4re308

Howdy, I am looking for a real carbon fiber strut tower brace for my 89 951. I've called all over and no one has one, or makes one that I know of. Does anyone know a company or person that sells these?? Can they be made? I was thinking of having my fabricator make one out of titanium, if I cannot locate a CF piece I will do Ti.

Porsche-O-Phile

Why carbon fiber? Aluminum is almost as light and would be far more flexible. Carbon is strong in compression but will shatter if flexed.

Matt H

I have never seen one in CF before. Doesnt mean it doesnt exist, however.
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Rich Sandor

KERMIT!!!!

The Factory 968 turbo RS strut brace is carbon fibre. There are also only like, 4 in existance.

It you were to buy or make an aftermarket CF strut brace, it should be autoclaved so that it has the proper strength. Just using carbon fiber sheet impregnated in normal fibreglass resin will not have anywhere near the same strength as a steel or even aluminium bar.

PCinDC

The only CF Strut tower brace I've seen is on the factory 968 TRS. Beautiful peice, if you search the archives you can probably find a picture of it. Never seen one on a 944 and IIRC the two aren't interchangeable.

LOL Rich beat me to it.

Rich Sandor

Also FYI, iirc, the factory 924 GTR /GTP and 968 TRS race cars had triangulated strut towers. That is to say there was an extra tube welded to the strut tower going to the firewall. However I don't think a street car or DE car will ever achieve the amounts of grip needed to require weld in triangulation, but it's a fun fact nonetheless.

Matt H

Rich, I respectfully disagree. In fact, I would say that a non-triangulated bar is really not doing a whole lot. It may keep the towers from flexing seperately from each other (they are still flexing a bunch just not opposite of each other) but I dont think it adds much in the way of chassis stiffening.

Do you have a pic of the above triangulated bars? Dont recall ever seeing one.
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toddk911

You could do CF overlay.

But for the right price my buddy owns a fiberglass company and can make anyting you want.

Matt H

Do you understand the point of a strut brace? There is no way you are going to make FG (or non-autoclaved CF, and even then I have my doubts) strong enough for this purpose. If you are looking to add it as a show piece then go buy a Honda, you can do the whole car in CF if it suits your fancy.
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toddk911

Do you understand you can do carbon fiber overlay on any material?

He can get it in aluminum or titanium and have it overlayed in CF.

Matt H

I was referring to this, which appears to be an offer to make FG strut bars.
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Damian in NJ

I've seen two of the Porsche Motorsport yellow carbon fiber strut tower braces. One nice thing is you can run the 968 engine vanity cover, removal is not necessary. I hear Dynatech may be making them . . . but nothing yet. The factory pieces were over $2,000-I saw one at a NNJR Autox a couple of years ago, this guy had one on a 968 slate grey coupe and he said he'd bought the last one Porsche Motorsport had in inventory.

toddk911

"I was referring to this, which appears to be an offer to make FG strut bars."

Gotcha.

tifosiman

From my experience with Titanium (various Al/Mg mixes), it is not the proper material for a strut brace. It is rather flexy. You would be better off with some sort of aluminum mix or CF.

4re308

Hi everyone, wow thanks for your replies. I understand that CF might be to stiff for a strut brace. I do not put anything on the car for cosmetic purposes, only items that will enhance the car's performance or reliability. I was considering the CF and Ti pieces for lightness. My fabricator suggested good steel or inconel.