suspension braces
I've never been a diciple of bolt-on strut braces and stiffeners - never really thought that a cheap bit of tube steel from thailand could/would actually make a difference.
I'm now realising that something fairly light-weight WILL make a noticable difference, especially once you lift your io and run bigger tyres - things that increase the leverage on the body mounts beyond what was originally designed for.
1) I fitted a strutbrace about 18 months ago, just the cheapie from ebay more as a joke than in serous need and noticed IMMEDIATLEY an improvement in steering direction over undulated roads and tracks. couldn't belive it so I disconnected one end and after a hot lap around the block noticed 5mm scratches from where the free end was moving relative to the fixed strut top. 5mm!!!
2) After changing some rubbers and ball joints in the front end, i've been chasing a "changes direction mid-cornering based on throttle" issue. Th whole time my 6mm alu bash plate that bolts firmly to the front outriggers and my crossmember was off to allow access to the rack. I bolted it back on and suprise suprise the steering issues have gone - all from a piece of 6mm ALU Plate tieing the front outriggers back to the crossmember.
3) will likely fabricate a bar to brace the rear control arm outriggers from behind and allow a 6mm ALU belly pan to bolt up to - will see what the results are HOWEVER i'm predicting more steering accuracy and stiffness over rough ground
^ That was my exact thought ^
There is little doubt in my mind that strut braces will stiffen up the average monocoque construction, macpherson strut front end, but most people won't/don't notice the flex, and I'd say even fewer will notice it on a relatively tall SUV running anything over a 70 profile tire - the side wall flex will have more of an impact - but that thing with changing direction, something in front there is loose, and if the bash plate tightens things up, that, in my mind, is not a good sign.
loose front end
agree on your points,
- it's definitley not loose (well the rack-mount bushes are) this is more a once off throttle while cornering very heavily the body leans over more due to not being forced forwards from the rear and i get steering geometry flex or a steering "tuck-in" - i noticed as soon as i spaced and lifted it right up that there was more body role and the strut top brace reduced some of the bump/roll steer.
i am running lifted springs, spacers beyond that and 225-75-16 tyres so if things were going to flex more than standard it'd be happening now.
my front control arm rods will be definitley out of their designed angle to hub and the rear trailing arms are also not parallel to the ground either.
the closest thing i can describe it as is like a big soft slow "bump-steer" style feeling but from the suspension body roll. on throttle it will hold attitude, snap off throttle under heavy heavy cornering and the nose drops and body roll increases and the back gets tail happy resulting in a front oversteer
i've ordered the rack mount bushes and will see how I go - it may still end up being the panhard bushes or upper trailing arms
Syndicate
Steering problem
If fitting your bash plate stop your steering issue....then you probably have problem somewhere, with or without bash plate you car should run the same.
Happy io
My io is now SOLD Thankshttp://pajerio.com/forum/claudes-io-2002-zr-built-thread-onlyhappy-io