Front Strut Braces

Anyone installed a front strut brace to their Cayman S? Saw Rennline has one for reasonable price. Any comments, installation pics would be welcome.

If youuse the search feature you will find this: http://www.planet-9.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3293&FORUM_ID=1&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=Front+Strut+Brace&Forum_Title=Cayman+Chat

Thanks, i searched & nothing came up?

ploc36, From what I've read - all of the experts say that because of the way the cars are made (since the 996/986) the bulkhead is constructed in such a way that a strut brace is really a waste of money - the Cup and RS racecars don't even have them... save your money for something else, imo. brad

Thanks, Brad. Any suggestions?

From Babblers/PCA: <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr valign="bottom"> <td style="font-size: 14pt;">Loren</td> <td align="right" class="smallfont">3-23-02 10:30 AM</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <hr /> <div> Re: Strut Tower Questions (long) </div> <div>Here are Joel Reiser's (PCA Tech Committee) comments about strut braces (from the PCA website): The question was about which mods for autocross and DE would be best. '...a front strut brace is also an early 911 concept which doesn't really apply. It made perfect sense right through the 993, with open shock towers, but the 996/Boxster has a welded firewall between the shock towers, and its own triangulated strut braces already, just like the Cup car. I think you should be OK there already.' Loren</div>

For what it is worth - I bought and installed the Rennline bar. Beautifully made, easy to install. Photo's if anyone wants them, but look like the Rennline web site. My test drives say - stiffer, regardless of the naysayers. Whatever. I like it.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr noshade="" id="quote" height="1" /> For what it is worth - I bought and installed the Rennline bar. Beautifully made, easy to install. Photo's if anyone wants them, but look like the Rennline web site. My test drives say - stiffer, regardless of the naysayers. Whatever. I like it. <hr noshade="" id="quote" height="1" /></blockquote> I don't think that the question is: Does it feel stiffer? I think the question is: Does it handle better? Does it lower your track time? The stut brace for earlier 911s, where the brace was straight accross clearly fixed a known problem. With the Caymn, I'm not convinced that there is a problem to fix. So, if the Rennline bar actually improves measurable handling performance, that is great. I just don't think that stiffer necessarily means better. IMO Edited by - fmarshall on 06/22/2006 11:48:39 AM

<u>Kreggin</u> It would be GREAT if you can post some pics. Did you do the install yourself? Please share your experience on the install. As with <u>fmarshall,</u> you are correct as to 'improve handling' or it will be a waste of money. Need to seek others with Strut Braces for their take. Thanks guys.

Yes - It is very simple to install. I'll try to see how to post pictures here. In response to the track time question - couldn't say. Has not been on a track yet. Definitely improved steering 'feel' - which I equate to less flex in the front suspension. Took less than 45 minutes with stops to take pictures, clean and wax ( since covers were off ) and put some plastic protectant on the covers themselves.

ok, try this...

It just isn't needed for the Cayman. That was a solution to an old problem that doesn't exist in the Cayman. Do it if you think it feels better but it is not going to improve your handling. If you don't track the car you have to ask where you are driving at the limits to even explore the outer limits of the standard Cayman's handling. And if you track the car you will screw up the handling. We don't need the smoke control invented for Stanley Steamers either.

Drivers side. You can see the trim piece that is velcroed down in normal installed state standing upright along the right edge of the picture. I just propped it against the hood and it was fine. Plastic covers are very easy to remove and re-install. Start in the center with the battery cover. There are slots and tabs on the pieces. To each their own - I like it regardless of what the purists may think.

<u>Kreggin</u> Thanks for the lovely pictures, looks GREAT over the cover there. /fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/thumbsup.gif Nice Job. These little MOD are what we live for as it certainly adds to the enjoyment of owning such a car. Thanks again

Ploc36 - you are quite welcome. It was a fun, relatively inexpensive personalization. I'm going to do a harness bar also, just to tie the rear together amidships. Not installing a harness mind you, just the bar. Will it matter? who knows - I like it and 'in my own mind' will think it does something useful. Enjoy your Croc!

<u>Kreggin</u> Keep me up to date with your MODs, I love to keep tabs on your Croc. Keep posting the pictures. Have a GREAT weekend.

I think if your swapping out for stiffer suspension components then you might see a benefit to the brace. Stock suspended cars definately wont see improvements in track time or road feel. The chassis is mighty stiff and I doubt there is a mm of play between the shock towers under hard driving.