Rear Strut Bars

Topic: Rear Strut Bars (Read 2160 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear Strut Bars

February 07, 2007, 05:26:23 PM

I dont know if out cars benefit from a rear strut bar or not. My Focus did, but the Focus doesnt have a rear package shelf and theres alot of side to side flex when cornering. Anyway Im putting one on the Bird. It comes off a 88-91ish 3.8V6 Contenental. It will drop right over the shock studs. The mounting holes are slotted. I test fitted it on several J-yard Birds and Cougs. On some cars it just fit on the outside edge of the slots, on others more toward the inside. On my car it just fits on the outside of the slots. I may tack a couple thick washers on to get rid of the slot and to reduce movement. Im going to paint it and slap a ford racing sticker on it so I can pretend it cost alot more than it really did.

I paid $2.50 at the U-Pull-It.

Sorry about the pics, but you get the idea.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #1 – February 07, 2007, 07:30:30 PM

While a neat junkyard find, i dont know how much it will help.

Guess it cant hurt.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #2 – February 07, 2007, 08:08:07 PM

Quote from: Tbird232ci;128146

While a neat junkyard find, i dont know how much it will help.

Guess it cant hurt.

Interesting indeed.

Let us know of your findings.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #3 – February 07, 2007, 08:36:33 PM

It's probably going to be a minimal gain, if any. Especially just bolted to the top of the shocks with the rubber bushings.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #4 – February 07, 2007, 09:07:43 PM

Yeah Im not expecting much. Im going to install it under the bushing. It will just clear the spare tire.

At less than 2 lbs, its just a handy place to put a Ford Racing decal.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #5 – February 08, 2007, 09:45:26 AM

So Ive been thinking about this since last night. 49 views 3 replies. Im guessing that alot of you guys only consider whats under the car as far as suspension goes.

Heres a trick I learned a long time ago.

Take an old shower curtain rod and cut both ends down so it will fit between your rear wheel wells by compressing it about 2-3 inches. Put some paint on the inner rod at the seam where the inner and outer rod come together. Go out and flog your car on a road course or however you drive it. When your done, go look at the distrubed paint to see how much the rod has compressed.

Im betting these cars flex alot more than you realize. On my Focus, again no rear package tray, the flex was almost 2 inches. The bar I installed went from the middle of each wheelwell. It had a 2-hole plate on each end, and I had to drill through the wheelwell to install it. It made a huge difference in cornering, Im not an autocrosser or any other kind of racer, but by my untrained observation I could tell a difference.

Anyway, I had a 88 Conti and was amused that such a smallish bar was on the rear of such a big car, so while I was j-yarding I checked to see if it would fit, and it does.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #6 – February 08, 2007, 10:01:06 AM

Quote from: TucanSam;128246

So Ive been thinking about this since last night. 49 views 3 replies. Im guessing that alot of you guys only consider whats under the car as far as suspension goes.

Heres a trick I learned a long time ago.

Take an old shower curtain rod and cut both ends down so it will fit between your rear wheel wells by compressing it about 2-3 inches. Put some paint on the inner rod at the seam where the inner and outer rod come together. Go out and flog your car on a road course or however you drive it. When your done, go look at the distrubed paint to see how much the rod has compressed.

Im betting these cars flex alot more than you realize. On my Focus, again no rear package tray, the flex was almost 2 inches. The bar I installed went from the middle of each wheelwell. It had a 2-hole plate on each end, and I had to drill through the wheelwell to install it. It made a huge difference in cornering, Im not an autocrosser or any other kind of racer, but by my untrained observation I could tell a difference.

Anyway, I had a 88 Conti and was amused that such a smallish bar was on the rear of such a big car, so while I was j-yarding I checked to see if it would fit, and it does.

sounds like a great way to judge flex. might want to fab one up that is bigger if this one does help and throw in the beefier one for more imporvement. i cant make things like this cause i would go overboard and make it look like a cage and just add more weight to the car

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #7 – February 08, 2007, 10:01:18 AM

Quote from: TucanSam;128246

So Ive been thinking about this since last night. 49 views 3 replies. Im guessing that alot of you guys only consider whats under the car as far as suspension goes.

.

Nope....you have to have a strong foundation....thus the cage in my car.

Something like a thin support between the rear shock towers is pretty much worthless. Things like SFCs, STBs and other substantial bracing is much more effective.

Yeah, you only spent $2.50 on it, but you get what you paid for. If it was triangulated at all it might be worth something. If it was rigidly attached to the body it would be worth something.

These cars are not hatchbacks that flex wildly, even under normal driving. The rear springs also don't exert their forces on the body at the shock towers as the rear susp is not a coil-over configuration.

If it make you feel better, fine. But it's not that much of an "upgrade" on these cars.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #8 – February 08, 2007, 10:05:25 AM

Quote from: Chuck W;128254

If it was triangulated at all it might be worth something. If it was rigidly attached to the body it would be worth something.

thats what i ws thinking about. down to the floor or something

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #9 – February 08, 2007, 11:50:36 AM

On the Conti it is attached to the body. And, yes I dont expect it do anything other than sit there, and look like its doing something.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #10 – February 08, 2007, 05:11:28 PM

Hmmm, I might try the shower curtain rod idea just for giggles since I do have coil overs in the back.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #11 – February 08, 2007, 05:45:27 PM

Quote from: Dogcharmer;128331

Hmmm, I might try the shower curtain rod idea just for giggles since I do have coil overs in the back.

If I were you, I'd just reinforce the shock towers by default.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #12 – February 08, 2007, 07:32:05 PM

agreed, w/coilovers id definatley do some type of reinforcement for good measure.
if you do want to check it with the curtian rod method, a zip tie works well to guage the compression distance. thats how i check travel on shock rods.

Rear Strut Bars

Reply #13 – February 08, 2007, 11:12:40 PM

Quote from: gumby;128356

agreed, w/coilovers id definatley do some type of reinforcement for good measure.
if you do want to check it with the curtian rod method, a zip tie works well to guage the compression distance. thats how i check travel on shock rods.

Thats an even better idea. In addition to compressing it also elongates, so however much the ziptie moves, multiply by 2.