BMW > 3 Series (E30) > C) CHASSIS, BRAKES, SUSPENSION & STEERING UPGRADES > - Strut bars, Chassis & Subframe Reinforcement, Underchassis Protection etc > ROGUE ENGINEERING
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360 degree tower support
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TIG welding
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Description
RE part number re.stb.e36.r
A unique design of brace that reinforces the strut towers AND bulkhead of your BMW.
What does a strut brace (aka stress bar or strut bar) do?
The concept of a strut bar is intended on reducing the flex between the front strut towers during hard cornering loads. By reducing this flex, it allows suspension points to remain undisturbed, allowing for the suspension to do it's job properly. This often gives the drive a feeling of increased stability and improved turning response, when in reality, the suspension is reacting as designed.
Who can benefit from a strut bar?
For those that may believe a strut bar is only for "track cars" or "racecars", it is also street driven vehicles that benefit from a properly engineered strut tower bar. Whereas anyone can appreciate the ability for a front suspension to remain constant at all times, other benefits include support of the factory strut towers from "mushrooming". These generally occurs if the vehicle hits large potholes, causing the suspension to compress completely, and then damaging the rim. However, its not only the rim that takes the hit, but the shock tower as well. Over time, if left unprotected, it can cause expensive sheet metal damage.
What about a rear bar?
Since the rear suspension points do not see the same kinds of forces during hard corner (when compared to the front), a rear bar is typically unnecessary in a street application. A rear bar also tends to intrude into valuable trunk space inhibiting the full use of the cargo space. Additionally, for those with extensive stereo modifications (such as a sub-box), a rear bar tends to get in the way. Those companies that offer a rear bar typically do so to offer a visual compliment to the front bar.
What to look for in a strut tower brace?
When looking at a strut tower brace to give you the most benefit, it should have the following features:
- Sufficient protection of the strut tower top (to prevent "mushrooming")
- No pivots or heim-style joints to allow the bar to flex or bend, but adjustable, to allow for intention suspension changes.
- Center bar with minimal bends or kinks (straighter is stiffer!)
- Provide adequate underhood clearance (so not to dimple the hood)
- Allow for suspension changes (for those that frequent the track)
- Made from the best materials available (for lightweight, coefficient of thermal expansion)
Even BMW applied many of these traits to their own strut tower braces when they offered them. For the E36 and E46 models, both used cast aluminum strut tower plates and matched them to tubular steel center bars.
What about Rogue Engineering's Carbon Fiber Strut Tower Brace?
Some may question our decision to offer a competing product, since the Rogue Engineering Carbon Fiber brace fulfills many performance requirements already. In fact, the RACEBRACE chassis reinforcement fills a niche which our Carbon Fiber brace does not fill. Such features include compatibility with specific adjustable shocks and easy access to adjustable camber plates.
The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE was designed as an alternative offering to the BMW Motorsport factory strut tower brace, which is no longer available. This item was standard equipment on the 1995 BMW M3 GT (350 produced, for Europe only) as well as the 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight (US market). This well engineered brace utilized cast aluminum end plates and a adjustable steel center bar. Frequently sold for more than $500 when available, these rare parts easily fetch $600-$700 on the used market. Unfortunately, this bar did not fit ASC+T vehicles.
The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE also makes a great replacement for the factory E46 M3 strut brace. These factory strut braces were included on 2002-2006 model year E46 M3s (2001 models did not get it from the factory). Although rare, we have seen the factory cast aluminum mounting plates crack or worse, break. While most are covered under factory warranty, the dealer is usually very quick to deny any warranty because of modifications done to the vehicle (too low, springs too stiff, or a louder muffler was the cause of the crack). While fantastic in concept, the cast strut tower plates are obviously not strong enough to handle the stresses which are being exerted onto the towers from the suspension. The RACEBRACE's solid steel plates offer enough strength to handle these stresses.
RACEBRACE Features and Benefits
- Lightweight tubular steel bars are 100% TIG welded to high strength steel plates and powdercoated black for a durable finish. While aluminum may be marginally lighter, steel is used for its superior Coefficients of Thermal Expansion over aluminum or magnesium alloy.
- The RACEBRACE's one-piece design offers the strongest possible connection from each strut tower. Its one piece welded construction resists bending and flexing moments that hinged, flat bars simply cannot compare. While there may be others offering one-piece bars, we engineer our bars to support along the stress of the load path as closely as possible, not just "connecting" the two towers together.
- The multiple bar configuration, with center support bars, resist twisting and bending of the front chassis. Although it does not bolt to the firewall, the bar's multiple tubes resist bending and twisting in multiple planes (when compared to strut braces' that use only flat bars).
- Open tower design allows for easy access to adjustable camber plates and shock adjustments.
- Designed to offer adequate clearance over the engine components as well as underhood clearance.
- Strut tower offers full 360° support, completely covering the strut tower area. This can prevent costly sheet metal damage "mushrooming" from potholes, especially with lowered cars.
- Removal of the strut brace takes only minutes with simple hand tools. Adjustments to suspension camber/caster plates can be made without removal of the bar.
E36 Models
Make sure you have adequate camber plate/strut mount stud exposure.
Installation of the factory Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates are highly recommended. Installation for those with stock strut mounts is a matter of minutes. A typical install for an E36 is less than 10 minutes with hand tools.
For E36 models with M50/S50 engines with oil fill caps towards the firewall, the brace does not interfere with the removal of the cap. Use of a funnel is recommended for spill-free oil additions.
Does not fit 4-cylinders vehicles
E36 version weighs 6.9 lbs.
The E36 version can fit with an LS engine transplant as shown by one of our customers...
