Handling gurus

[cymatty]

Looking at ordering the following tomorrow,

Whiteline rear ARB Uprated Rear anti roll bar, complete with bushes - 3 position adjustable

(Dramatically increases resistance to understeer) acording to the bumf

and a

CUSCO
Front lower strut brace - 2 point - Alloy

Would these make a noticeable difference to handling and feel?

I want to order tomorrow so asap answers much appreciated.

 

[cymatty]

Rear ARB should, assuming its a sizable difference over the standard item.

The strut brace is a bit more debatable. If the rest of the suspension is stiff, it'll help stiffen things up a bit more, but on its own the effect will be much less.

Well the rear ARB will differ from the standard item 17mm to 20mm, the car already has trd lowering springs and I am hoping that the lower front strut brace will tie everything up.

Or I am better biting the bullet and buying the more expensive TRD topmounts for all the suspension (front ad rear)? Instead of the front strut.

 

[cymatty]

It all depends on how hard you regularly drive and what sort of handling you're after.

The car is really a weekend car and so gets driven as such, I want a more point and go handling car, at the minute it has a tendancy to understeer and so I want it to stop doing this (be less of a gt car).

 

[cymatty]

Sounds like a good plan to go for both then

Cheers which would be better though, replacing the front lower brace or replacing all the topmounts for TRD jobbies?

 

[cymatty]

Topmounts and a decent geo setup will give more of a difference than a brace, but I can't see them being even close pricewise?

Front strut £120

4X trd top mounts £160

 

[cymatty]

I like my cars to have a lose arse end, so I always upgrade the rear ARB. I fitted my Scooby with a Whiteline adjustable, and have also done it to both of my Integras. It definately makes a difference, reduces understeer and just makes it more eager to loosen the back end when past the limit of grip. This works great on the Integra as it's very progressive and communicative, but if I'm honest it made the Scoob a bit prone to snap-oversteer.

That's better then understeer though

Cheers Drexel, was waiting for you to come along.

What about the front strut Vs top mount debate.

 

[cymatty]

Adjustible top mounts (I assume the TRD items are adjustible?) will give you more options to fine tune your geo, which could make a noticable difference too. Especially if your OE top mounts are worn.

Do it all

No the TRD ones are set and non adjstable, just more heavy duty than standard

 

[cymatty]

In that case, if your current top-mounts are in good condition and you already have an upper strut brace then I would personally think that a lower brace would make more of a difference than TRD topmounts.

Like Dolph said it depends on how hard it gets driven and how much flex the standard structure allows at the bottom.

The gt4 has an upper brace as part of the super strut config.

 

[cymatty]

Well I am not sure on the top mounts condition, I am guessing that they will be 10+ years old so I am guessing they wont be in brilliant condition.

What benefit are uprated top mounts?

Uprating the top mounts gives much more positive location to the suspension strut on your car, providing the following benefits,

1, More precise steering with better feedback.

2, Shock absorbers can work more effectively, because they no longer compress the standard soggy rubber mount first, thus providing better spring control.

3, Helps maintain Camber settings under heavy cornering.

4, Helps maintain Castor settings under heavy cornering.

5, Better wheel location under braking.

What about the rear?

1, As above except the steering feel!

Why do we reccomend trd top mounts for road cars?

1, TRD top mounts are made using a harder shore rubber combined with the factory housings and if on a front mount, the bearing is factory equipment as well.

2, Because they are H/D rubber, they still have some compliance which provides good ride quality.

3, They are a perfect fit everytime.

4, We personally have done over 60,000 miles using them on one vehicle, proving their reliability.

5, They are not as harsh as rosejointed/spherical bearing type top mounts.

Are trd top mounts adjustable?

1, TRD top mounts are not adjustable. If you wish to adjust camber - please see our camber bolts.

Is this all bumf?

 

[cymatty]

I wouldn't replace the top mounts unless you were getting adjustables. That way, you can pack on enough camber to make even penski cream himself

I have been advised not to go for the front lower brace as it does not make hardly any difference on these cars and the top mounts will, even if the old ones are ok.

 

[cymatty]

If they are a harder grade then they will stop the suspension going out of geometry as much. A good thing really and it what a strut brace aims to do, albeit by reducing chassis flex rather than compliance in the suspension.

By fitting a front lower brace you may actually increase understeer as you are stiffening the front end up.

I think that is what people said, fitting the rear arb will decrease understeer and fitting the front lower strut will increse understeer, putting you back at stage 1.

The top mounts are described as TRD Heavy Duty Front Suspension Top Mounts, so going off what you are saying these would be a worthwile investment?

 

[cymatty]

I had trd uprated top mounts on my superstrut ss3 and with coilovers just ate them up in no time, there just the same as stock but harder rubber

changed to cusco spherical bearing top mounts and what a difference, suspension is really working well now.

Wonder how much of that is down to the coilovers though?

 

[cymatty]

These are my current top mounts they look ok to me, but are they ok?