To bar or not?

[Canadian Crimson]

I have flipped back through more than a few pages. Looking for wether the Style/Lightbar actually does anything for chassis stiffness? I have found post on the jacking rails, and the Steeda subframe brace. Both seem to help. Does the Style/Lightbar add anything to stiffness? I would think it would help a little , wouldnt it?

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[Johnnybee]

Doubt it. It’s a piece of plastic and only tied into the car to the extent to keep it from flying off.

 

[Canadian Crimson]

Doubt it. It’s a piece of plastic and only tied into the car to the extent to keep it from flying off.

I thought they were a steel bar in the centre covered in foam. I could be wrong though.

 

[Johnnybee]

I thought they were a steel bar in the centre covered in foam. I could be wrong though.

That could be, but they still aren’t tied into anything of consequence…one reason they are called style bars by the manufacturers and not roll bars, as they don’t want to infer any safety to them.

 

[JCFoster]

Right, they’re just for looks.

 

[Replicator]

On my SN95 the styling bar bolted into the B-Pillars using 8 M12 Bolts. It was incredibly stiff and heavy for what it was. (Could probably have hoisted the car with it) I ended up ditching it for a 6-point weld in and that's when I noticed a huge change. If you want to increase chassis stiffness while still being able to get in the car there are weld in 2-point harness bars. If back seat access isn't a problem then a 4-point would be ideal.

 

[tj@steeda]

It does add chassis rigidity - check out the 1:30 mark

 

[Johnnybee]

It does add chassis rigidity - check out the 1:30 mark

Appreciate the post, but just your company’s say so on a video doesn’t make it so. Have you done any torsional testing of the body prior to, and after the installation of your product? I imagine that most of the body twist occurs between the A and B pillar.

 

[tj@steeda]

It is not a Steeda manufacturers part - so we have taken the attributes from the manufacturer and conveyed that in our video. CDC may have testing feedback they can provide.

TJ

 

[IndyRN]

Appreciate the post, but just your company’s say so on a video doesn’t make it so. Have you done any torsional testing of the body prior to, and after the installation of your product? I imagine that most of the body twist occurs between the A and B pillar.

These cars are unibody. It absolutely ties into something of consequence.

 

[Johnnybee]

These cars are unibody. It absolutely ties into something of consequence.

Let me re-phrase that. Given the manner of attachment, and the points to which it attaches, I doubt that it would add much, if anything, to the torsional rigidity of the body shell. I am happy to be proven wrong by some imperical, as opposed to anecdotal, evidence.

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