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Thats what were all here for. I have no objections to design differences, whats the point of life without choice!
Either way, we are all enthusiasts none-the-less. My experiences and build philosophy will always be different then the next member. I enjoy meeting new minds, it helps innovate.
Indeed, and as someone else pointed out, a reasonable, inelligent discussion is always more welcome and infinitely more productive than name-calling. We all learn from each other, and it makes the world a much better place when we can all share our knowledge and experiences in a civilized and friendly manner. Krison - I look forward to meeting you in person at one of the next meets!
hi diablolis, do you feel renntech struc bar is effective? it is not attached to the firewall and not sure how carbon fiber works compared with steel
Probably not much different from the one Kriston had made. While the Renntech design doesn't have the two longitudinal bolts where it could potentially flex, it is still made of aluminium and unlikely to add any real stiffness to the front. In other words, with the single bar it is about as useful as the SMERC. I can easily bend that thing by 1/2 inch or so just by moderately pushing down on the middle of the bar with one hand, and it was pre-tensioned to boot (as in mounted with the car off the ground so that when you lower the car the wehicle weight on its own would already put some pressure on it). IMHO an aluminum bar is much too soft and flexible to make a real difference especially when you only connect it to the shock towers alone and on a car that already has a fairly stiff front chassis like the C63.
I really like your clean design. However I would like to try out a few changes if you are opened to them. You can PM me if you wish or we can discuss out in the open here. One of my first recommendation would be to use chromoly 4130 steel and adding fire wall mounting point or a stiffener under or over the flat section or simply use tubing to cover all flex axis. Also lose the pivot point by using a quick pin if you really want quick accessibility or else make it one solid piece. I would be interested in testing out various versions as I do track my car regularly, have experience with these types of bars and have an aeronautical R&D background I am located in montreal. Thanks hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Kriston, I just gotten the strut bar from a MBTN member. But I wasn't sure if I need any special fasteners to attach the bar onto the strut tower. Or just use the existing nuts as there should be enough thread to hold the bar in place? Thx.
Please ensure you verify the correct sides (left and right) by checking the bottom side of the mounting brackets. We had them notched out to accommodate for the stock plastic fasteners the brackets cover.
Shoot me a PM if you need any help.
Kris
Originally Posted by oggie
Hi Kriston, I just gotten the strut bar from a MBTN member. But I wasn't sure if I need any special fasteners to attach the bar onto the strut tower. Or just use the existing nuts as there should be enough thread to hold the bar in place? Thx.
I installed my MB TrueNorth strut bar today. With a pana roof, my car has its share of rattles. After gotten the bar installed, the interior rattles have been much less. At any rate, I like the results...some may say it is a placebo effect but I think it is money well spent.
Interesting thread. I am also thinking about a strut brace given I have a track width on my car that is about 120 mm wider than stock and am getting full blown track wheels/tires for the coming season.
Still thinking, but have a few observations, that I would like to test here:
1. There is an Alutec brace all over the internet, including Ebay, that looks exactly like the MB True North one Kriston is writing about. Same design, same welds, same notches for the plastic grommets. It runs for around 300$
2. The stiffness debate is flawed in many places. Bending stiffness is driven way more by shape than material strength (as Diabolis also mentioned). Think tube vs solid rod. The tube has almost all the bending stiffness of the rod at a fraction of the weight. The longitudinal strength of the tube is way lower than the rod though. So, if you want bending stiffness, going thin and large is the way to do it.
3. The pivoting bolts: The point of the brace is to prevent the strut tops to move inwards under stress, i.e. to prevent the strut mounts to move closer together. I do not think being able to rotate around the bolts makes a difference in transmitting a push force left to right. But stiffness against bending the brace under push load is critical.
The MBArt brace has 2 steel tubes of 7/8 inch diameter (wall thickness not specified). Is the Alutec brace thicker than 7/8 inch? Thickness drives bending stiffness with the 3rd power, if I remember my material strength classes correctly. 7/8 to the third power is 0.67 or 2 thirds of a 1 inch tube for example.
I saw the Alutec Brace also online, looked interesting also.
Also looked at the MBArts one.
I've been tempted with the RENNTech one, although it's pricy, it does look really nice, and well, it's RENNTech, though, havne't asked to see if I can find one for below MSRP either though.
But yes, the Alutec one does look like the MBTN one, maybe it'd be worth a shot?
The Renntech one looks the most flimsy to me - and is the most expensive. The MBArts may be the best value and maybe also the strongest - but least suitable for 'dressing up the engine bay'.
2020 E63s Wagon, 2012 C63 AMG Coupe, 1989 560SL, 2023 911 Carrera T
Originally Posted by oggie
I installed my MB TrueNorth strut bar today. With a pana roof, my car has its share of rattles. After gotten the bar installed, the interior rattles have been much less. At any rate, I like the results...some may say it is a placebo effect but I think it is money well spent.
I have this same brace on my car that I purchased from Kriston and I am happy with it. Turn in does feel improved, but again this is on the road not the track. I had an SMERC brace on my C300 and felt the same way. Could be placebo effect as the C63 is plenty stiff as is but I do not regret the purchase.
I know it's an old thread, but I have one of Kristion's strut bars. PHENOMENAL. Obviously ^^ you clown Kritson did not make them, he was kind enough to source them and put together a group buy. I actually got in on it late but got 2, one for a friend also. He got me in. They are artfully welded, easy to secure, fit like a glove, come with steel bolts and were powder coated very nicely. This bar allows easy removal for maintenance other engine bay components where you do NOT have to keep unscrewing the mounting bolts to potentially cause stripping or damage to the frame shock towers. It's nice and thick and beefy as well providing outstanding stability feel...
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