If you’re even remotely interested in cars, how they work, and possible modifications you can do to improve it, you’ve heard about strut bars.
Unfortunately, many people don’t know what strut bars are, and often confuse them with sway bars. Both have a direct effect on handling and are a part of the suspension system, however, there is a clear difference between the two.
In this article, we’ll focus on strut bars, what they do, what they’re made of, their pros and cons, and how you can install a strut bar in your car.
What Are Strut Bars And What Are They Used For?
A strut bar is a suspension accessory made from metal that’s commonly bolted to the strut towers. Strut bars can be added to the front and rear of the car, depending on what kind of effect the driver is looking for.
Some vehicles are factory-fitted with strut bars due to their design and engine power. In theory, strut bars should improve a car’s handling by providing rigidity to the vehicle while reducing body roll and flex. A strut bar alone won’t make a significant difference which is why many enthusiasts consider strut bars aesthetic upgrades to the engine bay.
The primary goal of strut bars was to help MacPherson struts to overcome their shortcomings. Vehicles with MacPherson strut assemblies have sensitive suspension geometry that can change under extreme driving circumstances, and a strut bar can help keep things in order.
Aside from keeping your vehicle safe and predictable in corners and hard braking, adding a strut bar will also improve the durability of your car’s suspension components.
The Pros And Cons Of Mounting Strut Bars To Your Car
Any type of modification on the car’s suspension includes some pros and some cons. Adding strut bars to your car is no different, however, the pros and cons aren’t as notable as with some other modifications. This is why some people consider strut bars only aesthetic additions to the engine space, while others consider them to be much more than just looks. Both pros and cons depend on the car and driver.
When it comes to the advantages of mounting a strut bar in your car, there are a few that come to mind. These include a reduction of wear and tear of suspension components, less body roll and sway, improved looks in the engine space, affordability, and simple installation most people can do on their own.
If you don’t plan on driving your car on the track, the biggest advantage of having a strut bar on your car will be reduced wear and tear of suspension components. As we mentioned earlier, hard braking, and bumps on the road can alter the suspension geometry, which can result in faster wear of some suspension components and tires. Unfortunately, these changes aren’t visible until the damage is done.
Less body roll and sway is the most controversial topic when it comes to strut bars. Unfortunately, not all cars have the same positive effect when strut bars are mounted, and it mostly depends on the car’s weight and design. Older cars are much more prone to body roll, and strut bars have a huge effect on the car’s stiffness compared to newer cars.
Even if your car doesn’t have a body roll, or this just isn’t something you care about, having a strut bar will visually improve the looks of your car under the hood. The possibilities are endless with specific paint jobs on the strut bar. The point is that a strut bar won’t have a negative effect on the driveability of your car.
Thankfully, strut bars aren’t one of the more expensive components you can buy, and you don’t need to hire a professional for installation. Strut bars can cost up to a few hundred dollars, however, even the more affordable options will work the same as the more expensive ones.
Aside from the obvious and not-so-obvious advantages of installing strut bars in your car, there are also a few disadvantages worth mentioning.
The most obvious disadvantage of having a strut bar in your engine bay is that it takes up space, and requires extra effort to work on the engine. Depending on the car in question, even a simple maintenance process such as replacing the spark plugs will require you to remove the strut bar from the car to reach the spark plugs or other engine components. Even though it doesn’t take much time to remove and install the strut bar, it can become annoying, especially if you work on your engine often.
It may not matter much for passenger cars, but a car’s offroad capabilities are lowered when a strut bar is installed. Also, one of the reasons why many people consider strut bars a waste of time and money is that handling improvement isn’t notable when the car is going in a straight line. Handling while cornering is improved, but only slightly. This is also the reason why more than half of people get strut bars as an aesthetic addition.
How To Install Strut Bars
We’ve mentioned that installing strut bars doesn’t require special tools, and isn’t a difficult process. Strut bars are most commonly made specifically for each vehicle, however, there are universal strut bars available on the market. It’s recommended to go with model-specific strut bars because they’re made to perfectly fit the car they’re made for. Universal strut bars, on the other hand, might require additional drilling which can reduce your car’s resale value.
To install your new strut bars, you’ll simply need to undo the bolts on the strut towers. Depending on your car’s make and model, you might need to undo 2 or 3 bolts on each side of the car. Once you remove the bolts, you’ll simply need to place the strut bar over the preexisting holes, and tighten the bolts firmly. Before closing the hood, make sure there’s enough clearance. The mounting process for rear strut bars is the same, however, reaching the strut towers might be a bit more complicated.