Does my car 'need' a strut brace

[Spatt]

Right, simple question to settle a dispute. Will the nissan 350z be fine without a strut brace. will not break the car during normal use?

the car wont break?

Fall to peices?

Explode?

 

Its there purely for improved handling?

 

Matt

 

 

[Lexx]

The chassis is set up to run with it.

The whole suspension geometry would be shot to hell without it.

 

In short, yes you could drive without it.

But the car would handle like a dog in corners.

Whether you would notice that in everyday driving is another matter.

[Ekona]

Don't remove it, unless you like cars made of jelly.

[Ekona]

But no, it won't fall apart. But why would you want to?

[OllyB]

I'm sure Nissan put it there for a reason

[WhackyWill]

Why do you want to remove it..is it in the way of something..As Lexx said it will handle like a "wobbly jelly"..if driven

 

fast on country lanes or on track, if your going from A to B around town at 30 MPH you wont notice much difference.

[Ekona]

To be fair, given that not every car has one can lead to this question. If a chassis is designed without one then it may not need or benefit from one (the Elise is a good example, as is the 911), if a car was designed with one in mind then removing it can cause some horrendous handling side effects. If a car did not have one by design but does not have the chassis strength to not need one at all, then there is pretty much no downside to fitting one as the extra weight is nothing compared to the stiffening benefits.

[KyleR]

Isn't the G35 the same chassis and doesn't have one?

[HARMLU]

It's there for one reason or another. Are you thinking about removing it? And if so why?

[Spatt]

I dont want to take it off.. I was having a 'heated debate' with family and friends which turned into a shouting match hehe.

 

I've bought an aftermarket strut brace and they said quote "f&$@*g around with your car" is dangerous nissan fitted 'that' bar for a reason..

 

I was trying to convey that even if the bar wasn't there it would still be fine.. I think they're concerned I wont have fitted it properly or its there to stop the engine escaping if I crash or some wild crazy stuff like that haha. ..

 

so my new bar is lovely but it's aluminum and there saying its not as strong. . Could twist bend or crack etc etc.. it was not a fun discussion. . I made the point that the new bar is a lot thicker but they're still not having it

 

anyways, the damn things staying either way so nerh haha

 

sorry for the confusion by the way

[Lexx]

There are thousands of 350s running with aftermarket strut braces. So far as I am aware none have ever been responsible for causing a crash.

[brillomaster]

on the plus side... nice to see friends and family taking such an interest in the chassis balance and dynamics of a sports car! most others i suspect would just stay quiet and let you get on with it...

[DEXSTAR]

due to my brothers turbo set up he cant run the strut brace he has not noticed a difference

[lolzz]

I bet if someone removed the strut bar on your car without you knowing, you wouldn't notice the difference in handling..

[Spatt]

agreed.. thanks for the input.. i will go armed with this knowledge and fight my reasoning behind getting an aftermarket brace

[Ekona]

I bet if someone removed the strut bar on your car without you knowing, you wouldn't notice the difference in handling..

I bet you would. In fact, I'd take a test on that any day, you'd tell by the first corner.

[lolzz]

I was driving without the strut bar for a few days after the spark plugs change last week and I didn't notice any difference, even when drifting a few corners. Maybe because I wasn't paying attention to that, would be interesting to try again and focus on chassis flexing and responsiveness..

[Payco]

What aftermarket stru bar do you have ?. As per a previous reply there are loads of us running with aftermarket struts. I have been running with a CUSCO one for the last year or so and its absolutely fine.

 

Payco

[coldel]

Pretty sure they make aircraft structures out of aluminium, as for handling some flex in a cars chassis, I am sure it will cope fine. Even if on the one in a billion chance it does crack, what exactly will happen? Not a lot apart from some doggy handling.

 

Stick it on and be done with it!

[r37]

i have no experience with a 350 but with my old BMW Z3 the brace mad a massive difference. I didnt notice when i fitted it (came without one OEM) but when i took it off it was very noticable.

[Dblock]

i have no experience with a 350 but with my old BMW Z3 the brace mad a massive difference. I didnt notice when i fitted it (came without one OEM) but when i took it off it was very noticable.

 

Z3s where bad for that. Common kids are front strut and "butt" strut.

[r37]

still handled like a charm though. Very well balanced car.

[Vik54]

Of course it doesn't need one! NIssan fitted it for fun As Lexx has already said plenty of folk run aftermarket ones with no issues but anyone who goes throwing it around corners / drifting / tracking without the appropriate bracing is an eejit IMO

[R35LEE]

Leave it on! Notice that they are only ever removed when mods under the bonnet won't allow for one to fit back on, they are never removed because they are not needed. Also adds rigidity to the shell when it gets hit!