Curious if front and/or rear strut braces really help or is it just a waste of money?

 

Very Good Question, I too would like to know what the smarties say about these braces.

 

Buddy thanks for asking, I am wondering myself.

MK

 

In any earlier Porsches with lots of wide open space between the
shock towers, they can help, but please look at all the bulkhead
metal that already exists between the shock towers in the 996.
There is no way some silly thin rod mounted with flexible endpoints
is going to contribute any appreciable stiffness. In my opinion, they
would be nothing but wasted, added weight, poser bling.
Joe

 

Thanks Joe I was hoping you would chime in!

 

I've never even seen any advertised. Who makes them?

 

I think Joe is exactly right...in my old sc cab it really made a difference. I had my new cab at the track w/ a pro driver...he actually said the stiffness of the frame as is is perfect. He suggested not doing anything...braces or sways.

 

The car already has them from the factory, they are just hidden behind the plastic. The Cup cars use the very same factory part, no need for a strut brace on any 996 or 997. Anybody trying to sell them is just that, trying to sell you something that you don't need.

 

Yeah - I agree with Joe. In general they are just for pretty looks (IMHO). Most of the car shows I went to way back in my young days, the strut braces were even bolted onto the show cars, just placed on there then removed when the show was over.

I think the better way to go would be an X-Brace. I had one on my S2000 and it really did make a difference. I'm wondering if they make one for the 996.

 

Forgot to mention that X-Braces basically create support by bolting around the box cavity that the engine goes into. It's like having 4 sides of a box with a bottom - it creates a stiffer structure.

 

Even the cup cars don't have them.

 

my guess is the engine bay structure of the 996/997s are stiff enough not to need an x-brace?

 

Buddy,

From what I understand, they offer very little to nothing in added strenth or rigidity......now a 4pt roll bar.......THAT I have heard.......makes a noticeable difference on 996's......if you are gonna track your beast a couple of times a year....would not be a bad idea to install one.


Chris

 

From a far away land, a wizard known as "Sharky" has decreed long ago that the front strut braces would be an excellent mounting points for the Moton nitrogen canisters ... otherwise, pretty useless ....

 

Pull the plastic that covers the tops of the struts and you will see the factory bracing already there. Useless for sure..