Factory LTW Strut Bar....

[HK_M3]

I was just checking out the Bekker's import catalog and noticed the X-Brace (Which everyone is familiar with) and an M-Technic factory LTW strut bar...which looked quite cool! The price was $399....plus 6 aluminum bolts ($14 each) quite a hefty price. Does anyone have any experience with these? How about the Sway Barbarian? or Eibach's setup? Let me know. Thanks, N8.

[Kenshiro]

The sway barbarian? Do you mean the strut barbarian? The sway barbarian is a swaybar set, not a strut brace...

[HK_M3]

yeah...thats what I meant...hahahaha...sorry I'm a dumb ass. Different story then...do you recommend the X-Brace, strut bar, and anti-sway bars? Will the ride be much more stiff? The M3 LTW strut bar was only for the front as well....they didn't have one for the rear. Thanks, N8.

[Bernanke]

Originally posted by JAdoreM3
I was just checking out the Bekker's import catalog and noticed the X-Brace (Which everyone is familiar with) and an M-Technic factory LTW strut bar...which looked quite cool! The price was $399....plus 6 aluminum bolts ($14 each) quite a hefty price. Does anyone have any experience with these? How about the Sway Barbarian? or Eibach's setup? Let me know. Thanks, N8.



aluminum bolts for that price?? aluminum bolts are trash, and they suck.
________
PC50 (http://www.honda-wiki.org/wiki/Honda_PC50)

[frayed]

The JT Designs (discontinued), BMW Motorsport (only for cars w/o traction control), and UUC Strut Barbarian (out of production, generation II due out this fall) are the only 'non-hinged' units, thought to be more robust in design than the myriad of others out there that are hinged.

I personally was waiting for the UUC, until I picked up a used one. Even with this bar, I haven't noticed much difference. . .certainly not like the difference I felt with the X-brace. Might make a difference on the track though.

On the sways, I will go through another track event or two before swapping out the stock ones.

People seem to like the rear strut brace, sold by various vendors including ECIS and AA.

[Kenshiro]

Originally posted by JAdoreM3
yeah...thats what I meant...hahahaha...sorry I'm a dumb ass. Different story then...do you recommend the X-Brace, strut bar, and anti-sway bars? Will the ride be much more stiff? The M3 LTW strut bar was only for the front as well....they didn't have one for the rear. Thanks, N8.

Well my car is bone stock, but I've driven suspension modded M3's, and in my experience, this is pretty much the way it goes:

X-brace: Biggest bang-for buck, you'll notice additional stiffness immediately. Also provides some small measure of additional protection for the undercarriage.

Sways: Next biggest stiffener, depending on what setting you put it at

Strut brace: Nice, but not overwhelming, unless you're driving at high rates of speed or doing high-g cornering...

[Jim O.]

Wait a sec - looks like you're comparing apples to oranges. Strut braces and the X-brace are for stiffening the chassis of the car. Sway bars are for controlling body roll and weight transfer.

Jim

[Kenshiro]

Originally posted by Jim O.
Wait a sec - looks like you're comparing apples to oranges. Strut braces and the X-brace are for stiffening the chassis of the car. Sway bars are for controlling body roll and weight transfer.

Jim

Yes, but on the top level, these all affect handling, no?

[M3 GT Ben]

Originally posted by frayed
The JT Designs (discontinued), BMW Motorsport (only for cars w/o traction control), and UUC Strut Barbarian (out of production, generation II due out this fall) are the only 'non-hinged' units, thought to be more robust in design than the myriad of others out there that are hinged.

I personally was waiting for the UUC, until I picked up a used one. Even with this bar, I haven't noticed much difference. . .certainly not like the difference I felt with the X-brace. Might make a difference on the track though.

On the sways, I will go through another track event or two before swapping out the stock ones.

People seem to like the rear strut brace, sold by various vendors including ECIS and AA.
as the designer of the UUC bar, its original design had some fitment problems (as virtually ever bar does). it even went as far as dimpling the hoods of some cars (generally 2 doors since 4 doors have more room).

besides the fitment issues, if i were to do it all over again, i would have made some major changes to the bar itself.

personally, my favorite bar is the BMW Motorsport bar. however, on the street, i really cannot honestly feel an improvement in handling.

[frayed]

Originally posted by M3 GT Ben

as the designer of the UUC bar, its original design had some fitment problems (as virtually ever bar does). it even went as far as dimpling the hoods of some cars (generally 2 doors since 4 doors have more room).

besides the fitment issues, if i were to do it all over again, i would have made some major changes to the bar itself.

personally, my favorite bar is the BMW Motorsport bar. however, on the street, i really cannot honestly feel an improvement in handling.

Ben,

Good to hear from you. As stated above, I got a hold of your prior bar. I noticed that when tightening the bar, there seems to have been a bit of flex in the intermediate piece (the part that sits on the annular rings attached to the car, to which the bar attaches). Is this one of the problems?

I didn't notice any fitment issues, but then again I have a sedan.