Strut Braces

[SuperRedMR2]

Hi All,

I am planning on making a load of strut braces for the front and rear very soon, as I have an interview for a job next monday and would like to take advantage of the welders and materials I have at work.

I was planning on making it out of either RHS maybe 40x20x2 mild steel or ally if I can source some, or CHS in 33.7x2. What I plan to do is, weld a cap plate to either end and have it threaded with a nut welded on the back of the cap plates.

Going into these threaded plates would either be some m10 or m12 studding with a semi circle profile to pick up nuts on strut top bits lol

Powder coated black or silver.

Anyone interested? Ill draw something up at work tomorrow and give you a clue to what im thinking about.

Cheers

[Lauren]

If you do want to sell them on IMOC you will need to become an affiliate in order to do so.

Also not to put a dampener on things but all t-bars have strut braces and a lot of coupes have nicked them off trashed t-bars so i'm not sure the demand will be that great.

[SuperRedMR2]

Will probably put them on eBay to be honest.

Yeah I know that the T-BARS have braces as standard, but I might as well take advantage of my company while I'm still there

[eRATic]

a nice alloy rear brace would be nice. shame i have a charge cooler ruling a straight one out for me.

[PW@Woodsport]

Also not to put a dampener on things but all t-bars have strut braces and a lot of coupes have nicked them off trashed t-bars so i'm not sure the demand will be that great.

I was producing front and rear strut braces for the mk1 full time about 5 or 6 years ago and my turnover was about £400 per week just selling braces,so there is a definate demand for the right product.

I got bored of it very quickly though,couldn't stand the repetitive nature of doing the exact same thing every day so gave it up to protect my sanity!

I still get asked for my strut braces but i just can't be ar$ed to get involved with them again.

If it helps you out,on the rear brace you need to be very careful around the passenger side of the engine lid,the brace will foul the rain channel,so a slight tap on this with a hammer and a block of wood is needed to give clearance,unless you make the brace out of very small diameter bar.

Also on the front,you might want to design in a way to enable owners to still stow the sunroof without it fouling the brace,thats quite important to some people.

Best of luck with it

[Tony jinxy froude]

Also on the front,you might want to design in a way to enable owners to still stow the sunroof without it fouling the brace,thats quite important to some people.

Best of luck with it

Yep you may want to speak to an Aussie owner, apparently they fitted front strut braces to their coupes & their front strut braces came with a modification to enable the sunroof to go in the front without it fouling the strut brace, this was done direct from Toyota apparently , Jinxy

[crazylegs]

good luck with it mate. dont take laurens comments too much to heart she can be sound a tad negative. i think its a excelent idea. when you move jobs and no longer have the access i`d be interested in seeing the design. we could maybe work out some sort of commission if i made and sold them ?

[SteveM]

I'd be interested in a matching pair especially if a rear one can be designed that didn't foul the engine lid/rain channel?

[SuperRedMR2]

Cheers Paul

Not had interview yet Kev, but will have a month to work still

I will take the engine lid comments into consideration as well as the intercooler maybe being in the way as well. My mate MAV122 has a supercharger engine gagging to go into his car so Ill be able to design around that when it finally goes in. Also, stowage bit in frunk as well, as commented by paul.

Ally may be a huge problem, as after realising at work, we cant weld ally i will look to get it done elsewhere, but first one made will be done from MS S275.

I did a design at work earlier, but left it there But will send it home tomorrow and try and post it on here.

[Jim-SR]

Also not to put a dampener on things but all t-bars have strut braces and a lot of coupes have nicked them off trashed t-bars so i'm not sure the demand will be that great.

I was producing front and rear strut braces for the mk1 full time about 5 or 6 years ago and my turnover was about £400 per week just selling braces,so there is a definate demand for the right product.

I got bored of it very quickly though,couldn't stand the repetitive nature of doing the exact same thing every day so gave it up to protect my sanity!

I still get asked for my strut braces but i just can't be ar$ed to get involved with them again.

If it helps you out,on the rear brace you need to be very careful around the passenger side of the engine lid,the brace will foul the rain channel,so a slight tap on this with a hammer and a block of wood is needed to give clearance,unless you make the brace out of very small diameter bar.

Also on the front,you might want to design in a way to enable owners to still stow the sunroof without it fouling the brace,thats quite important to some people.

Best of luck with it

ive still got a pair of yours sat in the garage!! ran just the front one on my old sunroof, and then when i got my t-bar i ran just the rear one. i shan't need them once the car is back in one piece, if theres still demand for them i might have to sell them on!

[PW@Woodsport]

lol collectors items now jim

[AW11 Forever..!]

Go for it mate, I'll definately have at least 2 sets, possibly 4 sets. The problem with the MK1 is that theres not many accessories, bits and bobs that you can get for the MK1 so yep definately a market for it.

[SuperRedMR2]

Yeah mate your right about bits and pieces just not available. I was thinking also, about the anti-roll bar brackets that Jinxy bought for about £40 from Toyota. All they are, are just 2-3mm plate bent up with 2 holes drilled. Not as in demand as a strut brace though lol

[SuperRedMR2]

My dad likes to think that because he is older and wiser than me, what I am suggesting is a bad idea and no point as there is no money in it. But after I ignored all that, he did mention about getting them tested to prove their strength.

Who would want to see it tested out, with all official e-marks and CE marks whatever they maybe, or who isnt bothered about all that stuff?

[eRATic]

[quote="SuperRedMR2"]I will take the engine lid comments into consideration as well as the intercooler maybe being in the way as well. My mate MAV122 has a supercharger engine gagging to go into his car so Ill be able to design around that when it finally goes in. Also, stowage bit in frunk as well, as commented by paul.[quote]

i run a chargecooled turbo engine in my mk1 and the charge cooler prevents a straight strut brace running betweein the strut towers. different to an sc set up. it might pay to look at pics of the charge cooler to see what i mean.

the front strut with facility to store the sunroof is a top idea though.

[SuperRedMR2]

It may have to be made from flat bar in order to be joggled, as bending tube will take more time. Made from flat bar would look like a cusco one, but not be adjustable. I was looking to make it adjustable, but ill try and make two types

[oukie]

This looks/sounds really promising Alex keep us informed

[Charged]

cusco supercharger strut brace if it helps

[SuperRedMR2]

Cheers Ollie - you can see where it is joggled for the IC. Thats made from stainless. As we cant weld stainless may be able to thread the end somehow

Does anyone care about getting the strength tested?

[SuperRedMR2]

Ive just had a measure up in the pitch black with my little lead lamp!

The rear may be hampered by the engine side cover thing, but that can be removed in order to fit.

I took my sunroof out and put it in the frunk and had a look. I dont know if it would effect the strength if i were to make one that sits under the sunroof when its fixed into position. Going over the top of it, may clash with the strengthening material on the inside of the bonnet.

I got the dimensions now, so will have a proper go at work tomorrow. Manager isnt in, so its happy days lol