SMERC Engineering upper strut brace
09-26-2009, 07:22 PM
#1
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SMERC Engineering upper strut brace
SMERC just did a test fitting and a photo shoot of their production ready upper strut tower bar on my C63 this morning. It is a very high-quality piece. Just look at those welds on the brackets. The brackets are made of steel that is powder coated in a texture finish and the aluminum bar is a solid piece that is anodized in black. You can still remove your airboxes by simply removing the bar from the mounts by using a wrench and Allen key.
Our front unibody chassis is quite stiff from the factory from what I understand. I noticed that the driver side strut tower has a factory brace tying it in with the firewall, but, the passenger side doesn't have such brace. This brace just ties everything together. Subjectively speaking, it does seem to make steering a bit more responsive when I was doing a slalom manuever on the street. However, I only had the vehicle for 1200 miles since new and haven't driven it too aggresively to further evaluate.
Installation is a simple DIY and shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.
As far as weight, spec, pricing, and availibility, you will need to contact forum member TheDarkSide from SMERC Engineering. He did tell me that SMERC is in the process of being a forum sponsor and will be introducing the first batch to the forum soon. This brace is not C63 specific and will also fit the C300 and C350.
The following pics are not from the photoshoot but are my own using a P&S camera.
Our front unibody chassis is quite stiff from the factory from what I understand. I noticed that the driver side strut tower has a factory brace tying it in with the firewall, but, the passenger side doesn't have such brace. This brace just ties everything together. Subjectively speaking, it does seem to make steering a bit more responsive when I was doing a slalom manuever on the street. However, I only had the vehicle for 1200 miles since new and haven't driven it too aggresively to further evaluate.
Installation is a simple DIY and shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.
As far as weight, spec, pricing, and availibility, you will need to contact forum member TheDarkSide from SMERC Engineering. He did tell me that SMERC is in the process of being a forum sponsor and will be introducing the first batch to the forum soon. This brace is not C63 specific and will also fit the C300 and C350.
The following pics are not from the photoshoot but are my own using a P&S camera.
Last edited by Sincity; 09-26-2009 at 07:32 PM.
09-26-2009, 10:53 PM
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C300 4MATIC (w204)
Hey Guys! Special thanks to Reggie for helping us out! SMERC Engineering's MBWorld Sponsorship starts until October 1st, so we wont be able to promote our products for a few more days. We'll get everyone more info on the 1st!
Thanks Everyone!
Thanks Everyone!
09-27-2009, 12:13 AM
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09-27-2009, 01:31 PM
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09-27-2009, 02:34 PM
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Radio Flyer Big Flyer fully loaded with training wheels and NOS
is a single piece possible without any nuts and bolts?
just worried about the brackets holding up...
just worried about the brackets holding up...
09-27-2009, 04:06 PM
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The brackets are the least of your worries about it holding up. I'll let TheDarkside answer your question about a single unit. But I'll put in my $.02. I like the multi-piece better because I do not have to remove the entire bar @ the strut towers to service the engine filters.
09-28-2009, 05:24 PM
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C300 4MATIC (w204)
We were able to finish the project in 55 days. Not too bad for all the work we ended up doing including the cad, prototyping, testing, photoshoots, setting up the website, advertising...etc.
09-28-2009, 08:08 PM
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C300 4matic Sport, CBR 954
Wanted to be the first to post it up, the offical price on it is $329.99, I just got mine this last weekend, looks great and it does stiffen up the car more, to test this i drove mine and then my buddies C that didnt have one, not a night and day thing but you can definatly tell. Looks great with that powdercoated black and you cant beat that price, great job Smerc i love it
09-28-2009, 08:25 PM
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Radio Flyer Big Flyer fully loaded with training wheels and NOS
The brackets are the least of your worries about it holding up. I'll let TheDarkside answer your question about a single unit. But I'll put in my $.02. I like the multi-piece better because I do not have to remove the entire bar @ the strut towers to service the engine filters.
09-29-2009, 02:19 PM
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09-29-2009, 07:51 PM
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2015 S212
The brackets are the least of your worries about it holding up. I'll let TheDarkside answer your question about a single unit. But I'll put in my $.02. I like the multi-piece better because I do not have to remove the entire bar @ the strut towers to service the engine filters.
09-29-2009, 07:52 PM
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2015 S212
Wanted to be the first to post it up, the offical price on it is $329.99, I just got mine this last weekend, looks great and it does stiffen up the car more, to test this i drove mine and then my buddies C that didnt have one, not a night and day thing but you can definatly tell. Looks great with that powdercoated black and you cant beat that price, great job Smerc i love it
09-29-2009, 11:26 PM
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C300 4matic Sport, CBR 954
I believe this product is made from 6061 aluminum, which is very strong and stiff and should preform just as well as chromoly. This aluminum strut bar does not have any flex becasue there using a 0.5 inch thickness bar. Not to mention chromoly is 3 times heavier than aluminum and we all know weight is a always a factor.
09-29-2009, 11:56 PM
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C300 4matic Sport, CBR 954
