strut tower failure
#841
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Strut tower reinforcement plate modifications
Members who have purchased these plates from Porsche motorsport have likely noticed that on the passenger side there's two "flanges" that can be secured to the car @ the points shown nicely in Cmosman's post. On the driver's side the plate is a bit different than the one on the CS in that it's only possible to fasten it in one place, by the windshield washer fluid cap.
After closer inspection & taking some measurements, I decided to modify the motorsport plates in such a way that they could actually be bolted down by the flanges to three different locations. In this way the secure flanges & steel plate actually press down on the strut tower hat from above further reinforcing the vulnerable aluminium strut tower top.
Here is a photo of my driver's side plate. Note the welded flange on the plate in ~ 12:30 position (from the top of photo), then the existing flange secured as previously described in ~ 4:00 position. The loose bracket adjacent to the plate will be welded to the plate directly in front ~ 9:00 position, this will bolt down directly in front of the tower.
Look closely at the bracket which has two 90 degree bends, & the top part is angled at 12.5 degrees coinciding with the angle of the tower. The passenger side is configured in a similar way.
Having the plate secured in this way has the strut mounted through the tower top & plate with total of 6 bolts when complete. The plate is 1/8" steel & the added flanges are 3/16" steel.
The other thing to note is the thickness of the tower top is ~ 1/8" aluminium & the points to which the steel plates are mounted are significantly thicker (~ 3/8") or greater. I'll measure these with calipers next time I'm under the hood.
Members who have purchased these plates from Porsche motorsport have likely noticed that on the passenger side there's two "flanges" that can be secured to the car @ the points shown nicely in Cmosman's post. On the driver's side the plate is a bit different than the one on the CS in that it's only possible to fasten it in one place, by the windshield washer fluid cap.
After closer inspection & taking some measurements, I decided to modify the motorsport plates in such a way that they could actually be bolted down by the flanges to three different locations. In this way the secure flanges & steel plate actually press down on the strut tower hat from above further reinforcing the vulnerable aluminium strut tower top.
Here is a photo of my driver's side plate. Note the welded flange on the plate in ~ 12:30 position (from the top of photo), then the existing flange secured as previously described in ~ 4:00 position. The loose bracket adjacent to the plate will be welded to the plate directly in front ~ 9:00 position, this will bolt down directly in front of the tower.
Look closely at the bracket which has two 90 degree bends, & the top part is angled at 12.5 degrees coinciding with the angle of the tower. The passenger side is configured in a similar way.
Having the plate secured in this way has the strut mounted through the tower top & plate with total of 6 bolts when complete. The plate is 1/8" steel & the added flanges are 3/16" steel.
The other thing to note is the thickness of the tower top is ~ 1/8" aluminium & the points to which the steel plates are mounted are significantly thicker (~ 3/8") or greater. I'll measure these with calipers next time I'm under the hood.
Last edited by G-forceGT4; 03-28-2019 at 02:58 AM. Reason: grammar & extra info
#842
Race Car
Saw another one at a track this weekend.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
He did make out better than a Wolf at the same corner. That car must have had something mechanical go wrong. Went through the gravel trap, through the tire barrier and knocked over the concrete Jersey barrier.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
He did make out better than a Wolf at the same corner. That car must have had something mechanical go wrong. Went through the gravel trap, through the tire barrier and knocked over the concrete Jersey barrier.
#843
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Saw another one at a track this weekend.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
He did make out better than a Wolf at the same corner. That car must have had something mechanical go wrong. Went through the gravel trap, through the tire barrier and knocked over the concrete Jersey barrier.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
He did make out better than a Wolf at the same corner. That car must have had something mechanical go wrong. Went through the gravel trap, through the tire barrier and knocked over the concrete Jersey barrier.
#844
Rennlist Member
Saw another one at a track this weekend.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
He did make out better than a Wolf at the same corner. That car must have had something mechanical go wrong. Went through the gravel trap, through the tire barrier and knocked over the concrete Jersey barrier.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
He did make out better than a Wolf at the same corner. That car must have had something mechanical go wrong. Went through the gravel trap, through the tire barrier and knocked over the concrete Jersey barrier.
any more details?
