full roll cage v's strut and sway bars

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Originally Posted by Hondavirgin

The roll cage does stiffen the chassis, as a side effect to its main purpose of safety. I would think this would then put more stress on the tyres (more turning force or whatever put through them), so if you had tyres up to the job it would help handling too....



of course, this is just me thinking out loud.

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Agreed,

but still they have performance qulaities.. not like as mentioned by a few of the previous post

the strut bars im looking at are passwordJDM 3point front and 4point rear. for 599 US u get some other part with them to lol
The roll cage i was looking at was welded into the car by mic's metalcraft (or a guy who comes out to him) a few of my friends got full cages but there cars are not on the road yet, in the end if i get a cage i will be getting sway n strut bars jst wondering which way to go first

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Originally Posted by EG5[KRT]

why do race cars have roll cages then ?? just for show ??

they stiffen up the whole chassis so the car doesnt have much flex and can b stable at high speeds...

for a street car yes its just for show but if its for track then yes i think go the full cage...

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:thumbsup: Tested and PROVEN!

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Originally Posted by bennjamin

roll cages are just for that....ROLLING protection etc at speed. Nothing to do with handling :)

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Can't say I agree with that ben!

Sure it's there to protect the driver, however I can't see how stiffening up the body to reduce flex via a rollcage doesn't have a positive impact on handling.

Here's a site with some decent pics. Most after market roll cages will be like the 8 point. This will do little to help strengthen the flex in a car. It'll just keep the driver safe.

This one will help as it is built in to the frame.

Now this one is what you would need to make the roll cage help save the driver and make the car really stiff to make a difference.

I doubt you want to spend that much on a roll cage to help your suspension so I'd just go with some sway bars and springs and shocks. Tires/wheel size and type does make a difference too.

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Originally Posted by Slow96GSR

Here's a site with some decent pics. Most after market roll cages will be like the 8 point. This will do little to help strengthen the flex in a car. It'll just keep the driver safe.

This one will help as it is built in to the frame.

Now this one is what you would need to make the roll cage help save the driver and make the car really stiff to make a difference.

I doubt you want to spend that much on a roll cage to help your suspension so I'd just go with some sway bars and springs and shocks. Tires/wheel size and type does make a difference too.

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Finally people are coming to their senses..

Although roll cages are created for flips and rolls they do provide stiffening qualities whihc are good for handling. As to their feasibilitly (cost/comfort) to be installed on a road driven vehicle is a whole new case.

If a bolted in strut/floor/chasis brace helps the car's handling why wouldnt a 8pt brace( aka roll cage) do the same and yet better......

roll cages provide handling characteristics.. i dont know why people are flaming this modification as an "All show Mod" ?:thumbdwn:

Well it depends on which one you get. There are a few out there that do nothing but sit there and look pretty and there are many that do something. But in order for one to be functional it needs to be a parts of the chassis. Whether it's bolted in or welded and in 4 or more spots. If it doesn't have cross members it will not help worth anything for the suspension also. Some of the 8 points don't bolt in to the suspension towers of the car. that it where the flex is as well as diagonal from each of them. See if they bolt in to the seat belt bolts and a set up by the kicks and a set on the back by the trunk you will still get roll. I'll see if I can find and edit in a picture of this.

Here Notice the rear suspension towers in the first picture... that is the correct way. That is functional.

Here is one that will help but notice no cross member on the rear tower support. This will allow a lot of flexing. A simple sway bar will correct this.

This one does no good at all. Not cross members at all connecting the uprights to each other at more than 1 point. This is what you would consider a just for looks roll cage. It helps a little bit for rollovers but that's it.

If you are not racing on the track either a drag style ot street style just get sway bars. If you are going to race get the full roll cage and make it really safe and the suspension secure.

the first one is crazy, that would cost so much lol
the ones my friends have are like the 2nd one but the the bar accross the door is angled
i do use my car for some activites where a roll cage may save my life lol is a cliff face lol

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Originally Posted by wynode

Sure it's there to protect the driver, however I can't see how stiffening up the body to reduce flex via a rollcage doesn't have a positive impact on handling.

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we are talking on the street in which any massive increase in body stiffness will have a impact for sure ~ hardly creating a better handling car tho
(he was talking the option of installing only a "rollcage") So for the money there are much better options :cool:

Interesting tho , there is a "Body refresh" option in Japan and maybe other countries where you can take your car in and have it re-spot welded and reinforced to be as firm as new unlike the sloppy "layercake" cars we drive today.

thank for all the input guys, i appricate it greatly.
i have decided which path i will take n we will see how i go.

thanks again all

oh and bennjamin ya av. trips me out every time i look at it lol

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Originally Posted by bennjamin

roll cages are just for that....ROLLING protection etc at speed. Nothing to do with handling :)

Anyway , to make your car handle better start with what i mentioned earlier -

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I believe Wynode was disagreeing with this statement you made that Rollcages have nothing to do with handling :rolleyes:

A correctly designed roll cage will improve your handling on the street and at the track, but I would get the strut braces and sway bars as the first step and this afterwards.

for those who keep saying it wont improve your handling have you driven a car before and after one has been fitted? :confused:

Terry: what rollcage did you have in your car which made it understeer? are you sure it's not for handling as well? :confused:

As for race car, improve handling can be done by welding.......not for roll cage.:) If just look for performance side.....get strut bar and sway bar (fount and rear) and strip the car to do welding.....

Roll cage will make the car understeer cos there is more weight located in the center of all four wheels.