No brand vs brand name strut bars

[corn_flakes]

so, what are your opinions??

some aftermarket no brand strut brace vs a brand name strut brace...

are we paying like $200 just for the name?

are they the same stuff?


discuss :D

[SiReal]

I personally think they are all very simliar. BUT with a branded premium product, you will find that probably, there will be better welds, lighter and stronger materials, better joints, looks cooler and better 'resale' so to speak.

With eBay cheap ones, I tihink they will do the job anyway, so I will be more inclined to get a cheap one and spend the money I save on other things.

[Zdster]

There has been a bit of a discussion of this already, but it basically depends on luck with ebay. I have heard of guys getting them and the bar itself flexes (which completely eliminates the point of the bar). Plus depending what you pay, you can get cheaper second hand good brand name bars with a bit of research.

[jdm_kid]

i pay for the design thats all, but it doesnt hurt to spend a bit more for the bling n the brand :)

[bevis90]

brands names or not as long it doesnt break or bend

[qikteg]

if you were a competent welder, it wouldn't be difficult to make a strut bar, would it? using good quality materials of course

[**Ghost**]

a strut bar is essnetially a straight length of metal. I wouldnt imagine theres a lot of difference between a branded and non branded one.

It really depends however on the individual "no name" brands.Some are made of good quality material, some not.

The issue i think mainly will be with fitment. a branded name is gauranteed to fit exactly. While a no brand might not

[[ricer]]

I Just hate the adjustable ones...
i like the ones that are made for the one car.

[xtercii]

since strut bar itself makes very little handling improvements, I'd imagine for brand names you are just paying for better finish and it's name.

[CUL8R]

ebay struts are generally cheap, why is this? coz its had no engineering behind it! they have screws which u loosen so u can rotate one part about the pivot so u can fit it. but the screw is a point of clear weakness. it will have give about the screw. the screw will have to hold the torque forces generated over a large lever arm with large forces, for this to be held through nothing but tensile forces which the screw can hold is very limited.
the key here is to understand what the bar does, it adds rigidity and if u can look at a strut bar and see a clear point of weakness this will clearly be a cheap nock off.

STRONG
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/takateazi/strut.jpg

WEAK
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/CUL8R/ca_1_b.jpg

for everyone who says they make very little improvement they must have either not driven a car before and after a strut install, the front strut offers great responce and minimised a little body roll, mainly good for front wheel traction.
rear strut bars are generally the ones that dont make a big difference, however the front made a huge difference for me. i have a neuspeed strut and it was a great purchase, it has made a big difference!

[corn_flakes]

hmm...interesting...

in that case, anyone selling a cusco strut bar for a euro? :D

[dsp26]

upto you to decide if the material choice, welding and overall design aesthetics are "Strong" common sense is usually enough.

Brand products will always have some sort of backing/guarantee/warranty for piece of mind... SSAC is an exception sorry...

knowing how a strut bar functions and what its supposed to do, looking at CUL8Rs example of a "WEAK" item is an understatement. without knowing the actual thickness of the bar and wether its solid or hollow, that entire red bracket is the weakest link. i could imagine being in a high speed/angle turn with severe body flex... that bit where the bar bolts onto the red bit WILL SNAP either there due to not having room for structural integrity or where it meets the circular area.. its way too thin at the weld/join angle!!! if it was a solid one piece item, it MAY survive with the strut top bracket

The Neuspeed is obviously a hollow item... HOWEVER, the design in supporton the sides is an exponent on rigidity.

same rules apply for swaybars

[winterknights]

id be going for neuspeed. best strutbars you can buy. fit nice and tight and made of nice thick material.