#845
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Rennlist Member
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Originally Posted by Dr.Bill
Saw another one at a track this weekend.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
Failed near the end of a relatively fast long sweeper ('ego check' at Spring Mountain). Probably near 120 in a GT4.
Unfortunately, caused the car to fly into the gravel trap and sustain even more front end damage. Missed the tire barrier by a few feet.
How was it determined that the strut tower failed on track (before the car went into the trap)?
Last edited by johnsopa; 04-08-2019 at 01:09 PM.
#846
That is a bit hard to believe that it failed before it went off track. Pure speculation on my part, but claiming that could be a convenient excuse for a driver to not own the mishap.
#847
Race Car
In regards to the GT4; apparently when he got on the brakes hard, the front end collapsed. That's what caused the off road excursion. Out of respect for the owner, I took no photos. The cast aluminum pieces of both strut towers clearly fractured. And is surprisingly thin!
Don't know about the Wolf incident. The driver left in an ambulance. Was reported to be awake and alert, likely with multiple rib fractures. Got no updates on his condition. There was nothing on the track surface. A couple Radicals were off in other locations too. Sometimes the members get a bit exuberant.
Don't know about the Wolf incident. The driver left in an ambulance. Was reported to be awake and alert, likely with multiple rib fractures. Got no updates on his condition. There was nothing on the track surface. A couple Radicals were off in other locations too. Sometimes the members get a bit exuberant.
#848
In regards to the GT4; apparently when he got on the brakes hard, the front end collapsed. That's what caused the off road excursion. Out of respect for the owner, I took no photos. The cast aluminum pieces of both strut towers clearly fractured. And is surprisingly thin!
Don't know about the Wolf incident. The driver left in an ambulance. Was reported to be awake and alert, likely with multiple rib fractures. Got no updates on his condition. There was nothing on the track surface. A couple Radicals were off in other locations too. Sometimes the members get a bit exuberant.
Don't know about the Wolf incident. The driver left in an ambulance. Was reported to be awake and alert, likely with multiple rib fractures. Got no updates on his condition. There was nothing on the track surface. A couple Radicals were off in other locations too. Sometimes the members get a bit exuberant.
#850
In regards to the GT4; apparently when he got on the brakes hard, the front end collapsed. That's what caused the off road excursion. Out of respect for the owner, I took no photos. The cast aluminum pieces of both strut towers clearly fractured. And is surprisingly thin!
Don't know about the Wolf incident. The driver left in an ambulance. Was reported to be awake and alert, likely with multiple rib fractures. Got no updates on his condition. There was nothing on the track surface. A couple Radicals were off in other locations too. Sometimes the members get a bit exuberant.
Don't know about the Wolf incident. The driver left in an ambulance. Was reported to be awake and alert, likely with multiple rib fractures. Got no updates on his condition. There was nothing on the track surface. A couple Radicals were off in other locations too. Sometimes the members get a bit exuberant.
#851
Rennlist Member
F1
^ This reminds me of Buemi
#852
Rennlist Member
#854
Race Car
It's not like it has to happen all at once, due to a single "incident"..... such as hitting a pothole, going off a berm on the track, or in this alleged case, under hard braking.
I seem to recall one post where the owner was simply driving down the freeway.... when one of his towers failed.
#855
If you've followed some of the posts by owners that have experienced their strut towers fail, the towers seem to incur micro-fractures which later lead to total failure.
It's not like it has to happen all at once, due to a single "incident"..... such as hitting a pothole, going off a berm on the track, or in this alleged case, under hard braking.
I seem to recall one post where the owner was simply driving down the freeway.... when one of his towers failed.
It's not like it has to happen all at once, due to a single "incident"..... such as hitting a pothole, going off a berm on the track, or in this alleged case, under hard braking.
I seem to recall one post where the owner was simply driving down the freeway.... when one of his towers failed.