i gotta question about strut bars and braces

[phubu321]

I was looking on ebay for some strut bars....

Do ya'll think these would work?

This one is for the trunk area:
Trunk bar (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2481466018&category=33591&sspagename=WDVW)

This one is behind the front seats:
Mid Bar (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7904723357&category=33591&sspagename=WDVW)

And the Tanabe Under brace bars for front and rear:

http://www.tanabe-usa.com/images/chassis/underbrace.gif

I wanted to get all these to put on my car to make my ride better and stiffer is this good enough?

Thanks
Sonny

[Beast]

under braces are overkill in my opinion. I'm not saying they don't do anything, I'm just saying that struts, sways, springs and rear and front strut bars already provide nearly zero body roll. I guess there's always room for improvement.

As for those e-bay mid and trunk bars, I would go with front tower and a regular (TRD, C-One, or Hypermotive) rear strut instead.

If you are going for rigidity on the cheap, I suppose the ones you are looking at will help some, but factor in the inconvenience they my provide in loading the trunk, or getting passengers into the rear seat. Also, that mid bar is an eyesore.

[DA-newbie]

Actually the "mid bar" Is made by one of the members here and that

[phubu321]

Thanks for the advice....

I already have a strut tower bar...and i didnt feel much of a difference....but i'll look into the TRD and c-one rear bar...i heard they cost an arm and a leg though....

thanks
Sonny

[DopeCelicaGT]

Originally posted by phubu321
Thanks for the advice....

I already have a strut tower bar...and i didnt feel much of a difference....but i'll look into the TRD and c-one rear bar...i heard they cost an arm and a leg though....

thanks
Sonny

Wow I felt a huge difference when I put my APR strut tower brace on. I mean a huge difference!

[Blue Bomber]

The Tanabe bars for our cars are junk except for their front strut bar. The only tie bar/under brace that works on our cars is Cusco's front lower tie bar.

That trunk bar has been used by a few people, and they said it gave the car a weird feeling. I guess it does something, but not sure if it would be considered a good thing.

I've heard of problems with the seat belts with the bar behind the front seats. Not sure if that has been resolved yet.

[BizkitOO]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber

I've heard of problems with the seat belts with the bar behind the front seats. Not sure if that has been resolved yet.

I was reading up a little on them last night and they are having problems with not being able use the seat belt at all. I'm sure that it would tighten up the chassis quite a bit though if they were to get the kinks out of it. Your best bet is to get rear 3 point strut bar (hypermotive, trd, c-one) and hotchkis comp sways. I have no body roll at all with those.

[DA-newbie]

TRD 3pt is not bad it averages about $150
The C-One other hand :( heh your lucky to get it cheaper than $400

[Jtultra]

is there a significant difference between a 3 pt and a 2 pt rear strut bar. I'm planning on making my own 2pt

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by Jtultra
is there a significant difference between a 3 pt and a 2 pt rear strut bar. Yes. 2pt will just keep the strut towers from going from |--| normally to /--\ under stress. They can still go /--/ or \--\. A 3pt will link the center of the rear frame to the strut towers and make them completely solid with no flex. Hypermotive's bars are the most functional, since they can be removed without disassembling the trunk plastics if you ever need a lot of trunk space.

[Redneck GT-S]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber
The Tanabe bars for our cars are junk except for their front strut bar. The only tie bar/under brace that works on our cars is Cusco's front lower tie bar.


Hey Blue, are those Cusco's sold by the pair or by the each? Also, know of anyone using them and what they think?
Thanks

[Blue Bomber]

They're sold individually, around $70-80 I believe. It would be kinda weird to sell two at a time. Like selling two CAIs or exhausts at the same time...

I think GTSnut has it on his car.

[Redneck GT-S]

I guess I don't fully understand thier placement in the car then. I thought it was for both sides of the car.

[Blue Bomber]

Nope, just the front. Here are pics:

http://www.powercx.com/celica/cusco-img/bottom.jpg

http://www.powercx.com/celica/cusco-img/final.jpg

[Redneck GT-S]

Awesome, thanks man.