CORSASCHNELL

Has anyone installed a front strut brace? Does it change the handling characteristics?


http://www.automotion.com/performanc...r-porsche.html


Seems easy to install but I am not sure if it will improve handling or not. Any input will be appreciated.

Fred R. C4S

Send me $350 and I'll make you a better driver.

You will feel no effect of a strut brace on a 997 other than you will have more room for a thinner wallet.

mdrums

Waste!....your 997 doesn't need it and basically has one built into the tub..

Hatzenbach

+1 on that

Edgy01

Years ago a 911 benefitted from such a strut. I had one in my aging 911. It definitely helped--back then. When the 996 and 997 was developed they took such issues into consideration and they no longer provide any assistance whatsoever. There are a few companies who make such a strut for the 997, but it's completely unnecessary.

CORSASCHNELL

Your worries aside for my wallet and my driving skills, do you speak from experience with such strut brace or just pulling it out of thin air. I was looking for some comments based onfactual and actual usage, but thanks for your concerns.

Hatzenbach

My experience is from my Boxster years, where the strut brace did absolutely nothing except wasting money. I would assume that a 997 is stiffer than a 986 so I think my experience still holds water.

Fred R. C4S

In the days prior to the 964, the structural rigidity of the front tub of a 911 was a bit of a "flexible flyer". With each succeeding generation, particularly the 996 and 997 generations, the design of the front tub strut towers and bulkhead, together with higher strength steels need for crash protection have made a strut brace unnecessary.
However, if you'd like to show some bling when to open the trunk, knock you self out.

Check my signature line, I've owned 964, 993, 996, and 997 models. Trust this retired mechanical and structural engineer, you don't need and will not benefit from a strut brace.

Edgy01

What Fred said.

Spiffyjiff

i have no idea why but people are still amazed - even fellow porsche guys - if they see me jack the car up from a front jack point and both front wheels lift off ground. "holy crap that's rigid!"

Edgy01

these things are very stiff

RudyP

I'd have to agree with what has been said. I just installed a strut brace on my 993 because they can have (and mine) did a bit of windshield creaking over bumps due to chassis flex. Various 993 Rennlisters suggested the strut brace and it really did help - essentially getting rid of the noise! I was impressed enough that I thought about getting one for my 997 and took off all the plastic covers at the top of the frunk to take a peek and it turns out that the 997 essentially already has cross-members attached at the top of the suspension points that meet up under the windshield - it seems to me to be substantially braced out of the box so I did not order another brace. Maybe not the most scientific thing in the world but my impression is that unlike in older 911s, the job is already done on the newer cars.

iammulva

Somewhat unrelated, but I like reading posts like these... Makes me happy that I don't have some margin for improvement to chase in power, handling, braking, etc. I know, there *are* improvements to be had, but they are beyond my bang-for-the-buck threshold so I easily ignore the temptation.


So I pay a little more up front for a car that is extremely well designed/equipped and then just put gas in it and then -->

jhbrennan

But if you're going to do that to change wheels, etc. use the rear jacking point to lift both wheels.

CORSASCHNELL

OK guys, got it. Thanks for all the input, will pass on the strut brace.

Cheers.