Hi, I been doing some modifications to my car, has it's first time I done something like this on a car, I have got a few questions, if u guys could help me that would be great, I own a a3 2002 1.6 and I want to put a strut bar on it, I already done the coil overs and something is missing there, which strut bar shall I put, as already tried and the suspension don't have holes to screw the bar on it and the bonnet didn't shut..I am quite confuse with that..do I need a upper strut bar mounting kit or something similar?pls help, thanks
Upper strut bar on A3 2002
- Thread starter Expanhol
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Mrharris2
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You need to drill holes around the struts and fit it that way a tt or s3 strut brace will fit with a little cutting of the passenger side strut brace where you bolt down as it fouls the bonnet catch. Easy done
Mrharris2
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i fit mine with absolutely no trimming... It's tight though! Just be precise about where you put it
I just don't understand why.
Especially at the expense of drilling holes in your strut tops. It won't add anything measurable other than weight.
If you imagine a box without a lid this is your suspension at the moment [_]
And that with the strut brace all you are doing is putting a top on that box.
It's still going to flex unless it is triangulated in a way that fixes two opposing points, fixing the boxes dimensions by the strength of the triangulation.
You really think that the strut tops are going to move THAT MUCH under cornering on road tires? If you do, you're mental. Your tires are going to lose grip half a G before the strut tops think about flexing.
Guess what the fastest A3 on the forum, which pulls more lateral G's and has more front end grip DOESN'T have fitted? The front strut brace which was bought for it probably 6 years ago.
And on a 1.6? Really?
I don't aim to be derogatory about the car or the performance, but it's more that you're going to permanently drill holes in the strut mounts which will be irreversible. I really wouldn't recommend it at all.
Especially at the expense of drilling holes in your strut tops. It won't add anything measurable other than weight.
If you imagine a box without a lid this is your suspension at the moment [_]
And that with the strut brace all you are doing is putting a top on that box.
It's still going to flex unless it is triangulated in a way that fixes two opposing points, fixing the boxes dimensions by the strength of the triangulation.
You really think that the strut tops are going to move THAT MUCH under cornering on road tires? If you do, you're mental. Your tires are going to lose grip half a G before the strut tops think about flexing.
Guess what the fastest A3 on the forum, which pulls more lateral G's and has more front end grip DOESN'T have fitted? The front strut brace which was bought for it probably 6 years ago.
And on a 1.6? Really?
I don't aim to be derogatory about the car or the performance, but it's more that you're going to permanently drill holes in the strut mounts which will be irreversible. I really wouldn't recommend it at all.
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^^LOL! Audi thought they'd fit one to an S3 to add weight I suppose... It serves a function, maybe not much use on a 1.6 mind, but there must be some sort of benefit!
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I hate to say it but I tend to agree with Jarrod here... And lets face it this is about as democratic and tactful as he gets! lol
You will see little to no benefit from fitting a strut brace, and in the wet you are even likely to experience more understeer with a strut brace.
Saying that I have one on my A3... Do what ever makes you happy pal!
You will see little to no benefit from fitting a strut brace, and in the wet you are even likely to experience more understeer with a strut brace.
Saying that I have one on my A3... Do what ever makes you happy pal!
I didn't think it would make a difference but it changes the feel of the car. I fitted one at the same time as a lower subframe brace and the car immediately felt tighter.
Turn in feels better.
Maybe you can't measure the difference but the car "feels" better.
Prawn wouldn't benefit from a strutbrace anyway since he has a full cage providing rigidity
From experience on my VRS S3 lower brace induced more understeer, fitted it 1st and had to put my RARB on the stiffest setting, added the upper brace later on and can say it made next to no difference, just like the look of it
Dan-Jnr
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If he wants to put a strut brace on let him. It's his car, he can do what he wants with it.
He wasn't asking would it benefit from having one, but how to fit one.
We all learn about our cars by tinkering with them ourselves, this is first time modifying his.
He wasn't asking would it benefit from having one, but how to fit one.
We all learn about our cars by tinkering with them ourselves, this is first time modifying his.
I wanted to use horse feces as a polishing compound until somebody told told me it was a bad idea.
Same difference.
Same difference.
Dan-Jnr
Registered User
s3james
Registered User
I wouldn't bother, apart from Superkarl there isn't a single member of this forum intelligent enough to form an argument with me.
I'd just crack on with your work.
Mrharris2
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