Strong Strut Braces going out of business

kyriian · 05-21-2020, 02:00 PM

And deals to be had!

http://www.strong-strut.com/closing%20prices.htm

Can't afford anything myself but surely someone who wants a Strong Strut Brace now should jump on this

GuidoK · 05-21-2020, 02:13 PM

Too bad they only have black crossbraces and silver firewallbraces for the e85 chassis.
Can't imagine that looking nice. They call it two-tone...

CJW2OO4 · 05-21-2020, 05:13 PM

Just spoke to Paul, such a nice Guy! Hes 84 and closing up shop, glad that it is a retirement decision vs a financial difficulty one.

PLCZ4MC · 05-21-2020, 05:45 PM

I wonder if these parts can get painted or powder coated to match the color in black :/

No_Dominion_2 · 05-21-2020, 08:03 PM

Sad to see Paul closing down shop, but damn if that man hasn't earned some time to relax... If you've ever even thought about picking up some of his products for a second, best jump on it before they're gone. Makes me thankful I picked mine up when I did.

bwright657 · 05-22-2020, 04:02 PM

Thanks for the heads up on the sale! There's only 1 set of rear braces left for the M's after my order. Paul's got 8 sets for the regular cars left.

3002 tii · 05-23-2020, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwright657

Thanks for the heads up on the sale! There's only 1 set of rear braces left for the M's after my order. Paul's got 8 sets for the regular cars left.

Always wondered if the rear brace was overkill, wonder if there’s a noticeable difference.

GuidoK · 05-23-2020, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Always wondered if the rear brace was overkill, wonder if there’s a noticeable difference.

I think regarding the stock rear brace strongstrut plays down the strenght of the stock brace pretty much.
I once bent my rear brace because somehow I managed to break my rear diff bolt in full acceleration (when that happens the diff slams on the left brace and all the wheeltorque is put down on that bar), and it was not that easy to bend it back.

I had to wedge/fix the bent end on one side (i think I clamped it under one of my autolift levers) and stand with my full weight on the other side and hop a bit to bend it back carefully bit by bit. (I didn't want to use my workshop press as that gives a high pressure point, I wanted a gradual force, so made the lever setup)

Also the stock one is braced in the middle to the chassis and the strongstrut one doesn't; Strongstrut jokes about it, but if it works it works: it means the bmw ones are probably considerably lighter, and on a sportscar, every pound you can save is a win in my book.
So the stock brace is very thin walled (it's very light) but much stronger than one would think. So a pretty strong alloy is used imho.

So I'm not so sure who has the better design, I have some pretty strange experience with BMW's brace

bwright657 · 05-30-2020, 11:50 AM

I got my braces yesterday. Installed the rears this morning and took the car out for a quick spin. On my M coupe you definitely notice the additional rigidity in the rear. The feeing that the car rotates around your butt has been cranked up another notch.

Next up will be to put the fronts and see how they do, but I'm happy so far.

vt100 · 06-03-2020, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwright657

I got my braces yesterday. Installed the rears this morning and took the car out for a quick spin. On my M coupe you definitely notice the additional rigidity in the rear. The feeing that the car rotates around your butt has been cranked up another notch.

Next up will be to put the fronts and see how they do, but I'm happy so far.

Hmm.. what suspension do you have?

bwright657 · 06-04-2020, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vt100

Hmm.. what suspension do you have?

Stock all the way around.

tominizer · 06-12-2020, 06:53 PM

I think Paul sold the business.

Anyways, apparently I put him out of business by buying the last two things he had. We had a good laugh. One of the sets will go on a BMW E46 we have. Was a total impulse buy. I need to stop shopping online so much. It's been non-stop with all this COVID down time. Brutal on my credit card

JimBob0047 · 06-14-2020, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Too bad they only have black crossbraces and silver firewallbraces for the e85 chassis.
Can't imagine that looking nice. They call it two-tone...

Here ya go:

bwright657 · 06-15-2020, 07:03 PM

I had some leftover plasti-dip from a project on my track car. Put a couple coats on the silver firewall struts and they match the strut tower bar fine.

Sliktop · 06-18-2020, 03:21 PM

Thanks OP, I was able to secure one of the last front braces in black, so glad I saw this post couple weeks ago.

