SJB993

When fitting a strut brace (the one Gert sells):-

1) Should it be adjusted to push the struts apart or pull them together?

2) How much tightening force should be applied?

Thanks.

InTheAir

It should be snug--both in terms of compression and tension--along its length. As far as the tightening force, well, there should be very little preload in the brace itself between the towers, just snugged enough to prevent cross-vehicle movement.

The force to tighten the brace TO the tower is Porsche-speced at 24 ft/lbs. However, I would recommend less at about 17-20 ft/lbs, otherwise you could shear off the spring perch stud (ask me how I know ).

SJB993

Thanks Jeff.

So is the procedure as follows?

1) Remove two nuts from each strut.
2) Place strut brace in position and twist the brace's tube so that the holes in its mounting brackets touch the struts' studs (i.e. take up the clearance in the brackets' holes, but with minimal sideways pressure on the studs - from what you said it doesn't seem to matter whether you make the brace push or pull against the studs).
3) Tigthen the brace tube's locking nuts.
4) Replace the strut nuts.

TIA

NP993

I would invert the order of 3 & 4 above. If you tighten the tube before the nuts, you'll probably find that the strut brace brackets will get cocked on the mounting studs.

InTheAir

I agree with Noah.

As far as which direction to adjust the brace to take up the clearance in the bracket holes, it is important to understand that the strut brace works under tension. A couple of years ago we had a loooong thread about this topic and the inventor of the KLA brace provided input to show that the strut brace is acting under tension (i.e. as you corner, the outside front wheel is being flexed so that the top portion of the tire moves outward). Thus, the strut brace is transferring the load as the top of the tower move outward.

So, with this in mind, you can adjust the brace during installation such that it is snugged in a "pulling" movement between the towers. However, you just want it snug so that you don't introduce any alignment changes (admittedly hard to do, but you get the idea).

Hope this helps.

SJB993

Thanks Jeff and Noah.

I'm clear on what to do now!

Take care.