Need a quality front tower brace

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 12:36 am

If you have one for a BC-BF that isn't junk - if you don't know if it's junk or not, don't bother. If it's something you made in your spare time - unless you are a mechanical engineer by training, trade, and tenure, don't bother. If you have one to sell but it's for a WRX or a Brat, or anything else it was intentionally built for, and you *think* it will fit a BC-BF, don't bother.

But if you happen to have a brace that was specifically built with our model in mind, and it is designed to actually provide reinforcement - not just shiny metal stuff for the engine compartment, please do the following:

PM me with details, pics, price, etc.

Best,

Sam B.

scottzg · Post by **scottzg** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 2:55 am

Put this in the for sale section where it belongs? Didn't bother.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 3:28 am

Sam wrote:But if you happen to have a brace that was specifically built with our model in mind

you'll be hard pressed to find any brace that was made with our model in mind. Really you shouldn't put such little faith in cheap things.

astv5l · Post by **astv5l** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 3:53 am

will a WRX front or rear tower brace fit our cars?

ultrasonic · Post by **ultrasonic** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:05 am

THAWA wrote:you'll be hard pressed to find any brace that was made with our model in mind.

Whiteline KSB550.

I emailed Whiteline to ask if they make a front tower bar for BC chassis that would clear the top mount intercooler that I intend to install. His reply is that the KSB550 is the one. It will clear the intercooler because it is "mid mount" meaning that it angles towards the radiator instead of straight across or towards the firewall. It passes over the throttle body.

Regardless of the potential i/c clearance issue, Whiteline makes good quality stuff. Check out their website for information.

http://www.whiteline.com.au/

There are several vendors in the US that can get the parts for you.

http://www.kastleskorner.com/store/inde ... rers_id=13

www.pdm-racing.com/products/subaru_corner.html

www.renickmotorsports.com

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 3:11 pm

good shit

and no a wrx brace wont work. Seriously though a simple search would have yeilded this information.

Post by **Legacy777** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:18 pm

The thing is though, that front angle'd bar is not specifically for the BC's. It will fit any first gen impreza and 2nd gen legacy as well.

Bottom line, you don't some engineer to design this thing. I'm an engineer....you simply need a metal fabricator to weld you up something that fits a little snugly on the car when it is at "rest"

The best setup would be some form of hollow steel tubing.

Even if you get this bad-ass stb....to be quite honest.....I doubt you'd notice a difference on our cars between it and a $30 one you picked up off of ebay. Reason being.....our chassis just has too much flex in it. The bars do help a little bit, but you're not going to turn it into the stiffness of the WRX chassis by a simple stb.

I've got a pretty kick ass suspension setup in my car, and I just have the cheaper bars from procarparts. I don't see that much of a benefit from spending a chunk of change on a high priced bar when a less costly bar will provide near to or the same results.

206er · Post by **206er** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:43 am

I just bought a cheapie on ebay meant for a "94-01" impreza for $2.25.

the shipping was $20

I pretty much bought it just for kicks and was expecting total garbage, but the quality is decent and it fit pretty nice. I noticed a less floaty feel on faster corners, but my struts are not in the greatest shape. GR2's are on order...

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:30 am

ok i own a 91 turbo sedan. and i am a journeyman welder . so i will throw it up in the air . if any one can send me a print or good drawing i want to make a set for myself .i will probly go steel for cost /avalability . but if i can get say 10 people in on it i can get flanges /ends cut by lazer . i want to put hinges in like sti for wrx. i gess all i realy nead is the sise holes and bolt circle diamiter of the end flanges. anyhow if any one is interested send some info i estimate about 75$ cdn plus shipping per set. probly double for aluminum . i plan on yousing my car as fitter jig. so ther gona fit 91 sedan for shure,

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:51 am

I was going to respond saying "Somebody send this guy their old spare strut top mounts or something!"

