Strut Brace Effects

[Bumber]

I really need to stiffen out my sideways sway. I notice it particularly in the rear.
I would like to get the front done as well, but the rear seems to be a fair bit more anoying at the moment.

Is she gonna become overly slippery in the rear end if I stick in on?
Would she be unbalanced if I were running with only a brace in the rear?
Anyone tried it?
What's the price difference 'tween the back and the front?

[ShortysTRM]

It sounds to me like you need a stiffer rear sway-bar, rather than a strut brace. A strut brace will only increase rigidity, not decrease body roll. However, a stiffer car is not a bad thing, so get everything you can. First suspension mod that I would suggest to any FWD car is a stiffer rear sway-bar. It drastically reduces understeer and body roll and can actually make the rear step out on some occasions.

[r53silver91s]

I would also go w/ sway bars, stb's don't get rid of the body roll.

[jabartram]

I run front and rear STB's and my car handles very well on stock sways, my rearend has never tried to get away from me and I drive HARD! for the money I'm impressed with them!

[ShortysTRM]

personally, I want my rear to come around before my front slides out, as understeer is no fun at all.

[Redog]

Yeah it sounds like you want sway bars not tower braces

I have to tower braces on my car and I notice less body roll but sways would greatly reduce body roll

[Pacho]

This could be the dumbest question any of you have heard but:
Can you get front and rear aftermarket sway bars and front and rear aftermarket strut braces put on the alero at the same time?

[BLK03GXS]

If you mean all 4 devices as a package i dont beleave so.. but i know you can get a front and rear swaybar kit, and then buy the strut tower braces seperate :thumbsup:

[Pacho]

If I instead wanted to just buy one kit (either strut brace or swaybar), which one would increase handling the most and which one do ya'll think is better?

[2ndAlero]

Originally posted by Pacho@May 1 2004, 10:18 PM
If I instead wanted to just buy one kit (either strut brace or swaybar), which one would increase handling the most and which one do ya'll think is better?
With out a doubt, if you are looking at sway bars (front and back), and strut tower brakces (front and back)... I'd get them in this order:

1) Rear Sway Bar
2) Front strut tower brace
3) Rear strut tower brace
4) Front Sway Bar (and I actually wouldn't and haven't done this one)

I actually played around with the install of all of these items. I ran my car with just the rear sway bar, just the front brace, just the rear brace, the rear sway bar & the front strut brace, and then all three.

I made my list based on what I saw performance wise. Understand that will all of these on I had my Intrax springs at the time... but at least I tested all three individually under the same setup.

[BLK03GXS]

i would go with a front and rear sway bar kit, could make the car a bit twitchy to you at first.. while your not usto it... but responce will emprove

[Rubered00]

If your not someone with extensive experience working on car would the sway bars be something that i would need to have a professional install??? And are they visible on the car from ne angle without getting underneath the car (that might be a dumb question)?????

[FormulaNERD]

no, they arent visible without getting underneath the car... well maybe 6" in front or behind the car, at ground level, but that's practically underneath the car.... i think that's what you're asking.

[Naich]

Strut tower braces are worth it IMO, and the installation couldn't be any easier. Sway bars help a lot more, but the isntallation is a lot harder.

[mobs241]

if you can screw a screw you can install a sway bar..
just got to unbolt a few bolts and bolt a few back on.


might have to pry the links apart though .. never messed with it on a ho






that was the voice of the official aleromod mechanic in training.
please stay tuned for more news and updates.

[flalero]

Strut tower braces are designed to reduce body flex, not body roll. As stated many times already, sway bars will give you the biggest handling improvement, right after lowering the car with good springs and struts.

[Final-Reality]

Strut tower braces do make a noticeably better driving experience when cornering near the limits of the car. I noticed the car is much more predictable with them installed; the chassis can't flex as much and thus will hold a more consistent line with a given steering input. I can definately throw it into corners with more quickly and with more confidence than what I could before, and that's the only handling modification I've done to the car, no swaybars yet.

[jeremythebear]

Front swaybar 3-4 hours - should be knowledgeable - not an easy boltin
Rear swaybar 1-2 hours - much much easier
Front and rear strut bars - piece of cake

[Vtolds]

I have both front and rear braces and I have noticed a small amount of reduced body roll or atleast the whole car rolls as one big piece instead of the front tipping in or the rear tipping down. Atleast that is what it feels like to me when I corner hard.

[AGT]

Originally posted by VTOLDS@Nov 16 2004, 07:34 PM
I have both front and rear braces and I have noticed a small amount of reduced body roll or atleast the whole car rolls as one big piece instead of the front tipping in or the rear tipping down. Atleast that is what it feels like to me when I corner hard.
I agree with VTOLDS...I mean they are worth buying to me.

[flalero]

Originally posted by Final-Reality@Nov 16 2004, 10:31 AM
Strut tower braces do make a noticeably better driving experience when cornering near the limits of the car. I noticed the car is much more predictable with them installed; the chassis can't flex as much and thus will hold a more consistent line with a given steering input. I can definately throw it into corners with more quickly and with more confidence than what I could before, and that's the only handling modification I've done to the car, no swaybars yet.
Agree 100%. I have front and rear STB's, and the turn in is a little more predictable.

[No53Alero]

what kind of sway bars came on the factory performance suspension package as it handles awesome. Of course my last car was a lowrider which could take bends great but not compared to the Alero!

[mike2002]

how do i know what came on my car stock? my car handled like ass when i first got it. i must have had the cushy suspension or somthing....is it just the stuts thats the difference? all i know is its a 2001 gls, so far it seems like i have every possible option, pwr mnroof, 16" premium polished rims (the squarish spoked ones) monsoon, leather, spoiler, dont know what else was a option


from what ive heard, do the rear sway bar first BUT get greasable bushings, they have to be modded VERY VERY slightly to fit, but it wont squeak, and there like $13. then do the front STB, then rear STB. id leave the front sway alone,

i have kyb/spring techs. everything else stock, i took it to a empty mall parking lot and tried to take some fast turns, the understeer is HORRIBLE

[Spilner521]

a few guys have said to do rear sway bar and front and rear stb's but to leave out the front sway bar. any special reason for this?

[flalero]

From what I understand, this will dial in some major oversteer. I kind of like some oversteer, but I would rather have neutral car, so I will probably put a front sway bar in also, when I get there. I also understand it is kind of a PITA to change out the front sway bar.

[Final-Reality]

A stiffer front antiroll bar will increase understeer. Since it's a FWD car, it already does this enough. Adding a stiffer rear bar will help reduce the understeer. By how much I can't say, I don't have one, but I'd be interested in the adjustable one from Mantapart..

[Youngblood77]

I've read a few threads on this topic over on the GAgt forums. There's alot of autocrossers over there, and the general consencious over there is that( with lowering springs ) a larger Rear Sway with a Front STB is the best set-up for our cars, if you're looking for a basic neutral set-up. Very predictable, and carves much better than stock.

Handling-wise, the rear stb doesn't do much, but it's worth the cash because somehow it reduces road noise.