Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE Chassis Reinforcement
"Like a roll bar for your engine compartment!"
Produced
exclusively for Rogue Engineering by Mason Engineering!
What does a strut brace (aka stress
bar or strut bar) do?
The concept of a strut bar is intended on reducing the flex
between the front strut towers during hard cornering loads. By
reducing this flex, it allows suspension points to remain undisturbed,
allowing for the suspension to do it's job properly. This often
gives the drive a feeling of increased stability and improved turning response,
when in reality, the suspension is reacting as designed.
Who can benefit from a strut bar?
For those that may believe a strut bar is only for "track
cars" or "racecars", it is also street driven vehicles that
benefit from a properly engineered strut tower bar. Whereas anyone
can appreciate the ability for a front suspension to remain constant at
all times, other benefits include support of the factory strut towers from
"mushrooming". These generally occurs if the vehicle hits
large potholes, causing the suspension to compress completely, and then
damaging the rim. However, its not only the rim that takes the hit,
but the shock tower as well. Over time, if left unprotected, it can
cause expensive sheet metal damage.
What about a rear bar?
Since the rear suspension points do not see the same kinds of forces
during hard corner (when compared to the front), a rear bar is typically
unnecessary in a street application. A rear bar also tends to
intrude into valuable trunk space inhibiting the full use of the cargo
space. Additionally, for those with extensive stereo modifications
(such as a sub-box), a rear bar tends to get in the way. Those
companies that offer a rear bar typically do so to offer a visual
compliment to the front bar.
What to look for in a strut tower
brace?
When looking at a strut tower brace to give you the most benefit,
it should have the following features:
- Sufficient protection of the strut
tower top (to prevent "mushrooming")
- No pivots or heim-style joints to
allow the bar to flex or bend, but adjustable, to allow for intention
suspension changes.
- Center bar with minimal bends or kinks
(straighter is stiffer!)
- Provide adequate underhood clearance
(so not to dimple the hood)
- Allow for suspension changes (for
those that frequent the track)
- Made from the best materials available
(for lightweight, coefficient of thermal expansion)
Even BMW applied many of these traits to
their own strut tower braces when they offered them. For the E36 and
E46 models, both used cast aluminum strut tower plates and matched them to
tubular steel center bars.
Thermodynamics: Damn, I
should have paid attention in that class!
Don't worry, you won't be tested on this subject, however it is
relevant when talking about the best materials of creating the best strut
tower brace. There is a CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) for
most every material so the key is to use materials that have the LEAST
amount of effect when the heat increases (such as in the area of an engine
compartment).
This graph illustrates the different
Coefficients of Thermal Expansion (CTE) of popular materials used for
strut tower braces. As you can see, a strut tower brace made
entirely of aluminum or magnesium would be most affected by the elevated
temperatures of an engine compartment. This may be fine on a strut
plate, but if the centerbar were to expand, this would negate any benefit
of the bar since it would change the suspension settings in a negative
manner (usually increasing positive camber). Since the heat of
an engine compartment can exceed 200ºF, this would cause an aluminum or magnesium
center bar to start expanding. Simply switching the center
bar to steel would cut the variation by nearly 50%. Of course, switching
to carbon fiber would make the expansion virtually immeasurable.
What about Rogue Engineering's
Carbon Fiber Strut Tower Brace?
Some may question our decision to offer a competing product, since
the Rogue Engineering Carbon Fiber brace fulfills many performance
requirements already. In fact, the RACEBRACE chassis reinforcement
fills a niche which our Carbon Fiber brace does not fill. Such
features include compatibility with
specific adjustable shocks and easy access to adjustable camber plates.
The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE was designed as an alternative offering to the BMW Motorsport factory strut tower
brace, which is no longer available. This item was standard
equipment on the 1995 BMW M3 GT (350 produced, for Europe only) as well as
the 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight (US market). This well engineered brace
utilized cast aluminum end plates and a adjustable steel center bar.
Frequently sold for more than $500 when available, these rare parts easily
fetch $600-$700 on the used market. Unfortunately, this bar did not
fit ASC+T vehicles.
The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE also
makes a great replacement for the factory E46 M3 strut brace. These
factory strut braces were included on 2002-2006 model year E46 M3s (2001
models did not get it from the factory). Although rare, we have seen
the factory cast aluminum mounting plates crack or worse, break.
While most are covered under factory warranty, the dealer is usually very
quick to deny any warranty because of modifications done to the vehicle
(too low, springs too stiff, or a louder muffler was the cause of the
crack). While fantastic in concept, the cast strut tower plates are obviously
not strong enough to handle the stresses which are being exerted onto the
towers from the suspension. The RACEBRACE's solid steel plates offer
enough strength to handle these stresses.
Picture of broken factory E46 M3 strut tower mount
RACEBRACE Features and Benefits
- Lightweight
tubular steel bars are 100% TIG welded to high strength steel plates
and powdercoated black for a durable finish. Steel is used
for its superior CTE over other materials (such as aluminum or
magnesium alloy).
- The multiple bar configuration,
with center support bars, resist twisting and bending of the
front chassis. Although it does not bolt to the firewall,
the bar's multiple tubes resist bending and twisting in multiple
planes (when compared to strut braces' that use only flat bars).
- Fits all 6-clyinder 1992-1999
E36 models, including those equipped with ASC+T. E46 model
was designed specifically for the M3 2001-2006, but also fits 6-cylinder E46 from 2002 onwards. It is not designed for E46 vehicles from 1999-2001.
- Open tower design allows for
easy access to adjustable camber plates and shock adjustments.
- Designed to offer adequate
clearance over the engine components as well as underhood
clearance. This is especially important in E36 coupes, as
the underhood clearance is the lowest of all of the E36
models. Other strut tower braces will either put too much
pressure in the hood release lever or worse, dimple the hood.
- Strut tower offers full 360°
support, completely covering the strut tower area. This can prevent costly sheet metal damage
"mushrooming" from potholes, especially with lowered cars.
- Removal of the strut brace takes
only minutes with simple hand tools. Adjustments to suspension
camber/caster plates can be made without removal of the bar.
- At only 6.9 lbs. (E36 model), it
is designed to withstand the rigors of extreme track use.
Its one piece welded construction resists bending and flexing
moments that hinged, flat bars simply cannot compare.
Installation Notes & FAQ
- On the E36 version, our RACEBRACE does
fit those with the rather short studs of TC Kline camber plates.
- On our E46 version, the RACEBRACE is
now slotted for easier installation as well as with use with
aftermarket camber plates.
- Installation for those with stock
strut mounts is a matter of minutes. A typical install for an
E36 is less than 10 minutes with hand tools.
- For E36 models with M50/S50 engines
with oil fill caps towards the firewall, the brace does not interfere
with the removal of the cap. Use of a funnel is recommended for
spill-free oil additions.
Shipping information
- Because the RACEBRACE one-piece
construction, it requires a box which UPS and other common carriers
have deemed "Oversize 1", which ships at 30 lbs (despite its
true weight). Freight charges will be calculated based on this
information.
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