How important are struts?

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Nov 6, 2002 | 10:34 PM

Schmucker

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Melting Slicks

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From: Wisconsin

How important are struts?

Just curious of how important it is to replace the struts. My alignment guy (has a '77 drag car AND is doing a full original resto on a '63 SWC) said that they were fine and easy enough to align. Since VBP is offering $100 off of the GT Plus kit (was originally just going to get the plain GT with composite spring for $650) I was just curious if the struts are worth it to do. Granted for $150 more they would be worth it for the price, but is it something I need and want? I've decided against the Smart Struts for another $100. Sounds like all it is is just a new bracket that is lower. I could probably make that, but I don't think it is a $100 gain over the other ones. The car is still scaring me and putting a grin from ear to ear on my face since I'm upgrading from a Crown Victoria whenever I put it through a corner. I know I'm not even going as fast as I could around it even. My leaf is shot and my control are bushings are gone even. What do you think, spend the money, or forget about it?

Nov 6, 2002 | 10:46 PM

Shark Racer

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From: San Jose CA

Re: How important are struts? (Schmucker)

The smart struts are a step above the lowered brackets. I'm not sure how, but they are definitely better.

Proper tire camber is integral to cornering ability, and you'll find that without good struts, you'll be hurting. The struts set the tire camber and maintain it over the travel of the wheel.

-Steve

Nov 6, 2002 | 10:57 PM

Schmucker

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Melting Slicks

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From: Wisconsin

Re: How important are struts? (Pacin'California)

Quote:

Proper tire camber is integral to cornering ability, and you'll find that without good struts, you'll be hurting. The struts set the tire camber and maintain it over the travel of the wheel.

-Steve

I know that, but is replacing them in my case necessary? That is what I was asking.

Nov 6, 2002 | 11:07 PM

sb69coupe

Melting Slicks

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From: Apex NC

Re: How important are struts? (Schmucker)

Quote:

I know that, but is replacing them in my case necessary? That is what I was asking.

No, it's not necessary as long as the bushings in your struts are in good shape and the camber can be set correctly. There is no "performance" to be gained between a stock fixed strut rod and an adjustable "smart strut" with comparable bushings.

Shannon

Nov 6, 2002 | 11:34 PM

Schmucker

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Melting Slicks

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From: Wisconsin

Re: How important are struts? (sb69coupe)

Why thank you!

Nov 7, 2002 | 08:20 PM

73 LS-4

Melting Slicks

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From: Moro IL

Re: How important are struts? (sb69coupe)

Quote:

I know that, but is replacing them in my case necessary? That is what I was asking.

No, it's not necessary as long as the bushings in your struts are in good shape and the camber can be set correctly. There is no "performance" to be gained between a stock fixed strut rod and an adjustable "smart strut" with comparable bushings.

Shannon

:confused: Guessing you haven't watched your camber change with the stock struts as the suspension is run up and down, it varies greatly. The smart struts take almost all the variance out of the camber under suspension travel. It's actually pretty amazing when you can jack the back of your car up and the camber in no way noticeably changed even with the tires off the ground where it would have gone noticeably positive with the stock struts. I did the smart struts at the same time I performed an alignment getting ready for an autocross, so I can't say all the improvement was from them since the camber and toe was off before installation, after setting the alignment to my specs (roughly VB&P's) the back end felt far more secure in a hard corner. Are they necessary? depends on your handling goals.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

Nov 7, 2002 | 09:12 PM

sb69coupe

Melting Slicks

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From: Apex NC

Re: How important are struts? (73 LS-4)

Sorry, I got my terminology mixed up. The original poster said that he was not considering the dropped strut rod mount. This is the "smart strut" system, correct? I should have stated that there is no difference between the stock fixed strut rods and the adjustable strut rods if each have comparable bushings installed.

Again, sorry for the confusion. - Shannon

Nov 7, 2002 | 09:48 PM

73 LS-4

Melting Slicks

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From: Moro IL

Re: How important are struts? (sb69coupe)

Quote:

No problem, I agree with that. The only advantage of the adjustable strut rods over the stock struts is the ease and range of adjustment, not really worth the price when comparing to just changing to poly bushings on your stock struts as long as you have enough adjustment with them.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz