» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,541 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,295 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,266 Views | | | | | | 04-07-2005, 02:09 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colmbus, Ohio Posts: 8 | Rear shock tower brace for a ti? I just installed HR racing springs, Bilsteins, and a front strut brace. Does anyone make the rear shock brace? I ordered one from BMP design, but they called back and said they NO LONGER MAKE IT. I'm told the shock towers can use the extra stability. Anyone know a where to find a rear brace? | | | 04-07-2005, 02:19 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,595 | I heard that you can use an Active Autowerks bar and customize the fitting. I think Maurolin did it to his ti. | | | 04-07-2005, 05:58 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 148 | Don't waste your money, the rear brace is useless. Get a pair of swaybars instead. SL Quote: Originally Posted by Fender I just installed HR racing springs, Bilsteins, and a front strut brace. Does anyone make the rear shock brace? I ordered one from BMP design, but they called back and said they NO LONGER MAKE IT. I'm told the shock towers can use the extra stability. Anyone know a where to find a rear brace? | __________________ 1996 318ti Active Garrett aspirated... 1996 318ti Sport | | | 04-07-2005, 07:34 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 1,022 | Quote: Originally Posted by KIRASIR Don't waste your money, the rear brace is useless. Get a pair of swaybars instead. SL | What he said, a bar won't do anything to help shocks. Besides, the rear end already likes to come loose on these cars, stiffening the rear suspension will only exagerate the problem. | | | 04-07-2005, 11:04 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 465 | yeah... here's my pic DURING INSTALLATION. | | | 04-08-2005, 01:58 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cali Posts: 338 | i disagree with the idea that sway bars should be chosen over a strut tower brace they are 2 completly different things that serve 2 completly different functions __________________ Clean E36 | | | 04-08-2005, 03:32 AM | #7 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | www.strongstrut.com ... look for the rear strut for a z3 (affectionately called a "butt strut"). heard this piece is very good and probably does more than a shock tower brace would. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 04-08-2005, 03:36 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 465 | ohh yeah! top and bottom reinforcement. but people always go for the easy one.. | | | 04-08-2005, 03:37 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cali Posts: 338 | yeah i wanna get thay butt brace __________________ Clean E36 | | | 04-08-2005, 01:48 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 148 | Sure, they are different but what are you trying to archive in the end? Better handling or better looks? Rear strut brace does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in a ti, while the sway bars make a huge difference (especially if your car is a base or an active model). In the end it's your money. SL Quote: Originally Posted by marcus2116 i disagree with the idea that sway bars should be chosen over a strut tower brace they are 2 completly different things that serve 2 completly different functions | __________________ 1996 318ti Active Garrett aspirated... 1996 318ti Sport | | | 04-08-2005, 01:50 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 148 | The "butt strut" works really well but it has two main disadvantages: price and ground clearance. SL Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti www.strongstrut.com ... look for the rear strut for a z3 (affectionately called a "butt strut"). heard this piece is very good and probably does more than a shock tower brace would. | __________________ 1996 318ti Active Garrett aspirated... 1996 318ti Sport | | | 04-08-2005, 08:31 PM | #12 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colmbus, Ohio Posts: 8 | It seems that AC Schnitzer makes one I want the brace for added stability to the shock towers. I've seen some gnarly pictures of blown out rear towers and I'd like to avoid that. But - $350 is too much, so I might be rethinking this. Thanks very much to Maurilin for the picture! | | | 04-08-2005, 10:52 PM | #13 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | are you worried about the top of the shock towers ripping out? there are reinforcements for that it that's what you're most worried about. way cheaper than $350 too __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 04-08-2005, 11:17 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | Quote: Originally Posted by KIRASIR two main disadvantages: price and ground clearance. | likewise, a tower strut has two main disadvantages: low effectiveness, and losing usefulness of the hatch. maurolin; would you mind resizing that, to maybe 640x480 or a thumb pointing to the full size? | | | 04-08-2005, 11:39 PM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 465 | How do I do that thumb thing? i need the full size as i am hosting those pics form my FTP. An AA bar is like $125. Also on ebay you can find some for like $40 non brand. Look into ROTORA they make AWESOME ONES TOO | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |