SL/R230: Strut tower brace
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
2006 SL600 RENNtech
Strut tower brace
Has anyone used a strut tower brace on their R230? I'm not trying to make it corner better , just trying to minimize the chassis twist. Any thoughts??
Thanks in advance!!
Mark
Thanks in advance!!
Mark
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
I have tried measure it out on my 2009, but there is no room for a tower brace, unless you take away the engine cover, and by doing that, you remove the air filters having an open inlet without protection of the MAF sensor.
https://ultraracingshop.com/products..._sl350~yr_2003
A tower brace like this flat one, offered for the R230 is not adding much stiffness to the chassis, since it is too weak and will just bend away under load. A ridgid brace would be right, but there is no room for that.
Further you have to remove the brace, every time you need remove the engine cover, and the easy solution, using ones with hinges, is a waste of money.
Anyway, the components supplied by Ultra Racing don't make much sense to me, not really adding stiffness to the chassis.
The R230 being a Convertible, all the stiffness is in the lower frame /chassis of the car, with some added remove able braces trying to make up for the missing stiff roof normally making the chassis torsional stiff. So the R230 could do with some added torsional stiffness, just not easy to apply.
Closing the trans and prop shaft tunnel from underneath, converting it into a tube, would add significant torsional stiffness to the center part of the chassis.
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 92
Likes: 14
From: Arkansas
2007 SL65
I have seen something that looks like a "cap" or hat on top of the strut towers of a CL before without the bar going across and looks OEM. Would that at least help with structural rigidity at each tower? Who makes those?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 495
Likes: 101
From: Benton, Louisiana, USA
SL 500 2004, Ford F-150-2014
Guys, that bar to me looks like a joke...! Someone who wants to make some money is looking for "mechanically illiterate" customers.
1st, if Mercedes didn't put it in, is not necessary..These guys know well what they do..!
2nd, that flat bar would have to be very beefy to apply a good amount of horizontal force over the top of the towers if indeed there is some deformation. The bar design will make it bow up if a force is applied.!
3rd, is an obstacle to access serviceable components.
My 3 cents!
1st, if Mercedes didn't put it in, is not necessary..These guys know well what they do..!
2nd, that flat bar would have to be very beefy to apply a good amount of horizontal force over the top of the towers if indeed there is some deformation. The bar design will make it bow up if a force is applied.!
3rd, is an obstacle to access serviceable components.
My 3 cents!
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 743
Likes: 228
From: Santa Barbara, CA
S550C4, Porsche Cayenne
Guys, that bar to me looks like a joke...! Someone who wants to make some money is looking for "mechanically illiterate" customers.
1st, if Mercedes didn't put it in, is not necessary..These guys know well what they do..!
2nd, that flat bar would have to be very beefy to apply a good amount of horizontal force over the top of the towers if indeed there is some deformation. The bar design will make it bow up if a force is applied.!
3rd, is an obstacle to access serviceable components.
My 3 cents!
1st, if Mercedes didn't put it in, is not necessary..These guys know well what they do..!
2nd, that flat bar would have to be very beefy to apply a good amount of horizontal force over the top of the towers if indeed there is some deformation. The bar design will make it bow up if a force is applied.!
3rd, is an obstacle to access serviceable components.
My 3 cents!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,059
Likes: 342
From: NJ
2009 SL63 AMG
The whole point of bracing the strut towers is to allow a conventional MacPherson strut setup to work optimally and without interference from any flexing of the body.
So, on the SL350 with a conventional suspension setup (which is what they list as the only compatible R230), it could offer a benefit.
I highly doubt, however, that this would benefit a car with ABC...or any hydraulic or air suspension setup for the matter.
So, on the SL350 with a conventional suspension setup (which is what they list as the only compatible R230), it could offer a benefit.
I highly doubt, however, that this would benefit a car with ABC...or any hydraulic or air suspension setup for the matter.
