fiestaturbo.com

[Big_Phil]

Considering buying/making a front and rear strut brace for the fiesta.
Just wondered what people thought of them?
Is one better than the other? Worth having both?
Can you actually feel the difference?

Cheers.

[fiend]

I put a rear one on my XR2i that has standard suspension, it made a HUGE difference..the backend was alot stiffer/solid.

[JamieFRST]

I noticed a difference after fitting a front and rear one, seems to have less roll when going into round abouts. It helps by maintaining suspension geometry.

[Big_Phil]

Do you think i'd notice the difference as i'm already on coilovers?

[JamieFRST]

I'm only running Koni adjustables so couldn't really say, at the end of the day you have decent suspension, so a strut brace can only compliment that further. They aren't really expensive so worth a go, can always put it on ebay if your not happy with it.

[Minstral]

im running coilovers at the moment, and ive polybushed both arb's, and hoping to fit a second rear arb with both strut bracesso should handle even better after that

[Norbertas]

I'd like to ask about OPM front strut brace. It has adjustment of length. Just put it in, few hours ago and i wonder what to do next:
1. - tighten the adjusting bolt, to drag both shocks inside |O--> <--O|
2. - loosen the bolt to push shocks from each other |O <-- --> O|

Those graphics are top view of car bay.
Hope someone will understand it.

[Fezzy Turbo]

If your fitting strut braces, please remember to tell your insurance. They will know if you have fitted them because if you do have a bash, damage will transfer over to the other side as well. I did have to pay a little but more for having strut braces.

[Norbertas]

As i understand from other forums, it is better to mount strut brace when the car is lifted, to have no self weight tention on shocks. After mounting it, to tighten slightly, adjusting bolt, so both sides have minimum tention to each other. And only then put the car back on ground. Is that correct?

[Fezzy Turbo]

As i understand from other forums, it is better to mount strut brace when the car is lifted, to have no self weight tention on shocks. After mounting it, to tighten slightly, adjusting bolt, so both sides have minimum tention to each other. And only then put the car back on ground. Is that correct?

No idea, i just fitted mine when it was on the ground with no problems. They do work very well

[sparkyt]

They worked a wonder on mine, makes round abouts very fun, you can then slide it with confidence. fitted mine on ground and just tensioned up front one very slightly as i think too much tension will alter the geometry which without the special gear to set it up could make tyres wear incorrectly. Also could be a bit dangerous.

[TANGO.]

just a thought about my rear omp brace, I know it should be fitted the correct way with the sticker reading the right way, but would it make any difference in fitting it the other way around so that the cup bit wraps around the suspension turret, I just think it looks better that way!!!!

[Excursion]

As i understand from other forums, it is better to mount strut brace when the car is lifted, to have no self weight tention on shocks. After mounting it, to tighten slightly, adjusting bolt, so both sides have minimum tention to each other. And only then put the car back on ground. Is that correct?

That is correct.

A similar principle applies to lower arms; the 2 inner nuts/bolts should only be tightened when the car is back on the ground.

[Excursion]

just a thought about my rear omp brace, I know it should be fitted the correct way with the sticker reading the right way, but would it make any difference in fitting it the other way around so that the cup bit wraps around the suspension turret, I just think it looks better that way!!!!

Yes, that's how I fitted mine. I had to 'massage' the turrets with a lump hammer to get sufficient clearance.

The rear strut brace is useless when fited in the way it was desgned to.

A Mk3 rear strut brace should bridge the shoulder of the turret. I see some welded on the flat panel inside the boot, and some like the OMP which bridge the bolts - both desings are useless.

[scottybo]

not to mention they look cool