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Take a look at OEM-designed strut braces and in almost all cases (especially where an engineer was asked), they are SOLID pieces, generally steel in construction.
Why steel? Well, for one it's cost. However, and this is the other thing that bugs me about most aftermarket braces - Aluminum in this application has ZERO advantage of steel. Why?
Aluminum and steel have the same stiffness, given the same amount of weight. In other words, if you go to the hardware store and pick up a piece of 1" bar aluminum, you'll find that while it is much lighter than the same size piece of steel.... it's a great deal flimsier.
It will take the same amount of weight in aluminum (and thus a bigger bar) to provide the same amount of stiffness as the equivilant weight steel. Aluminum strut braces, floor bars, fender braces, and so on - would have to be unreasonably large to add any real stiffness.
So, yes, you absolutely should try to find a SOLID, steel-based brace whenever possible, or have one constructed for you.
Aluminum strut braces are okay, as long as they are bulky and solid with no hinge - they're better than nothing, but I'll take a steel version any day over the aluminum.
Excerpt fromhttp://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/2011/09/getting-stiff-strut-bars-and-braces/
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