Installed: Strong Strut Strut Tower Brace and Firewall Braces

pbdm4k · 07-22-2007, 12:36 AM

So, took me the better part of an hour to slowly remove the stock firewall braces as well as install the strong strut and the new stiffer firewall braces.

Definately looks a lot nicer under the hood now so that alone is already a big plus.

However, where it matters is the handling! Immediately after a quick test drive, I already noticed that the front end felt less "floaty" and more planted to the ground. The car did not have the tendency to tramline like it did before on bumpy roads. Definately noticed that I didn't have to fight the grooves in the road to maintain a straight line.

Strut tower brace, be it ACS, Strong Strut, or OEM, I recommend this as a must upgrade part!

Also noticed after recieving my European Car mag in the mail, they installed the OEM STB on their Z4M Coupe project car. They took it to the track and using GPS traqmate, were able to determine that having the STB present, they shaved an average of 2 seconds off of their lap times.

So no, its not just me, the STB is definately a must!!

Rick Hunter · 07-22-2007, 01:24 AM

Pics please!

IQ-Man · 07-22-2007, 03:27 AM

That the braces give an advantage of 2 seconds laptime... well that's definitively reverie. Not even 0,2s

But it is right, that they raise the stiffness a lot! And the strange thing is, that it's more important to change the stock "firewall braces" (I just call them "short braces"), than mount the long strut brace.

We have tested it on a body test bed from the M GmbH and found out, that just the two shorter braces increase the stiffness of the front part of the body about 40%!! Of course I don't know, how strong the strongstrut braces are... but they look not half bad!

Here you find my braces:
http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72411

inTgr8r · 07-23-2007, 03:10 PM

pbdm4k - After seeing the strong strut on your car,..... it's really tempting to make a change.
It's a great quality piece.

I may just drop them a line and ask about their design, related to front end impact.
It's hard to imagine it as a problem, but it'd be interesting to know if they designed for it.

pbdm4k · 07-23-2007, 03:35 PM

The OEM firewall braces and Dinan firewall braces have a flute on the underside of the brace to allow them to buckle and fold in the event of an impact.
Paul @ Strong Strut said that the holes machined into the bars would allow them to collapse.

However the front tower bar alone was enough of a difference to make this a worthwhile mod!

IQ-Man · 07-23-2007, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbdm4k

Paul @ Strong Strut said that the holes machined into the bars would allow them to collapse.

Don't think that this is true.

But (!) the M GmbH sais that it's no Problem with stronger struts at this place.

07-22-2007, 12:36 AM	#1
pbdm4k Lieutenant Colonel 74 Rep 1,689 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: May 2007 Location: North of the Border iTrader: (3)	Installed: Strong Strut Strut Tower Brace and Firewall Braces So, took me the better part of an hour to slowly remove the stock firewall braces as well as install the strong strut and the new stiffer firewall braces. Definately looks a lot nicer under the hood now so that alone is already a big plus. However, where it matters is the handling! Immediately after a quick test drive, I already noticed that the front end felt less "floaty" and more planted to the ground. The car did not have the tendency to tramline like it did before on bumpy roads. Definately noticed that I didn't have to fight the grooves in the road to maintain a straight line. Strut tower brace, be it ACS, Strong Strut, or OEM, I recommend this as a must upgrade part! Also noticed after recieving my European Car mag in the mail, they installed the OEM STB on their Z4M Coupe project car. They took it to the track and using GPS traqmate, were able to determine that having the STB present, they shaved an average of 2 seconds off of their lap times. So no, its not just me, the STB is definately a must!!
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07-22-2007, 01:24 AM	#2
Rick Hunter Skull Squadron Leader 304 Rep 2,031 Posts Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Emerald City iTrader: (20)	Pics please! __________________
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07-22-2007, 03:27 AM	#3
IQ-Man Beer Engineer 5 Rep 54 Posts Drives: Z4 supercharged, Movit Brakes Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 180km to Nuerburgring iTrader: (0)	That the braces give an advantage of 2 seconds laptime... well that's definitively reverie. Not even 0,2s But it is right, that they raise the stiffness a lot! And the strange thing is, that it's more important to change the stock "firewall braces" (I just call them "short braces"), than mount the long strut brace. We have tested it on a body test bed from the M GmbH and found out, that just the two shorter braces increase the stiffness of the front part of the body about 40%!! Of course I don't know, how strong the strongstrut braces are... but they look not half bad! Here you find my braces: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72411 __________________ Cheers, Markus www.Z4Racing.de
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07-23-2007, 03:10 PM	#4
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	pbdm4k - After seeing the strong strut on your car,..... it's really tempting to make a change. It's a great quality piece. I may just drop them a line and ask about their design, related to front end impact. It's hard to imagine it as a problem, but it'd be interesting to know if they designed for it. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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07-23-2007, 03:35 PM	#5
pbdm4k Lieutenant Colonel 74 Rep 1,689 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: May 2007 Location: North of the Border iTrader: (3)	The OEM firewall braces and Dinan firewall braces have a flute on the underside of the brace to allow them to buckle and fold in the event of an impact. Paul @ Strong Strut said that the holes machined into the bars would allow them to collapse. However the front tower bar alone was enough of a difference to make this a worthwhile mod!
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