For other models please refer to Variations section ( use the red link button at top right of this listing ) for details on this version.
Estimated Volumetric Shipping Weight : 5.00 Kg
A unique design of brace that reinforces the strut towers AND bulkhead of your BMW.
What does a strut brace (aka stress bar or strut bar) do?
The concept of a strut bar is intended on reducing the flex between the front strut towers during hard cornering loads. By reducing this flex, it allows suspension points to remain undisturbed, allowing for the suspension to do it's job properly. This often gives the drive a feeling of increased stability and improved turning response, when in reality, the suspension is reacting as designed.
Who can benefit from a strut bar?
For those that may believe a strut bar is only for "track cars" or "racecars", it is also street driven vehicles that benefit from a properly engineered strut tower bar. Whereas anyone can appreciate the ability for a front suspension to remain constant at all times, other benefits include support of the factory strut towers from "mushrooming". These generally occurs if the vehicle hits large potholes, causing the suspension to compress completely, and then damaging the rim. However, its not only the rim that takes the hit, but the shock tower as well. Over time, if left unprotected, it can cause expensive sheet metal damage.
What about a rear bar?
Since the rear suspension points do not see the same kinds of forces during hard corner (when compared to the front), a rear bar is typically unnecessary in a street application. A rear bar also tends to intrude into valuable trunk space inhibiting the full use of the cargo space. Additionally, for those with extensive stereo modifications (such as a sub-box), a rear bar tends to get in the way. Those companies that offer a rear bar typically do so to offer a visual compliment to the front bar.
What to look for in a strut tower brace?
When looking at a strut tower brace to give you the most benefit, it should have the following features:
- Sufficient protection of the strut tower top (to prevent "mushrooming")
- No pivots or heim-style joints to allow the bar to flex or bend, but adjustable, to allow for intention suspension changes.
- Center bar with minimal bends or kinks (straighter is stiffer!)
- Provide adequate underhood clearance (so not to dimple the hood)
- Allow for suspension changes (for those that frequent the track)
- Made from the best materials available (for lightweight, coefficient of thermal expansion)
Even BMW applied many of these traits to their own strut tower braces when they offered them. For the E36 and E46 models, both used cast aluminum strut tower plates and matched them to tubular steel center bars.
What about Rogue Engineering's Carbon Fiber Strut Tower Brace?
Some may question our decision to offer a competing product, since the Rogue Engineering Carbon Fiber brace fulfills many performance requirements already. In fact, the RACEBRACE chassis reinforcement fills a niche which our Carbon Fiber brace does not fill. Such features include compatibility with specific adjustable shocks and easy access to adjustable camber plates.
The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE was designed as an alternative offering to the BMW Motorsport factory strut tower brace, which is no longer available. This item was standard equipment on the 1995 BMW M3 GT (350 produced, for Europe only) as well as the 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight (US market). This well engineered brace utilized cast aluminum end plates and a adjustable steel center bar. Frequently sold for more than $500 when available, these rare parts easily fetch $600-$700 on the used market. Unfortunately, this bar did not fit ASC+T vehicles.
The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE also makes a great replacement for the factory E46 M3 strut brace. These factory strut braces were included on 2002-2006 model year E46 M3s (2001 models did not get it from the factory). Although rare, we have seen the factory cast aluminum mounting plates crack or worse, break. While most are covered under factory warranty, the dealer is usually very quick to deny any warranty because of modifications done to the vehicle (too low, springs too stiff, or a louder muffler was the cause of the crack). While fantastic in concept, the cast strut tower plates are obviously not strong enough to handle the stresses which are being exerted onto the towers from the suspension. The RACEBRACE's solid steel plates offer enough strength to handle these stresses.
RACEBRACE Features and Benefits
- Lightweight tubular steel bars are 100% TIG welded to high strength steel plates and powdercoated black for a durable finish. While aluminum may be marginally lighter, steel is used for its superior Coefficients of Thermal Expansion over aluminum or magnesium alloy.
- The RACEBRACE's one-piece design offers the strongest possible connection from each strut tower. Its one piece welded construction resists bending and flexing moments that hinged, flat bars simply cannot compare. While there may be others offering one-piece bars, we engineer our bars to support along the stress of the load path as closely as possible, not just "connecting" the two towers together.
- The multiple bar configuration, with center support bars, resist twisting and bending of the front chassis. Although it does not bolt to the firewall, the bar's multiple tubes resist bending and twisting in multiple planes (when compared to strut braces' that use only flat bars).
- Open tower design allows for easy access to adjustable camber plates and shock adjustments.
- Designed to offer adequate clearance over the engine components as well as underhood clearance.
- Strut tower offers full 360° support, completely covering the strut tower area. This can prevent costly sheet metal damage "mushrooming" from potholes, especially with lowered cars.
- Removal of the strut brace takes only minutes with simple hand tools. Adjustments to suspension camber/caster plates can be made without removal of the bar.
E36 Models
Make sure you have adequate camber plate/strut mount stud exposure.
Installation of the factory Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates are highly recommended. Installation for those with stock strut mounts is a matter of minutes. A typical install for an E36 is less than 10 minutes with hand tools.
For E36 models with M50/S50 engines with oil fill caps towards the firewall, the brace does not interfere with the removal of the cap. Use of a funnel is recommended for spill-free oil additions.
Does not fit 4-cylinders vehicles
E36 version weighs 6.9 lbs.
The E36 version can fit with an LS engine transplant as shown by one of our customers...
For other models please refer to Variations section ( use the red link button at top right of this listing ) for details on this version.
Estimated Volumetric Shipping Weight : 5.00 Kg