dead_eye

I was looking for strut braces for c230 coupes and there don't seem to be any products out there.

I looked up strut braces for other cars and since I'm a mechanical engineer by trade, I believe I can design one to fit our cars. I've actually came up with a rough design with my roomate, also an engineer. I'm going to take some measurements tomorrow and see if there's enough clearance under the hood. I've worked with a machine shop for my job before and had some similar parts made, so this would definitely be possible if there's room in the engine bay.

How many of you would be interested a strut brace?

ROLLNNN

I don't think anyone makes them right now. One of the old members here, i think his name was teamredline, used to make the strut bars and sold them all.

I heard MBarts is working with some w203 guys to try and design/produce them.

W203E35

Yup, MBArts is working on those. Whats the price for one of these?

Javvy

I would be intrested in one too....if you come up with a decent design.........

tommy

I'd be concerned about clearance, how it would affect the under hood water channeling, and whether it's really even necessary in our cars, but if it's a good design, and improves handling, I'd buy one.

dead_eye

Thanks for your replies and input. I understand that I have nothing to sell you guys right now. I just wanted to get a general feel for the interest. I originally just wanted to buy one, but after studying some designs, I know I can design one.

I will update this thread after I throw up some CAD models. Hopefully after the weekend. As for cost, it will depend on how many are interested. The parts won't be cheap, but they will be extremely high quality.

@ROLLNNN:
I STFF, and I only saw mbarts making w204 braces.

jreC230

TruTaing

I keep hearing about someone making these for the w203, but it doesnt really ever pan out. Not to mention installation of these would require dropping the front suspension and drilling holes into the tops of the strut towers - not something most people are comfortable doing.

ROLLNNN

Teamredline strut bar: 3 piece, yes you had to drill into car.
https://mbworld.org/forums/3623514-post1.html


Jerry weren't you talking to MBarts about a strut bar?? I asked him about it this past weekend and he said he was trying to figure out a design.

dead_eye: That would be cool to see what designs you come up with.

jreC230

Yeah we looked at my car took measurements. got an idea but yes drilling is a must regardless

hopefully we can get the prototype soon as well as the rear brace

howardyudoing

like this. if you have access to a water jet and a cnc machine

dead_eye

OK, I'm an idiot. I went out during lunch to measure the holes with my calipers and boom, no hole pattern. I thought there was 3-hole circular pattern on the strut towers like, you know, every other car.

Strut bars are supposed to be an easy and cheap mod you can do. Unfortunately, mb's design has made this a hard mod to do. Dang, all I did by posting on here was to look like an idiot. I think I should stick to aerospace stuff

Further, my concern about having to drill the whole yourself are the low precision inherent in drilling holes right on the frame. I'm afraid if the holes you add aren't drilled precisely enough that it would negatively affect the handling of the car.

@trutaing
You're right, this is NOT an easy mod to do. I guess that's the reason strut bars aren't readily available.

@howardyudoing
Yeah, I was actually thinking along those lines. The CNC vendor I use at my job is very reasonable for what it is.

@jrec230
Looks like you've already got a design on paper.

infected

Bingo!

dead_eye

Wow, I have horrible grammar. I guess I'm in the right field! Actually, I think I was doing actual work and posting at the same time.

Anyways, there are ways to get precise holes such as a drill guide, but the whole suspension drop thing . I'm really disappointed that MB attached the strut braces that way.

TruTaing

Another question for creating a front strut brace for the 203 is weather or not the chasis is honestly flexing enough to warrant a strut tower brace. Maybe MB designed the strut towers AND chasis to be sufficiently rigid? Or they just want the MB community to upgrade to AMGs. I know that the clk63 black series has a front strut brace, but that car is MUCH more hardcore than the standard w203 and w209. I bet, the clk63bs strut bar would directly fit on the standward w203 - I know from a c55 member on here that it fits the c55. Im sure its insanely expensive too. haha.

All I know is that I hardly notice the front of the car flexing. The rear on the other hand.....

howardyudoing

chasis x brace please.

johnand

I have been wanting to make one of these for a long time too. I have a design in mind, but have never gotten to the point of drawing it in a CAD program. I have access to a full machine shop. I do have an idea on how to make one that attaches w/o drilling holes in the strut tower. I just put it way down my list of projects, as most discussions on them here, believe it won't make much of a difference in handling/chassis stiffness. I know when I put one on my Nissan Sentra it made significant difference.

c230kompk

im interested in one as well, does anyone know if teamredline is still making them, he said it was only 120, thats not a bad price

nrg_mike

My question is... Do any of us really feel the difference or are we modding for the sake of modding? Personally, I don't see these as too much of a necessity... If the car had a weaker chassis I'd understand.
Also, having only one (upper) wouldn't be really beneficial. You'd still need the bottom and rear bars made as well.

quadoptix

mike has gears turning in my head now.. hmmmmm


as far as the bar that was made before that you had to drill holes. from the looks of it its a slap togethor ebay bar....which really wont do anything.

i really doubt the c class needs a upper front strut brace. if anything a lower chasis brace front and rear paired with upgraded sways.

nrg_mike

As for that flat E90/92 bar pictured above...
I remember when I was at nerg (Quad knows what I mean) and the factory copied the bar. The cross bar still had too much flex in it compared to a channeled tube/bar and it was more "pretty" than functional. A proper triangle bar is much better suited in such an application but install requires removal and reinstall of most of the central hardware around the windshield wiper.

howardyudoing

mount to firewall too!!!!

TEAMREDLINE

For those who want to learn about strut tower brace and how they work and the proof that it does follow this link and read pages 1 and 2 http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3per...bar_theory.htm


Also read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strut_bar

and sorry I do not make them anymore only made a limited quantity.

SeaCoupe

For automatic cars, I don't think our car could generate enough flex. The ESP program is pretty intrusive. At least on my car. I rarely push my car through the turns, but on the odd occassion I have, ESP sticks its head in.

As for flex, because we have a rear wheel drive car, I think the most flex would be at the rear.

Just my hugely unprofessional opinion.

dynomite05

In case you guys are interested and if they fit, here are the part #'s and price for the CLK 63 BS strut braces. Prices are through parts.com

Front - 2093250165 $592.25
Rear - 2093200190 $379.50