i'm planning on making my own front lower and rear strut brace.

at the moment i can get hold of some pressed steel (2mm thick x 20mm diameter)

would this be sufficient to stop some flex???

i would say so mate my alloy one wont be far off that if you do decide to make one get some pics up I'm thinkin of makin a rear strut

i would say so mate my alloy one wont be far off that if you do decide to make one get some pics up I'm thinkin of makin a rear strut

basically i'm thinking of measuring it up, cutting, flatten both ends with a thicker steel plate in the middle, and drill

well the pipe i was looking at was actually 1mm thick so didn't bother with that.

I bought an rectangle piece 1.5mm thick. 35mmx20mm. definately sturdy enough as a 2meter length can take my weight without much (if any) bend.

from measurements i've taken, the rear needs to be about 105-110mm in length and the front (lower) needs to be about 75-80mm. so the 2meters will do perfectly.

If its quiet in work today, i might make a start on it!!!

little update

30mins work, finished it!!!

The metal bar in all its glory

Mark out where to cut, MK3 rear needs to be 104mm, then cut

The struts aren't long so had to chop top part of the bar off (no pics but see later)

Mark out where to drill, then drill

Perfect fit

Painting

another paint picture

the pics dont work fo rme mate

Check out the direct link

http://www.mrigby.net/car_pics/strut_brace/DSC00533.JPG

http://www.mrigby.net/car_pics/strut_brace/DSC00534.JPG

http://www.mrigby.net/car_pics/strut_brace/DSC00535.JPG

http://www.mrigby.net/car_pics/strut_brace/DSC00536.JPG

http://www.mrigby.net/car_pics/strut_brace/DSC00537.JPG

http://www.mrigby.net/car_pics/strut_brace/DSC00538.JPG

they just load for ages then stop? grrrr

good job

i made my own aswell

3mm thick 1" box steel

cant feel any difference with it on, none compared to how much the lower front one does, but it looks ok

also they're a pain in the arse when you wanna get something big in the boot

Ideal for mounting harnesses to though if you need to

i want to make one for the front but can't see where to put it.

the bar doesn't sit flat on the area next to the anti roll bar

No, it doesn't, that's why the ends on the lower brace bars are welded on at different angles

Ideal for mounting harnesses to though if you need to

I wouldn't recommend it tbh!

Putting the weight of two passengers through the rear shocks in that direction doesnt sound too good to me!

Probably not no

I've seen it done, but wouldn't know if it's good or bad

plus to mount harnesses to, it needs to be 38mm CDS tube minimum spec!

plus to mount harnesses to, it needs to be 38mm CDS tube minimum spec!

Is that MSA regs?

well technically FIA spec! CDS tube is seamless, there fore alot safer

Imagine the bar was only supported at each end and then you and a fat mate jumped on it from 1m above. If you think it'll not bend, then mount your harnesses to it. If, like me, you think it'll bend double, or at least rip open that single skin hole, then don't. If you look at a decent spec cage with harness bars in, the bars are short and mounted separately to spread the forces as much as possible.

^^^ So thats the official test then?

Will this bar actually have any bracing effect?

Not really. The main reason for the front bar are that the cornering forces move the tops apart which knackers the shell and also affects the suspension angles. At the back, the forces are not as great as the shocks are nearer the vertical and it doesn't affect the tyre if the tops do move.

Well since its been in, its ampliying the sound of the suspension!

I've been advised to fill the inside with some expanding foam to deaden the sound

would this work

in theory this will probably improve it as it increases the weight of it so it wont resonate as much at lower speeds. might be worth looking into wrapping some sound deadening around the inside struts themselves this can help. i think dynamat is the stuff i have used before and it works pretty well. with that sort of thing it is kinda hit or miss as the noise will probably start happening at a different speed.

nice one

think ill probly try make one for mine