Strut braces

[gavin]

Hi, I have the RMM front strut brace and the TRD rear strut brace... right now both are installed. I am running on stock springs and stock suspension... Should I take off the front brace or leave it on? It's pretty but i want my car to handle as best it can and i hear that the front brace induces understeer..

Also, would your opinion of what should be done change if i added tanabe suspension? (thinking into the future )

(oh and what springs/suspension would you guys recommend?)

thanks a bunch

both braces are not adjustable

[autxr]

Why not take off the front, drive around (a skid pad and a slalom would be great) and see how it handles. Put it on, repeat.

Take off the rear, check things out, put it back, repeat, take them both off, try it out, put them both on, repeat, etc.

There's only one way to know for sure.

I vote for a stiff chassis (keep all the braces), if you really do have an understeer problem, fix it with the alignment.

Add negative camber in the front, or chage the rear toe settings.

Change the rear camber, etc.

As for springs, I suggest anything that is linear rate.

I would avoid a progressive rate spring like the plague.

Scott

[gavin]

what would be a good amount of negative camber to add to the front? 1 degree? also.. (im not too well versed in this....) can you change the camber without buying a front camber links?

[nxracer]

Since your going to install struts/shock and springs I'd wait on the alignment until then. For now just try adjusting your tire pressures. See TireRack's Competition Tire Air Pressure (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/competition/racepres.htm) page. You'll be amazed how much a little pressure adjustment can do and air is still free (at some service stations)

Once you get the goodies installed try -1.5 degrees in front and -1.3 out back

Camber kits for the front... Well they make them BUT unless you plan adjust it all the time and buy all the gages to do it correctly it's kind of over-kill. Toyota makes "crash" bolts but since you plan to add springs anyway (and already have strut bars) just have the alignment shop grind the struts.

Note: grinding the struts is not SCCA "stock" class legal but it's ok in STS and SP classes.

I went to a Celica meet last winter and a girl asked "What is wrong with your front tires they are really bent" I run -2.0 in front and -1.5 in back