Strut tower bars - United Bimmer Community

DEATH2000 · 01-02-2006, 05:26 PM

Im gonna upgrade my suspension soon and i was wondering if anyone can recomend a good front strut tower bar. I know the UUC one is fairly decent. Anyone have an experience with any others? Or know of any cheaper ones?

Storamin · 01-02-2006, 05:40 PM

better to spend the money on an xbrace.

**catalyst** · 01-02-2006, 05:42 PM

They basically just look nice, and are useless unless you REALLY push the car to its limit.

Better to spend the money on upgraded bushings and such before you get them.

DEATH2000 · 01-02-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalyst

Better to spend the money on upgraded bushings and such before you get them.

Thanks, ill look into that. I take it M3 ones are the best?

**catalyst** · 01-02-2006, 05:48 PM

Yeah, if you want to improve caster M3 CAB's and CA's are best up front.

Im going with meyle full metal balljoints and THR eyeball arms personally.

www.bavauto.com carries full metal balljoints controla arms at a good price.

http://www.treehouseracing.com/home/content/view/13/40/ is where the eyeball arms are at. (e30 arms are the same as the e36)

DEATH2000 · 01-02-2006, 05:57 PM

^^ I just had my ball joints replaced like 10k ago so im not worried. Is it important to replace the control arms as well or will replacing the CAB's be fine for now?

**catalyst** · 01-02-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

^^ I just had my ball joints replaced like 10k ago so im not worried. Is it important to replace the control arms as well or will replacing the CAB's be fine for now?

If you buy those eyeball arms you can just pop them on no problem.

If your using stock bushings now, then these would be a big improvement.

What about your rtab's, rear subframe mounts, rear control arm bushings? A lot of times those dont get replaced because the average driver cant tell theyre bad, but ive heard when theyre all freshened up they really make the rear of the car feel much more nimble.

DEATH2000 · 01-02-2006, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalyst

If you buy those eyeball arms you can just pop them on no problem.

If your using stock bushings now, then these would be a big improvement.

What about your rtab's, rear subframe mounts, rear control arm bushings? A lot of times those dont get replaced because the average driver cant tell theyre bad, but ive heard when theyre all freshened up they really make the rear of the car feel much more nimble.

Yea im using stock bushings. I dunno if i have the money to upgrade to M3 control arms at this point. Rear subframe mounts, and rear control arm bushings i belive are the stock ones. If the rear control arm bushings arent too expensive ill replace those too.

**EuroStyle** · 01-02-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEATH2000

Yea im using stock bushings. I dunno if i have the money to upgrade to M3 control arms at this point. Rear subframe mounts, and rear control arm bushings i belive are the stock ones. If the rear control arm bushings arent too expensive ill replace those too.

I would start w/ shocks and springs. After that you can look into m3 control arms and bushings as well as rtab's. Also before you get a strut bar get sway bars and (someone already said it) an x-brace.

Also camber kits will be useful.

-Matt

DEATH2000 · 01-02-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuroStyle

I would start w/ shocks and springs. After that you can look into m3 control arms and bushings as well as rtab's. Also before you get a strut bar get sway bars and (someone already said it) an x-brace.

Also camber kits will be useful.

-Matt

Yea thats what im getting. But its cheaper for me to ship and install it all at once. So im trying to find out as much info as i can.

Storamin · 01-02-2006, 08:07 PM

I would stay away from the Meyle control arms. They're not heat treated like the OEM ones are.

**///M Power** · 01-02-2006, 08:47 PM

Strut tower bars are ueseless. Unless you seriously track your car, it's purely for show. The rears are consider almost 100% useless. If you want a good one, I hear the BMW Motorsport ones are the "best." Although I doubt it. The best are to get unhinged ones. I believe JTD makes a unhinged one. Anythign hinged is mainly for show. If you are dead set on the Motorsport ones like the LTW's use you can get them from www.tcklineracing.com for like $600.

X-brace is a better option, and really cheap. Sway bars would give you a more noticeable difference...

**94bmw325i** · 01-02-2006, 11:33 PM

would an x brace make a noticeable difference with the rest of the suspension stock?

**///M Power** · 01-03-2006, 12:01 AM

Yes, but primarily depends on how you drive your car. It's alsoa good investment to protect an oil pan, especially if your car is lowered.

**frank de jonge** · 01-03-2006, 02:48 AM

25 Euro for an M3 conv X-Brace hehe.

Bought it right away