Wanted JCW strut tower brace

Discussion in 'Want to Buy' started by NativeTexan, Aug 31, 2019.

  1. NativeTexan

    NativeTexan New Member

    May 10, 2017
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    Need used JCW strut tower brace for 2011 MINI Cooper S Clubman.


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  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Why? They really don’t do anything.
     
  3. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Bump incase someone has one
     
  4. NativeTexan

    NativeTexan New Member

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    Elaborate please. I thought it might help with torque steer and tip strut tower mushrooming.


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  5. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    I have a set of strut tower reinforcement plates for an R53 that won't be in use much longer. I don't know if they will fit your car, though, but I have them on all my Gen 1 MINIs and have never had any mushrooming problems with them on.
     
  6. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    They do not help with tq steer at all. Strut plates would help mushrooming if you have a 1st gen MINI (2002-2006)

    Tq steer comes from un-equal drive shafts in all front wheel cars.
     
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  7. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    From my understanding The R56-55 MINI's don't have an issure with mushrooms like the R50-53 cars did.

    The JCW brace is not a well made piece. I've looked at & installed the NM brace for a friend. It is a nice piece.

    EDIT > Yikes that is about $100 more than it should be. Try contacting one of the site sponsors maybe you can find a friendlier price.

    http://www.nm-eng.com/232/0/0/1445/nm358856-nm-eng-billet-aluminum-tie-bar.html
     
  8. Sully

    Sully Administrator
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    Are you talking about the JCW one or strut braces in general? I assume its the JCW one?

    A good strut tower brace (Ideally welded / no pivot points) helps keep the wheel geometry the same under lateral load, especially with cars that flex. I don't know the flex characteristics of the clubman or what you are trying to do. But outside of engine bling (which is nice) if the car is stiff you probably won't see a bid difference unless you drive twisty's alot. It will not help with torque steer. AEM Makes solid braces.. but they can be a PIA to install. I had to modify mine a little to get it to fit. Also if you have a different cold air intake, you would need to account for that.
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I was talking about the JCW bolt on strut braces and all bolt on ones general. They really do nothing at all except give people a placebo affect of “it feels tighter now”. It does nothing at all, especially if it’s multi-parts bolted together like M7’s and many others sold.

    A real strut bar is welded in and a solid brace that is part of the frame structure and rigid.
     
  10. Sully

    Sully Administrator
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    Agree 100% that a real one is welded in.. next best option is solid (not bolt together or with hing points) i.e. solid. A few articles below. The one with the best factual data is the bimmerworld one. However that was performed on a race car with a cage. So the test data, proves essentially the comment I made above, if the car is already stiff it won't help much outside of engine bling. That said, they didn't test with one on, only with one off and the car was already much stiffer than a street car. Also, that braces on older cars probably add value compared to new stiffer cars.

    Test on a race car (Already has a cage)
    http://news.bimmerworld.com/is-a-strut-brace-worth-it/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwh8jrBRDQARIsAH7BsXftCkRX80S8o_VxOx0QOBgQtoBjqMBq8KWl5Q47Vi9SUeZLcuLsnT4aAgMqEALw_wcB

    These two articles essentially are subjective points (Don't have test data to back it up)
    Another Article:
    http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/2011/09/getting-stiff-strut-bars-and-braces/

    And another:
    https://www.carreviewsncare.com/do-you-really-need-a-strut-bar/

    Ultimately, results will vary. I can say on my 88M5, my solid brace (and lower chassis brace) made a big difference in the feel of the car during hard turning. Did it make it faster... no idea. My gut says the BMW Mini chassis is stiff, so value will be much less when compared to an older car.
     
  11. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    I would think a long car like your M5 it would make a difference as long as its solid. Longer cars twist a lot more than our little Minis.
     

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