Tuning strut brace
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Tuning strut brace
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Two comments about the OMP rear brace:
1) They've changed the design from the one shown. It now has deep tubular ends and is virtually impossible to fit in the Stilo (I tried and had to send it back for a refund).
2) It's design is in any case fundamentally flawed, in that it is attached to the rear damper top mounts...which are rubber!!! So rather than 'bracing', it's constantly on the move. Better to go for one like Ultra Racing (the one listed for the new Bravo) which bolts directly to the body shell (shares the threaded holes for the rear seat brackets).
1) They've changed the design from the one shown. It now has deep tubular ends and is virtually impossible to fit in the Stilo (I tried and had to send it back for a refund).
2) It's design is in any case fundamentally flawed, in that it is attached to the rear damper top mounts...which are rubber!!! So rather than 'bracing', it's constantly on the move. Better to go for one like Ultra Racing (the one listed for the new Bravo) which bolts directly to the body shell (shares the threaded holes for the rear seat brackets).
Have to say, that's a crazy price they're up to now. Paid £20 less than that for the front one a while back and even then that wasn't the cheapest. Railroaded into it though after other sites had combinations of "the website price no longer stands" (think that was around £50 from memory) or "the West of Scotland means the postage charge increases by £10" - that was from YBracing, who are basically what Strutbracer became 
Would be interested to see this new design your mentioning YP as the normal one (front) is a bit of a pita to fit anyway due to the drilling/removal of the front struts required for proper fitting. Still interested in the UR Braces though struggling to find prices for them online anywhere unless a phone call to the direct supplier's all that's required.
Would be interested to see this new design your mentioning YP as the normal one (front) is a bit of a pita to fit anyway due to the drilling/removal of the front struts required for proper fitting. Still interested in the UR Braces though struggling to find prices for them online anywhere unless a phone call to the direct supplier's all that's required.
The new design for the OMP upper rear brace looks more like this:
http://www.strutbracer.co.uk/page1.php?sitepage=3&manuf=32&modelid=337&tab=3
(yes I know this is for Honda).
I got my UR braces (I bought all four: lower and upper, front and rear) from Automac:
http://www.automac.co.uk/
Delivery was slow (from Malaysia) but they've since arranged air freight, so much quicker.
http://www.strutbracer.co.uk/page1.php?sitepage=3&manuf=32&modelid=337&tab=3
(yes I know this is for Honda).
I got my UR braces (I bought all four: lower and upper, front and rear) from Automac:
http://www.automac.co.uk/
Delivery was slow (from Malaysia) but they've since arranged air freight, so much quicker.
If these things make so much difference why aren't they fitted as standard, on a GP for example?
I'd guess cost. And the fact that manufacturers argue that at this price point, most drivers will rarely put cars into situations in which chassis stiffness is an issue.
Take a look at some up-market sports cars (all Aston Martins, Nissan 370Z for example) they all have braces fitted as standard.
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So if my car was lowered and had stiff suspension these things would help when I take a corner at 100mph?
They're not for me then.
I like to glide serenely along enjoying my soft suspension.
They're not for me then.
I like to glide serenely along enjoying my soft suspension.
Each to his own. I well recall a test drive in a MultiWagon some years back. I drove it 'with progress', but within the speed limit, round bends (we have a lot of these in the UK) and it scared me to death. More akin to sailing a boat than driving a car.
Soft suspension is great on Motorways, but the Stilo's standard rolly-polly handling round corners is one of its worst features (IHMO).
Soft suspension is great on Motorways, but the Stilo's standard rolly-polly handling round corners is one of its worst features (IHMO).
I'm not Michael Schumacher, I don't attack corners pinning my passengers faces to the windows during a 4G turn. I choose a sensible speed for the road/corner and enjoy a comfortable journey. I'm too old for bone shacking go-cart like suspension.
The perfect car ....
Mr Soft's car(softmints advert)
Edit.
[ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1238496241108506429"]"Mr Soft" Trebor Softmints ad[/ame]#
The perfect car ....
Mr Soft's car(softmints advert)
Edit.
[ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1238496241108506429"]"Mr Soft" Trebor Softmints ad[/ame]#
As I said, each to his own. In my view, even at a 'sensible speed' the Stilo, as standard, corners like a boat and for most passengers is far from a 'comfortable' or 'enjoyable' experience.
I'll shut up now.
I'll shut up now.
If your Stilo feels like a boat when cornering at normal speeds there's something wrong with it.
Hundreds of thousands have been sold worldwide, I'm sure someone would have noticed a cornering fault by now if there was one ...
Hundreds of thousands have been sold worldwide, I'm sure someone would have noticed a cornering fault by now if there was one ...
I've driven several and they were all wallowy in corners. Soft springing combined with insufficinet damping.
i found my stilo to be quite firm in corners and id even put my neck out and say its on a similar par to my mid 90s celica... yeah it has a higher COG so its bound to roll more but it stays planted and its actually quite a nice ride!
your celica is broken! ive driven a few (aim to get a GT4 in a few years) and the celicas ive driven have been leaps and bounds better than a stilo...and mines the more "sporty" 3 door stilo....granted the stilo holds on well in corners, but it rolls like hell!
I have to take a corner too quickly to make our Stilo roll so my advice to you "Stilo Rollers" is slow down.
like i sed similar.. as in when cornering at around 30/40 around the same corners the stilo stays just as composed just a hell of a lot more roll... take em out into the country side and the celi wins hands down never really gets too twitchy and always feels like its on rails unless you unload the rear too much and turn in! i melted an abs sensor to the hub one day when i was 'playing'
mmmmm GT4 which shape Gen5 or 6?
i melted an abs sensor to the hub one day when i was 'playing' mmmmm GT4 which shape Gen5 or 6?
hmmm maybe its harder to roll a MW cos different suspension due to more weight and yours is an oil burner so it doesnt do "quickly"
gen 5....even though the gen 6 feels "stronger" im a sucker for those pop up lights!...but need a few more years experience in the bag before i get one of those. or ill end up in a tree...not to mention insurance...its raping me already
gen 5....even though the gen 6 feels "stronger" im a sucker for those pop up lights!...but need a few more years experience in the bag before i get one of those. or ill end up in a tree...not to mention insurance...its raping me already
Supposedly the 3dr has a less soft set up than the 5dr and MW. Would need to drive the latter two to judge, but my standard 1.2 was a nightmare in the corners. As has been said by others, it rolled like hell and this wasn't helped by the dealer fitting JTD springs after one snapped pre-recall
The Eibach springs/dampers I have on DO stiffen the ride somewhat and that's noticeably less comfortable than the standard set up but the pay off is in the corners where you get a far more progressive and level turn in. As said though, each to their own as different drivers have different priorities when it comes to what they look for in a car. I don't "throw" my car into corners but I like it to handle a corner rather than float round it
With the point about the brace being fitted as standard - I do wonder why they never put the OMP front one on in the Schui GP edition. Just considering they went to OMP for the backbox, it could've been another sporting selling point even if it would push the cost up a tad for the limited run.
Had been considering fitting the rear one but didn't want to lose the practicality of my boot space - something I rather like about the Stilo
The Eibach springs/dampers I have on DO stiffen the ride somewhat and that's noticeably less comfortable than the standard set up but the pay off is in the corners where you get a far more progressive and level turn in. As said though, each to their own as different drivers have different priorities when it comes to what they look for in a car. I don't "throw" my car into corners but I like it to handle a corner rather than float round it
With the point about the brace being fitted as standard - I do wonder why they never put the OMP front one on in the Schui GP edition. Just considering they went to OMP for the backbox, it could've been another sporting selling point even if it would push the cost up a tad for the limited run.
Had been considering fitting the rear one but didn't want to lose the practicality of my boot space - something I rather like about the Stilo
