces (the base platform can lift away from the suspension tower if you push it out)

Have a look at the OEM design for something better:

Not that any of this really matters since the car doesn't have struts anyway and doesn't put significant lateral loads through these points to begin with.

I agree with all the above. it is a $50 rest for when you are reaching in to change the spark plugs, no more.

[Hellmun]

I assume mazda must've found some advantage is structural rigidity to start putting the STB's on NB8B's and onward. I know it's not doing crap all to stop the loss of dynamic camber when cornering like it would on a macpherson strut type suspension. I picked up a 3 point Carbing STB because it was the right price and weigh'd about a 1/3rd of the standard NB8B brace. Rival has my old STB but I never asked if he noticed any difference at all on his NB8A...

[Steampunk]

Hammer, why not stick with OEM equipment and source a good second hand brace from an NB8B?
They go for $150-$200-ish.

It's not for my NB, its for the NA. Do the NB front strut fit the NA?

Affirmative

[RG.net]

i had one of these, still better then nothing but as mentioned a little flimsy. Once installed ,once you applied force to the bar and it would move a little, the whiteline one does not do this.

[philz]

$250 paperweight