Strut Braces

A strut brace ties the tops of the two suspension towers together, so a load on one tower is shared with the other and the distance between them stays the same in hard cornering. The gain is in steering precision and consistency, and it is most marked on cars with MacPherson struts at the front, where the tower tops carry the suspension's load directly.

Front, rear or both

Front braces are the common fit and the most noticeable. A rear brace spans the rear towers inside the boot or behind the rear seats, and suits coupés and hatches with an open rear structure. Some makers offer a third mounting point to the bulkhead or floor, which triangulates the brace; Cusco's OS range includes three-point versions.

Solid or hinged

A one-piece bar with solid brackets is the stiffest design. A hinged bar, with pivots at the brackets, is easier to fit around engine parts but gives up some of that stiffness, because the pivots let the towers lean. Choose a solid bar unless something in the engine bay rules it out.

Materials and shape

• Steel is stiff and affordable.
• Aluminium saves weight and often uses a large or oval section for stiffness, as in Cusco's Type OS.
• Titanium, from Nismo, Mines and Yashio Factory, is light and costly.
• Carbon shafts save weight as well.

What it has to clear

A brace is made for one chassis and engine bay, and has to pass over the engine, intake and brake master cylinder; some Cusco front braces add a master cylinder stopper. Check clearance with an aftermarket intake, and with upper mounts or camber plates that change the tower top. A brace works with the rest of the chassis bracing and suspension; see the whole handling range.