05-21-2020, 02:00 PM	#1
kyriian Captain 884 Rep 685 Posts Drives: 06 Black Sapphire Z4MR Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW X5 [0.00] 2011 Scion tC [0.00]	Strong Strut Braces going out of business And deals to be had! http://www.strong-strut.com/closing%20prices.htm Can't afford anything myself but surely someone who wants a Strong Strut Brace now should jump on this __________________ Revolution of our Times I will return to the track, one day.
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05-21-2020, 02:13 PM	#2
GuidoK #buildnotbought 10625 Rep 4,848 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	Too bad they only have black crossbraces and silver firewallbraces for the e85 chassis. Can't imagine that looking nice. They call it two-tone... __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
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05-21-2020, 05:13 PM	#3
CJW2OO4 Major 148 Rep 1,100 Posts Drives: E86M,M2,F13 E86&E85M,E86,2E46 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (4)	Just spoke to Paul, such a nice Guy! Hes 84 and closing up shop, glad that it is a retirement decision vs a financial difficulty one.
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05-21-2020, 05:45 PM	#4
PLCZ4MC Proud E86M Owner 79 Rep 650 Posts Drives: 07 Z4M Coupe Monaco Blue Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South California iTrader: (4)	I wonder if these parts can get painted or powder coated to match the color in black :/ __________________ 2007 Z4///M Coupe Monaco Blue (Weekend + Track) 2018 S1000RR San Marino Blue Wrap (Weekend + Commute) 2016 Honda CR-Z EX Jet Black (Daily Commute) 2008 Kawasaki ZX6R Plasma Blue (SOLD) 2008 Z4///M Roadster Space Gray (SOLD)
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05-21-2020, 08:03 PM	#5
No_Dominion_2 AKA No_Dominion 174 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Indianapolis iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW M Coupe [0.00]	Sad to see Paul closing down shop, but damn if that man hasn't earned some time to relax... If you've ever even thought about picking up some of his products for a second, best jump on it before they're gone. Makes me thankful I picked mine up when I did. __________________ Evolve CF CSL Airbox /// SGT Headers /// DKF Resonated S1 /// RPI Mufflers /// Underdrive Pulleys /// Alpha-N Tune Mstache /// CF Side Extensions /// Skyer CF Rear Spoiler /// CF Engine Cover /// Strong-Strut Braces H&R Coilovers /// MRR GF7 Wheels /// PS4S /// Remote Start /// Rennline Pedals
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05-22-2020, 04:02 PM	#6
bwright657 Second Lieutenant 258 Rep 208 Posts Drives: 08 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [9.50] 1999 Mazda Miata [0.00]	Thanks for the heads up on the sale! There's only 1 set of rear braces left for the M's after my order. Paul's got 8 sets for the regular cars left. __________________ '08 Z4M Coupe \| Space Grey/Imola Red Extended/Carbon Leather \| Eventuri Intake \| Strömung Exhaust \| Strong Strut Front/Rear Braces \| 19" E46 M3 ZCP Wheels
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05-30-2020, 11:50 AM	#9
bwright657 Second Lieutenant 258 Rep 208 Posts Drives: 08 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [9.50] 1999 Mazda Miata [0.00]	I got my braces yesterday. Installed the rears this morning and took the car out for a quick spin. On my M coupe you definitely notice the additional rigidity in the rear. The feeing that the car rotates around your butt has been cranked up another notch. Next up will be to put the fronts and see how they do, but I'm happy so far. __________________ '08 Z4M Coupe \| Space Grey/Imola Red Extended/Carbon Leather \| Eventuri Intake \| Strömung Exhaust \| Strong Strut Front/Rear Braces \| 19" E46 M3 ZCP Wheels
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06-12-2020, 06:53 PM	#12
tominizer Lieutenant 98 Rep 500 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2016 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I think Paul sold the business. Anyways, apparently I put him out of business by buying the last two things he had. We had a good laugh. One of the sets will go on a BMW E46 we have. Was a total impulse buy. I need to stop shopping online so much. It's been non-stop with all this COVID down time. Brutal on my credit card
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-15-2020, 07:03 PM	#14
bwright657 Second Lieutenant 258 Rep 208 Posts Drives: 08 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [9.50] 1999 Mazda Miata [0.00]	I had some leftover plasti-dip from a project on my track car. Put a couple coats on the silver firewall struts and they match the strut tower bar fine. Attached Images __________________ '08 Z4M Coupe \| Space Grey/Imola Red Extended/Carbon Leather \| Eventuri Intake \| Strömung Exhaust \| Strong Strut Front/Rear Braces \| 19" E46 M3 ZCP Wheels
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06-18-2020, 03:21 PM	#15
Sliktop Private First Class 31 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Socal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2005 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00] 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.00]	Thanks OP, I was able to secure one of the last front braces in black, so glad I saw this post couple weeks ago.
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