[e39ng]

How about tower bar for FX? Is it too extreme for SUV? Maybe that's the reason why it doent come standard.

 

[ujmot]

From my past experiences with strut tower bars, it stiffens the ride a lot. I've also heard it makes the chassis flex a lot more since the towers flex less.

 

[esemes]

From my past experiences with strut tower bars, it stiffens the ride a lot. I've also heard it makes the chassis flex a lot more since the towers flex less.

interesting.........


which is worse/better to have felx with??


SMS

 

[dmtalon]

STBs are great. They help the chasis flex LESS by holding the towers together.

I have never noticed the ride being stiffer after an STB install, but I have noticed the steering wheel following what the wheels do more. (which is a good thing)

 

[MustGoFastR]

STBs are great. They help the chasis flex LESS by holding the towers together.

I have never noticed the ride being stiffer after an STB install, but I have noticed the steering wheel following what the wheels do more. (which is a good thing)

Agreed. You can tell a big difference in hard cornering.

 

[jimsbmw]

I am running a strut tower bar on my FX and I didnt feel too much stiffer but it did help corner a little better

Jim

 

[Ak1nza]

Strut tower bars work to keep equal contact patches on both the left and right tire when cornering. During straight line driving they don't really do much. So in a sense it would be wrong to say it makes the chassis stiffer. Lemme try to explain a lil, and then you can agree or disagree.

If you create a parallel line from the one wheel hub to the other and then go up the shock dampers and then create another parallel line from the top of one damper to the other you get a trapezoid.

For a car without a strut tower bar, turning during cornering distorts the trapezoid which results in one of the wheels (inner wheel usually I believe) having more contact patch than the other.

When a strut tower bar is installed, it keeps the geometry of the suspension constant (or that is what it is supposed to do anyhow, some cheapo STBs may not work so well) and keeps both tires equally contacting the road.

The result with the STB is proper geometry of the suspension during turning and that's why the cornering will feel more crisp, as well as reduce bodyroll in the front.

I guess I could draw a picture if needed but I think I explained it pretty well.

 

[Sweet Fx]

I called stillen yesterday to inquire about their parts for the FX (including the STB) and they said nothing available yet...with the exception of the supercharger.

 

[mushutofu]

They are most likely trying to figure out the pricing

 

[Benzo]

Second to that !

I am running a strut tower bar on my FX and I didnt feel too much stiffer but it did help corner a little better

Jim

 

[MustGoFastR]

I love mine! I could tell a major increas and stiffness and the cornering stability is greatly enhanced. I don't know if this has anything to do with the fact that I am RWD, or if it will be as noticable on an AWD, but this has got to be one of the most satisfying investments I've made. Got the Stillen STB from Grubbs for $139 + 5% off for forum discount.

 

[TEX35B16]

Grubbs quoted me $189.00 minus 5% discount ($9.45) , Plus tax, Plus shipping on Monday. I hope this thing works well I ended up buying a scraped up one for closer to what MGFR paid for his perfectamundo one. :?

 

[MustGoFastR]

Trust me, it DOES work. You'll feel it, especially the way you drive. I knew the prices would be going up; I was lucky to get one while they were still low.