Has anybody fitted a standard front lower strut brace?  

 

 I have been reading that they are secured by RIV nuts, does this sound right? RIV nuts aren't the strongest of items to be holding suspension/brace bars to the car.

 

 

Thats how they are fitted on cars that come with them from the factory, using captive nuts in the existing components. I bought an S3 lower brace for my old Octavia MK1 from Audi, and it was supplied with the nuts to insert into the suspension components. It was still firmly attached to the car 6 years after I sold it, when it came up on ebay several years ago.

Must be the case then, RIV nuts it is. These are usually used for fitting lots of spot lights to a rally car bonnet, never dreamed they could be man enough for suspension components  

Hi James! I've had one for years. I found when I fitted the upper strut brace a significant improvement in handling was achieved but didn't notice much improvement when the lower one went on.

You can see it in this pic.

FWD are traditionally prone to understeer anyway, stiffening up the front without the rear doesn't help this. Stiffen up the rear if you want a sharper response matz I'm not saying the lower front brace won't help, as joining the suspension towers to reduce flex isn't a bad thing, but on its own I don't think you'll notice a great difference over stock handling.

Thanks for the information, however the rear is stiff as because my car is a 4 motion and very different at the rear to front wheel drive cars.

I had one, on SWMBO's car and the feeling was much more precise.

 

Worth it, IMHO.

Edited 3 February, 201412 yr by Genoa1893

I had the above pictured OMP lower strut brace fitted to my mk1 fabia (T.Spark owns it now). Certainly helped sharpen the front end coupled with the MOMO upper brace.

I had the above pictured OMP lower strut brace fitted to my mk1 fabia (T.Spark owns it now). Certainly helped sharpen the front end coupled with the MOMO upper brace.

were you lowered? And did it catch on much? I've wanted one for a while but my cars lowered and don't want it catching off everything in the road !

were you lowered? And did it catch on much? I've wanted one for a while but my cars lowered and don't want it catching off everything in the road !

The one I have is a flat bar so would not make any difference to the gap below the car IMO

were you lowered? And did it catch on much? I've wanted one for a while but my cars lowered and don't want it catching off everything in the road !

-40mm on H&R springs IIRC. Didn't catch on owt.