01-08-2018, 01:28 PM | #1 | |
CamaroFans.com
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[ANSWERED] Strut tower brace needed or helpful?
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The short answer is ‘no, you don’t need the Tower to Tower brace to improve ride, steering, or handling.’ When we designed the 6th Gen Camaro, one of the areas we focused on was going after a significant mass reduction while improving the body structure. The ‘Alpha’ architecture, which was the basis for the Cadillac CTS/ATS, provided this opportunity. Lighter weight materials, like Press-hardened Steel, High Strength-Low Alloy (HSLA), and Aluminum allowed us to have a structure that has 28% more body stiffness than the 5th Gen Camaro, yet weighs between 225 lb. – 390 lb. less than its predecessor (depending on the model). The shock towers, which are made of Aluminum, are 40% lighter than steel, yet 25% stiffer than those in the 5th Gen Camaro. If you consider the modal analysis of the body structure, the shock towers move from side to side while driving through road input, which can be felt in both the steering wheel and the seat of your pants if the movement is not managed. By providing a stronger structure, especially in the areas where the loads are transferred directly to the customer touch points, we don’t need to add on the additional mass and cost of structural braces, such as the Tower to Tower brace. We did add what we call ‘rearward-facing V-braces’, which are smaller braces tied into the front of dash structure that are very effective, and this helps provide the quick, responsive steering you feel in your Camaro. From the suspension standpoint, the front strut mounts showcase a single path design that optimizes steering response and isolation, also contributing to the conclusion that we don’t need a Tower to Tower brace. The one exception is the SS Convertible, which does have the brace. The road loads in the SS convertible, in addition to the additional forward mass of the car due to the heavier engine, required the additional structure. The bottom line with regard to the Tower to Tower brace on the other models, especially the 1LE’s, is that while it could most likely be proven by an engineer that there would be some improvement with On-center feel of the steering, the Camaro team felt that this very slight improvement was not worth penalizing the car for the additional mass. I will add that there is no harm in adding the brace to your car. By the way, due to the height of the engine, the brace will not work on the 2.0T or ZL1 Camaro. |
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01-08-2018, 02:31 PM | #2 | |
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....but what about the Convertible ZL1s? |
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01-08-2018, 03:03 PM | #3 |
Rockcrusher
Drives: 2017 SS 1LE Join Date: May 2009
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01-08-2018, 03:34 PM | #4 |
corner barstool sitter
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Seems the other STB thread (where I first tried to post this) is closed.
I'm not too surprised at the answer - or that the Alpha actually has strut tower bracing, and that even though it doesn't jump out at you like a more conventional 2-point design it (they?) can still be very effective structurally. Norm
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01-08-2018, 05:40 PM | #5 |
Romans10:9-13
Drives: /\yes, this is me/\ Join Date: Nov 2008
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Interesting,
It explains the rubbing the zl1 has on the hood with the bmr ones. not gonna be ordering one in my case. If I ever quit buying other vehicles and going on cruises.
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01-09-2018, 06:38 AM | #6 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro 1SS M6 Join Date: Apr 2015
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Thanks, Al!! Excellent detail as usual.
I, too, am interested in why the ZL1 convertible did not get one. Maybe the trade-offs for a common solution that also worked on a ZL1 (impact to hood design and aero) overshadowed the benefit.
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01-09-2018, 12:19 PM | #7 | ||
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01-09-2018, 02:27 PM | #8 |
Drives: 2017 2SS Join Date: Apr 2016
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Very nicely detailed and straight to the point answer. Thanks, Al!
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01-09-2018, 03:19 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro 1SS M6 Join Date: Apr 2015
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I know that, but why didn't they either redesign the brace or hood for it to fit, since he also mentioned it was deemed necessary on the SS convertible. I'm talking about early in the design phase, why didn't they make 1 brace that accommodates all configurations or design all the hoods to fit around the optimized brace?
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2017 Camaro 1SS, M6, Hurst shifter, Hyper Blue, NPP, Gray Split Spoke Wheels
Best 1/4 Mile: 12.24 @ 115.9 mph |
01-10-2018, 04:35 PM | #10 | |
Big Samoan ina little car
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So where does this put the 2.0 model, the AutoX edition that was at sema in 2016?
They had a brace specifically made for the 2.0T TGMPG actually had the part number listed for it as well.
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01-11-2018, 11:34 PM | #11 |
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I just came here after watching a video by Carlos Lago on the ATSV. At 11m 45sec he said that Cadillac added the underbody aluminum shear panel (which SS-up Camaros have as well) not because it made the lap times quicker, but because it delivered more feedback from the front end to the driver. My first thought was that the strut brace would fall in this category as well.
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01-14-2018, 08:38 AM | #12 | |||||
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I find the explanation from Al quite helpful. If I understand well.
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01-14-2018, 09:10 AM | #13 | |
corner barstool sitter
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Not that there would have been zero benefit by installing one, just that for the vast majority of customers the amount of benefit (if they noticed any at all - which cannot at all be guaranteed) was judged too small to warrant Chevy putting one in there except in the one convertible application. For the ZL1 convertible, I'm going to guess that the added expense of redesigning and recertifying for a different hood was enough to tip the balance against fitting one there. Norm
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01-15-2018, 09:23 PM | #14 |
SABIO
Drives: 2016 CAMARO 1SS Join Date: Jul 2015
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Of course a Brace is offered by GM. Why would they let someone else sell you one.
People like them even if they don't do anything. Looks cool. and it's another place to get Al O. to sign at the next big car meet.
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