Steel vs aluminium strut brace

[jasonc23]

The strut brace was the very first suspension mod I did on the polo. And there was a noticeable difference in steering feedback. Turn in was more apparent and the car felt more stable and solid on take off.

+1! Would have to say I felt definite improvement in steering response and feedback.

[noone]

One of the few mods I did on its own. With an old config it reduced the tendency of the inner wheel to slip when powering out of a corner. That was with H&R springs, stock FSB and shocks.

[nikanasz]

for me, i felt the difference because the strut bar ties the top struts together. more rigidity there, less flexing, better feel

[seangti]

so the "improved feel" argument seems agreed on. Whether it transfers to improved corner speed, g-force or laps times is anyones guess. IMO, anything that improves feel is a good thing due to increased ability to find that narrow edge.

[clicht]

just s got a reply from orange...they ship for 30euro, and the struts are also very good price . i did some further research, and it seems as though most people recommend a steel bar. it may weigh more, but is far stiffer, unless the aluminium is thicker, but then you start to decrease the weight advantage..
Thanks VWindahouse forleting me know abot orange....Although I do need to correct you -- white is lighter than red (there i no red in white, therfore white is faster hahahahahaha .

[Buller_Scott]

I agree and disagree with the placebo comments lads. The strut brace was the very first suspension mod I did on the polo. And there was a noticeable difference in steering feedback. Turn in was more apparent and the car felt more stable and solid on take off. Can't remember if it helped traction at all sorry.

Recently I sold the Forge brace to make way for the new one and can say with all the other suspension mods that have gone on since then ie. coilovers, front sway bar, lower bar, control arm bushed etc. the only difference I have noticed is the passenger side front wheel is less reluctant to break traction under hard acceleration but there is more torque steer.

So seeing as though you lads both have diesels (please correct me if I'm wrong) I really don't think it's a fair comparison to make with us petrol boys. And not being an expert and probably never going to have the extensive database of knowledge kaanage has, but maybe the way the power is delivered between our cars really dictates the benefit v's placebo comments.

And once and for all "RED IS THE FASTEST COLOUR". Google fact

i cannot (not that i want to) disagree with your experiences, however i do need to ask why the diesels cannot compare with the petrols? im not offended or anything so silly like that, but is it because of an antiquated view that the diesels are so much slower than the petrols?

[VWindahouse]

No mate, just as I wrote above which was really a question rather than a statement actually (my bad) was maybe peoples experiences will differ with the strut brace due to the power delivery of their car ie. Petrol V's Diesel. Not the actual max power output itself or the speed

And as per the many comments after my comment from other petrol boys a brace has changed some dynamics on our cars and in our minds not a placebo.

Cheers.

---------- Post added at 04:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:28 PM ----------

just s got a reply from orange...they ship for 30euro, and the struts are also very good price . i did some further research, and it seems as though most people recommend a steel bar. it may weigh more, but is far stiffer, unless the aluminium is thicker, but then you start to decrease the weight advantage..
Thanks VWindahouse forleting me know abot orange....Although I do need to correct you -- white is lighter than red (there i no red in white, therfore white is faster hahahahahaha .

No problem my friend, but I just can't understand how anyone cannot believe what they read on the interweb. Seriously what would science know

[Buller_Scott]

No mate, just as I wrote above which was really a question rather than a statement actually (my bad) was maybe peoples experiences will differ with the strut brace due to the power delivery of their car ie. Petrol V's Diesel. Not the actual max power output itself or the speed

And as per the many comments after my comment from other petrol boys a brace has changed some dynamics on our cars and in our minds not a placebo.

Cheers

cool man. no problems. your experiences actually lead me to think of the function of sway bars now... just gonna dig up an old thread if i can find it, rather than go off topic in here

[VWindahouse]

Yes please Scotty! I would love to know how changing the setting on my front sway from soft to medium has given my a considerable amount more traction on hard take off. Will chime in with that question when you find the thread.

Cheers.

[gavs]

Question, are they using tubular steel / aluminium or solid rod? or, it is just folded sheet metal? how are the ends finished off? All of these dictate as to if steel vs aluminium is worth the "weight" of the argument To be honest, I agree with greg. Unless it's for looks, then spend your money underneath the car with a stress brace. The firewall is so close to the strut tops that they really aren't going to have that much flex and considering there is a massive rubber bush between the sheetmetal and the trut, there is a lot of play there regardless. Torsional rigidity, that's where it's at. That Forge thing, Doubt that saw any FEA when someone drew that up on a napkin. All 3 bolts are behind the supposed line of stress.

I will say this though, go have a look under the bonnet of a mitsubihi outlander, they come with one from the factory. Makes you wonder why....