Hi guys

Just wana see some front strut braces installed please. Mainly wana see what fixings to use? Been putting this job off for ages now, but i am on it again, and worried what fixings will be stronger, nut & bolt, self tap etc?

Pics and any advice would be great.

Cheers

 

The ones that bolt to the turrets are better. The self tap screw ones are crap and the screws just fall out over time.

 

Hi mate, well i have always been thinking that the nut and bolt option would be stronger, but concerned about clearance, can you get a spanner up in the strut to fasten the nut, and is there enough clearance for a 25mm long bolt?
I have not done any try and test stuff, was worried about this a few months back, been putting it off off for a while, and now i am on it again, the same worries have crossed my mind?
What do you recon?

Cheers

 

Have a look at Christian Majors thread in the resto's room. He's got the best S2 strut brace I've seen.

 

My friends one which was screwed on we managed to get nuts and bolts but you have to remove the shocks to do it and then it made it very tight to get the 19mm socket onto the top to tighten the shock.

Here is a picture of the strut brace fitted to the rs turbo before we took it apart for a restoration:-



Tho this one on my friends saphire is much easier to fit, i dont know if you can get one like this design for a erst. You can see the back bits on the turrets the strut brace mounts too but it isnt attached in this picture.

 

ive had issues with clearances on the inside of the strut top, bolts can rub on the top of the shocker, also worth remembering when you have the front wheels of the floor the shocks will be in a completly different place to when sat on its wheels. to the point where on my cab when jacked up the strut brace wouldnt even fit on!

 

Rab: Yeah i have seen that design, that is a great design, best and neatest i have seen. Just a little bit to involved for i want to achieve.

daviddunlop83: Thanks for the pics. I had a feeling it would be tight to get a 19mm up there, but as the pic shows, it is achievable.

G420 DEL: Thanks for this piece of advice, its these points which i need to be aware of. And that is a very good point about when the car is jacked up, i bare that in mind. So what size bolt did you use and thread length? I am thinking M8 x 25mm, what say you?

Cheers

 

Just a shame about the monkey that welded the brackets on for me.

I'm no welder, but I know I could have (and infact did do) better than that myself, but for some reason he thought it needed re-welding.

A decent Strut brace on an S2 isn't easy, getting it to clear the Inlet AND the heater box is tricky. The Sparco/OMP ones don't seem to sit on the turrets very nicely either, but they do work OK. I would certainly drill 8mm holes in the turrets and nut/bolt it, at least then you can pull it down nice and tight.

 

Thanks for your advise Chritian. The brace i got is a Sparco one, and i agree, when i offered it up, they dont sit well. But as you said, with using nut and bolt, should help to pull the brace down flush.
I guess i am gona have to adapt the "suck it and see" procedure when it comes to the bolt length!! As 25mm might even be to long??

Cheers

 

If you need any help when you do it mate let me know and ill give you a hand, after next week ive got my weekends back as college finished so give me a shout. taxing the motor today so might take it out tonight if the weather holds up, hannah is out but ill pop round and show you if your about? chris.

 

i used alen key headed bolts roughly 30mm long with locking bolts. i have just used 3 fixings either side as the one on the inner side was not possible to get to.
all i did was popped the bolt through the 3 holes that i pilot drilled first, jacked the car up slightly and held the nut with a pair of plyers and tightened up, bit awquard to do but doesent take to long! oh and as for the one i missed out i just glued in place.

 

I liked the Wiechers one I had in my Orion. One of the cheapest ones and I can't fault it.

 

 

yep im with you on that one

 

I like that one on jesseT's it look like a really good fit
One of mine it not an rs but you get the idea its an omp one



mark.

 

Ill be using rivet nuts when I refit mine then you dont have the problem of getting on the nut behind as the rivet nut creates a captive nut.

 

Another bolt in job...not sure which brand/who made it.

 

That looks like an excellent fit!
Where can you get them?

 

Stainless steel handmade engine brace

 

Thanks alot lads, been some really good advise given, and some really good pics to give a better feel.

Much appreciated.

Cheers

 

Once I had seen one on ebay, not sure if it was from Mike Taylor Developments. It cost much more than the others (about £120). The seller stated that this one really works not like the others as it actually pushes the struts

 

What type of brace was it....a bolt on type or something special? If its £120 guess it must have to be a special!!
Generally speaking, most strut braces work as they reduce the struts flexing!! My guess would be buddy that who ever was selling was over hyping it to try and get £120 for it!!
But who knows!!

Cheers

 

It was a garage with an ebay shop who was selling it for sure