[audi20v] Re: Jamex Strut Bars - Anyone interersted in a Group Buy?

[Peter Schulz]

Bernie:

To this day I still do not understand the benefit of the Benz brace other than supporting worn out upper strut mounts.  I don't believe that the strut shafts are designed for the amount of stress that this bar places directly on the shaft - in any of the factory implementations, the strut shaft is held primarily by a rubber bearing surface.

if the strut tower's position relative to the rest of the suspension and body deflects under load, then supporting the tower against deformation (strut tower brace) will allow the stock strut mounting to work properly.

The Benz brace will not prevent the tower deflection. it will maintain the spacing between the strut tops only.

Strut tower defection IS an issue on the 200 20v...I have seen only a few cars that have NOT exhibited deformation near the passenger side strut mount.  Audi noticed this and short of installing a strut support, saw fit to put a hole in the metal to prevent it from tearing further.

Chris Miller has a picture of this tear on his website.


-Peter

 At 11:44 AM 8/13/2003 -0700, Bernie Benz wrote:

>> From: "Dave Kase" <desmo888 at comcast.net>
>>
>> I contacted Force Fed Racing and they are checking on their stock of front
>> strut bars for the CQ/90.
>> I am calling him back on Friday to get a price.  Anyone else interested?
>> Maybe I can set something up.
>> Email me direct and let me know if you want front, rear or both.  Refer to
>> www.20v.org for more details on the bars.
>>
>Don't waste your time and money with this, IMO, junk!  Technically speaking,
>everything is wrong with this Tower Brace, it is not a Strut Brace, and
>there is a big difference between the two.  A wallet lightening piece of
>window dressing.  For excerpts from a long and detailed thread of several
>years ago on this subject go to Chris Miller's 200Q-20V web page.

Peter Schulz
1990 CQ (awaiting S2 3b engine transplant)
1991 200 20v TQW indigo mica
1991 200 20v TQW titanium grey
Chelmsford, MA USA
peter at audifans.com