Where Could I find a REAR STRUT TOWER BRACE???

[OrangeSpeed]

Since i sacraficed the kenwood custom enclosure that was apparantly also a rear strut tower brace i would like to get something to replace that.....anyone know who makes one that would fit our cars?? Im assuming anyone who makes a 2003 protege brace would fit ours but i cant find anything....any suggestions?? Thanks

 

[nattyboy513]

www.optauto.com

www.modacar.com

 

[njaremka]

you don't need it. the protege SEDAN rear is already braced well enough.

 

[boostisgood]

you don't need it. the protege SEDAN rear is already braced well enough.

Ummmmm, our suspension set up is totally different then the sedan, and YES we do need them. Its called body roll, and the braces stop that. Not having the rear braced pretty much negates all the upgraded suspension components in the rear. In essence, your front is stiff and takes corners well, while the rear will twist and roll, and possibly lift the rear wheel off the ground.

If you disagree, please show me how the sedan is braced well engouh when there is NO brace for the strut towers there? I would also like to see the skidpad testing for the sedan as compaired to the MSP, since the sedan is so well braced with the factory suspension, and no strut braces.

Just my $0.02.

(mspo)

 

[OrangeSpeed]

Hey i went to those 2 sites and didnt find anything for our cars?? Was i totally missing it? The optauto site only had stuff for rx-7 and miata and the modacar site i couldnt even find strut tower braces.....sorry if its right in front of me i didnt catch any suggestions? Thanks

 

[njaremka]

i think you are confused. a rear strut brace is useless in ALL protege sedans, including the MP3 and Mazdaspeed, due to the design of the chassis. in theory, a rear strut brace ties the rear strut tower together to limit body flex at those points. in the protege sedan, the rear parcel tray, and all the bracing underneath it, ties the rear strut towers together. thus, you could say that the protege already has an integrated rear strut tower bar. therefore, my original comment holds in that a rear strut tower bar is usless in all protege SEDANS. (the protege5 is a different case)

oh yeah, and body roll is not controlled by braces, but rather springs and anti-sway bars. and skidpad testing will show nothing as the mazdaspeed, MP3, and all trim levels of the protege have different suspension set-ups. also, stiff anti-sway bars and stiff struts and bracing will give better response in transitions, which are not reflected in skidpad testing.

Ummmmm, our suspension set up is totally different then the sedan, and YES we do need them. Its called body roll, and the braces stop that. Not having the rear braced pretty much negates all the upgraded suspension components in the rear. In essence, your front is stiff and takes corners well, while the rear will twist and roll, and possibly lift the rear wheel off the ground.

If you disagree, please show me how the sedan is braced well engouh when there is NO brace for the strut towers there? I would also like to see the skidpad testing for the sedan as compaired to the MSP, since the sedan is so well braced with the factory suspension, and no strut braces.

Just my $0.02.

(mspo)

 

[Gro Harlem]

Yup, njaremka is correct.

If you own the sedan, a strut brace would do next to nothing. The 3rd gen Proteges were all designed with a "kinda" strut brace intact where the sheetmetal above the seatbacks goes. It is quite rigid and adding another brace wouldn't benefit you whatsoever.

 

[OrangeSpeed]

Are you guys sure? I dont want to sacrifice any of the awesome handling that this car has, a strut tower brace wouldnt be that expensive anyways but just let me know...... i want to be sure thats all. Thanks

 

[JasonH]

Are you guys sure? I dont want to sacrifice any of the awesome handling that this car has, a strut tower brace wouldnt be that expensive anyways but just let me know...... i want to be sure thats all. Thanks

Measure the distance between the holes and order a front or rear strut tower brace based on that. You can drill new holes in the brace or the car as need be. Did you measure and compare it to the front strut tower brace?

 

[njaremka]

if you really don't belive us, start taking the back trim pieces out of the trunk area and investigate. you will see that the rear shelf under the back window creates a very stiff structure between the strut towers.

 

[Gyre]

Are you guys sure? I dont want to sacrifice any of the awesome handling that this car has, a strut tower brace wouldnt be that expensive anyways but just let me know...... i want to be sure thats all. Thanks

You already took out the Kenwood custom enclosure. You tell us if it made the handling any worse (assuming that it would act as a strut brace at all).

 

[OrangeSpeed]

That is what im not sure about, it did feel going around the corners to be a little looser in the backend.... and i felt this before i posted this on the forums. Im pretty sure it actually did have some bearing on the car. I believe you guys im not calling you liers at all im just curious, it feels different to me and the kenwood enclosure bolts in into 2 places its weird. Later

 

[mazdadan]

i think you are confused. a rear strut brace is useless in ALL protege sedans, including the MP3 and Mazdaspeed, due to the design of the chassis. in theory, a rear strut brace ties the rear strut tower together to limit body flex at those points. in the protege sedan, the rear parcel tray, and all the bracing underneath it, ties the rear strut towers together. thus, you could say that the protege already has an integrated rear strut tower bar. therefore, my original comment holds in that a rear strut tower bar is usless in all protege SEDANS. (the protege5 is a different case)

oh yeah, and body roll is not controlled by braces, but rather springs and anti-sway bars. and skidpad testing will show nothing as the mazdaspeed, MP3, and all trim levels of the protege have different suspension set-ups. also, stiff anti-sway bars and stiff struts and bracing will give better response in transitions, which are not reflected in skidpad testing.

I couldn't have said it better myself. This "integrated reinforcement" was one of the major updates of the current body style protege.

 

[njaremka]

the kenwood subwoofer enclosure is NOT a strut brace, and that is not what I am referring to. the protege has frame structures back there that act as the bracing for the strut towers.

i will see if i can get back there this weekend and take some pictures to show what i am talking about.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

3rd gen Proteges Sedans (ALL TRIMS) all have built-in rear strut tower bracing reinforcement WELDED to the body frame

here is the proof, see my attached image:

see how the strut towers are WELDED together by the body crossmember on top??? I don't know any bolt-on braces you can add to make it even stiffer. A full roll cage maybe...

the Kenwood subwoofer enclosure is NOT a brace