[200q20v] Re: Strut Brace

[C1J1Miller at aol.com]

In a message dated Wed, 31 Jan 2001  2:15:46 PM Eastern Standard Time, Bernie Benz <b.m.benz at prodigy.net> writes:

<< Chris, from a strength of materials perspective a bent tube is useless as a
load bearing column, including all of the S4 stock and aftermarket tower to
tower braces.  Further, the brake fluid reservoir is not in the way of a
straight strut to strut brace.

Bernie

 >>

Nah, just make the walls of the tubing thick enough.  Again, deflection is very small; forces are fairly small.  Without the brace, the car is _almost_ stiff enough.  You're not trying to withstand _all_ the forces, just add strength to the existing structure.  Point taken, though; if the bar is bent, you're using a spring to keep the struts apart...

Again, simplest (for a strut tower brace, not Bernie's style, but the S4/6 or V8 style) would be to use Audi's parts, including the brake fluid reservoir.  Haven't tried to swap it, but expect it would be a swap...  Anyone have both cars?
Chris