Strut brace

[Gibbo205]

[MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION] is there a particular combination you'd like me to try? Bearing in mind I only have the 6 spacers as supplied and looking at the clearance required for the K-brace, it looks like 1 spacer on that single stud isn't going to be enough.

I have the same strut brace, I don't mind trying but now looking at my car I cannot see how this additional brace will provide any further additional bracing over the k-member brace our cars already have. So cannot see the brace doing much at all apart from just styling under the hood really, but be glad to be proven wrong.

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[Centurion07]

Really Gibbo? Given your posts on suspension thus far you surprise me! ;)

You can't see the benefit of connecting the two strut tops thus creating the third side of the triangle that the K-brace has started?

 

[Gibbo205]

Really Gibbo? Given your posts on suspension thus far you surprise me! ;)

You can't see the benefit of connecting the two strut tops thus creating the third side of the triangle that the K-brace has started?

Just looks to me like the brace is doing a good job already, one way to tell is to get it fitted and see if we can feel a difference.

 

[Centurion07]

I think even my missus would be be able to tell the difference given that the Ford works rally team in the 70's/80's left the brace off of their MK2 Escorts for gravel events as it made their already-braced, strengthened and seam-welded shells too stiff! :eyebulge:

I would imagine David can back that up with some actual engineering mathematics though.

TBH though, I'd appreciate it if you'd throw yours on and just double-check that it is an issue with the brace and not some glaringly obvious issue with my installation.

 

[David@Steeda]

[MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION] is there a particular combination you'd like me to try? Bearing in mind I only have the 6 spacers as supplied and looking at the clearance required for the K-brace, it looks like 1 spacer on that single stud isn't going to be enough.

If possible we would like you to put the spacers over the studs where the factory K-brace is and see if it will clear with the hood closed (do not slam the hood though just in case).

 

[Centurion07]

That's it, just 1/2 spacers over the K-brace stud?

 

[Gibbo205]

If possible we would like you to put the spacers over the studs where the factory K-brace is and see if it will clear with the hood closed (do not slam the hood though just in case).

Will give it a go tonight if I get chance m8.

 

[slowhand99]

I have fitted the ford racing one I got from usa and it fit straight on
looks good too

[MENTION=10325]Aussie Mate[/MENTION] http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42326 says his OEM brace doesn't fit so I'm getting confused about whether this is OK to order or not. Could you help out with some photos please?

 

[slowhand99]

I think even my missus would be be able to tell the difference given that the Ford works rally team in the 70's/80's left the brace off of their MK2 Escorts for gravel events as it made their already-braced, strengthened and seam-welded shells too stiff! :eyebulge:

I would imagine David can back that up with some actual engineering mathematics though.

TBH though, I'd appreciate it if you'd throw yours on and just double-check that it is an issue with the brace and not some glaringly obvious issue with my installation.

The works prep manual for the Mk2 Escort did warn against completely seam welding the shell. If you did, the windows popped out as that was the only flex point left.

Mine is a convertible so I think it might make more of a difference to overall stiffness. Of course it might then transmit the flex to somewhere else but I would have thought the torsional improvement would be worth it.

 

[Centurion07]

Ok [MENTION=10893]David@Steeda[/MENTION], one spacer on each of the taller innermost studs on both sides of the car. The brace does clear the K-brace now by about 3mm. As you can see there is no thread left on the shorter studs:

Now, whilst I did manage to shut the hood with seemingly no interference from the brace, I couldn't guarantee that 1. I didn't press it harder than I would've needed to normally, and 2. that these marks were or weren't there before I closed it (I left it shut for probably 20 seconds max as I noticed these marks after the first attempt):

 

[Lone Survivor]

Erm, just my tuppence worth, but if it were me, I wouldn't fit this if I had to use spacers, that's a part that's not designed for our cars, it's a bit like the spacer thing, cut the stock studs etc.

Your car mate, but either money back or in the bin with it.

 

[Centurion07]

I haven't fitted it and I believe the spacers are to fit the studs that don't have the K-brace on to raise it to the same level. They're rock hard (made of delrin?) so I don't think there would be any issues although I would prefer not to use them at all.

I believe the spacers get used on the LHD cars, 4 on the PP cars or all 6 on the non-PP cars (or vice versa) so there clearly isn't an issue with them.

 

[Lone Survivor]

No matter where you fit the spacers, under, on top, the lack of thread on that stud, would be perplexing enough for me not to fit.

 

[Centurion07]

I don't think I was asked to fit the spacers as the solution, it was just to check if the bonnet would close ok with the strut brace raised up by 5/6mm so they know how much higher the re-engineered brace can be.

I stand to be corrected though.

 

[Lone Survivor]

Yeah, got that, so needs a complete redesign then. The FRPP one apparently doesn't fit either :shrug:

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