I have just been paid Yey!

 

Thinking about getting a rear strut brace. I want to keep my rear parcel blind if possible. Just wondering how much work is involved and which panels i will need to destroy to fit one?

I have just been paid Yey!

 

Thinking about getting a rear strut brace. I want to keep my rear parcel blind if possible. Just wondering how much work is involved and which panels i will need to destroy to fit one?

 

Not too bad of a job. All rear strut braces allow you to retain the parcel blind.

 

You have a choice of strut braces - Carbing, Stillen or Cusco (I may also still have a "budget" style lying around). Fitment for all of these varies slightly due to the shape and size of their mounting plates. However, you will need to remove all the paneling at the back (start dismantling from behind the centre light panel and work your way around). Once the panels are removed you can mount the support towers. And depending on the construction of the strut brace you either need to cut two holes in the panels or two slits (the carbing strut requires a slit as it is made from one piece). Easiest way to do that is with a dremel or other rotary tool. The Stillen strut brace is the only one that comes with templates which take the guess work out of where to cut the holes.

 

If you haven't decided on which strut brace to get feel free to give me a call. I deal in all the above brands and would be happy to offer advice, etc.

 

Good luck.

 

Dan

 

PS - I would advise you to fit a strut brace at the front as well so as not to upset the handling balance of the car.

Got one on the front already, not sure which one but i know its one of the better ones, You will have to look at my rides and see if you can tell. How much of a difference will the rear one make? My hicas is still active as far as i know, what effects will this have?

 

Thanks, Ed

Got one on the front already, not sure which one but i know its one of the better ones, You will have to look at my rides and see if you can tell. How much of a difference will the rear one make? My hicas is still active as far as i know, what effects will this have?

 

Thanks, Ed

 

Hi Ed,

 

Had a look at your rides section and you've got what I refer to as a "flat rectangular" strut brace. Certainly does the job but not as effectively as the one-piece Carbing strut braces (just an observation).

 

Whether you can actually feel the handling difference by adding a rear strut brace is questionable but from a suspension point of view it most definitely makes a difference. You've already sharpened up the front side and now with the rear side also being sharpened up you should notice flatter cornering.

 

HICAS has nothing to do with the performance gained from adding strut braces so don't worry about that.

 

By the way - I've got one Carbing rear strut brace left as well as a "budget" type rear brace (from the same set as your front brace)

 

Regards,

 

Dan