But unfortunately this is one situation where doing it yourself isn't likely to save too much money. I have a strut tower brace I bought on eBay for about $20 US plus shipping... It was meant for a 1st-generation Impreza, but the front of a 1st-generation Impreza is nearly identical to the front of a 1st-generation Legacy. It's not beautiful, but it has hinges on each side and threads to attach the bar to the flanges. One side has left-handed threads, too, so you can just rotate the bar in place to make them line up right.

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:03 am

yea i cant do that price unless i build a thousand i cant eaven source the aluminum oval tubing like most are it is hard to find extrusions with a radius edge unless you buy lots . but i will still make my own . just because it is a labour of love .

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:17 am

Yeah... This one's steel with some kind of chrome plating on the bar and black paint on the end plates.

That's cool that you're gonna make your own.

Actually -- I just realized something. The one I got so cheaply won't clear an intercooler. All the eBay ones that clear intercoolers seem to be for WRXes.

This is the one I have:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7933666311

It'd probably be worth $75 CDN for one shaped to hug the firewall like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7933183505

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:31 am

ok if someone can get me the flange lay out i could have a proto type done in steel inside a week. and yea thats the design i was thinking and 75$ is a estimit on both front and rear bars are the flanges the same.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:59 am

Oh, yeah, I missed that about front and rear both... Yeah, that'd be a good price.

The rear flanges are different from the fronts.

If I had my front strut tower bar handy I'd offer to send it to you for you to base yours on.

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:15 am

ok if you can send me a lay out drawing of flange thats good enough and that is 75$ cdn so it is less than 75$ for you but shiping will probly cost a bit . i can probly figur it out any how i just want it to be a job worthy of our cars . other stuff i would like drawings to build are intercooler,rally light bracket,roll cage . so send me any drawings and i will do my best.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:27 am

Well, the brace is at my parents' house... I'll be there in a few weeks for Thanksgiving though.

I don't have a rear brace.

Would it be enough for me to fashion up some flanges out of cardboard maybe?

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:43 am

yea i just nead a drawing i think i will mesure out the b.c.d tomorow and try to cut some flanges with the torch i work at a small machine shop so i can probly do something this week . il get back to you soon.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:53 am

you want to make a brace? Make a front lower arm bar brace for NA cars. All the ones out there are only for Turbo cars since they don't have exhaust going right under the crossmember.

Or figure out how to make a rear lower arm brace. as the impreza ones dont fit with our rear crossmembers (at least not 90-92, havent seen a 93-94 rear crossmember)

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 5:44 am

Vikash - That one doesn't clear the SAAB TMIC?

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 5:49 am

I don't think it would. I haven't tried it though. I actually bought this bar many years ago, back when I had a GC Impreza, and never installed it.

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:26 am

Possible hijack, sorry -
Forgive my ignorance but the hinges/threads are only needed for slight alignment issues between different cars? I'm certainly proficient with our mig welder and was wondering if it's a simple as making the flanges and doing a tack weld on the bar to the flanges in the car and finish the weld outside of the car? Does anyone know actual stresses that these things take?

Lee

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:52 pm

if you tack the threads in place . i doubt you will imbrittle the steal just a small tack and try to keep most of the heat on the nut ok good luck.

jago · Post by **jago** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:02 pm

the hinges are nesisary on rear bar unless you want to cut holes in the back for install it goes in in three peaces . any how good luck the flange fit is the important part if it is to louse in the bolt holes you risk movement that could cause the bolts to fail . and that sounds bad

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:40 pm

lower braces

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:42 pm

THAWA - I have an NA and there is a good chance that she will turn into my dream legacy once I get out school and have money. Anyrate - these lower braces - do you have a link to a pic showing what they are. What types of forces will these braces take, aka what size material is needed, etc. I'm not completely knowledgable on suspension but I'm getting there. Also, does the front strut brace need to be installed at the same time as a rear, as in will just putting the front in by itself cause problems?

Jago - I'm looking forward to seeing some pics of yours and how it works for you.

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Need a quality front tower brace

Need a quality front tower brace

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