Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE Strut Tower Brace

What does a strut brace (aka stress bar or strut bar) do?
The concept of a strut bar is intended on reducing the flex between the front strut towers during hard cornering loads.  By reducing this flex, it allows suspension points to remain undisturbed, allowing for the suspension to do it's job properly.  This often gives the drive a feeling of increased stability and improved turning response, when in reality, the suspension is reacting as designed.

Who can benefit from a strut bar?
For those that may believe a strut bar is only for "track cars" or "racecars", it is also street driven vehicles that benefit from a properly engineered strut tower bar.  Whereas anyone can appreciate the ability for a front suspension to remain constant at all times, other benefits include support of the factory strut towers from "mushrooming".  These generally occurs if the vehicle hits large potholes, causing the suspension to compress completely, and then damaging the rim.  However, its not only the rim that takes the hit, but the shock tower as well.  Over time, if left unprotected, it can cause expensive sheet metal damage.

What to look for in a strut tower brace?
When looking at a strut tower brace to give you the most benefit, it should have the following features:

• Sufficient protection of the strut tower top (to prevent "mushrooming")
• Center bar with minimal bends or kinks (straighter is stiffer!)
• Provide adequate underhood clearance (so not to dimple the hood)
• Allow for suspension changes (for those that frequent the track)

Even BMW applied many of these traits to their own strut tower braces when they offered them.  For the E36 and E46 models, both used cast aluminum strut tower plates and matched them to tubular steel center bars. 

The Rogue Engineering RACEBRACE was designed as an alternative offering to the BMW Motorsport factory strut tower brace, which is no longer available.  This item was standard equipment on the 1995 BMW M3 GT (350 produced, for Europe only) as well as the 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight (US market).  This well engineered brace utilized cast aluminum end plates and a adjustable steel center bar.  Frequently sold for more than $500 when available, these rare parts easily fetch $600-$700 on the used market.  Unfortunately, this bar did not fit ASC+T vehicles. 

RACEBRACE Features and Benefits

• Lightweight tubular steel bars are 100% TIG welded to high strength steel plates and powdercoated black for a durable finish.   
• The multiple bar configuration, with center support bars, resist twisting and bending of the front chassis.  Although it does not bolt to the firewall, the bar's multiple tubes resist bending and twisting in multiple planes (when compared to strut braces that use only flat bars).
• Fits all 6-clyinder 1992-1999 E36 models, including those equipped with ASC+T.  E46 model fits all E46 6-clyinder including 2001-2006 M3.
• Open tower design allows for easy access to adjustable camber plates and shock adjustments.
• Designed to offer adequate clearance over the engine components as well as underhood clearance.  This is especially important in E36 coupes, as the underhood clearance is the lowest of all of the E36 models.  Other strut tower braces will either put too much pressure in the hood release lever or worse, dimple the hood.
• Strut tower offers full 360° support, completely covering the strut tower area.  This can prevent costly sheet metal damage "mushrooming" from potholes, especially with lowered cars.
• Removal of the strut brace takes only minutes with simple hand tools.  Adjustments to suspension camber/caster plates can be made without removal of the bar. 
• At only 6.9 lbs. (E36 model), it is designed to withstand the rigors of extreme track use.

Installation Notes & FAQ

• On the E36 version, our RACEBRACE does fit those with the rather short studs of TC Kline camber plates.
• On our E46 version, the RACEBRACE is designed with aftermarket, adjustable camber plates in mind.  For those using stock strut mounts, modified by removing the alignment pin and adjusting the suspension, the RACEBRACE has been designed to have its plates in the factory center position.  For those looking for to use our E46 RACEBRACE and a little more camber on the street, use of fixed camber plates will allow both to be accomplished. 
• Installation for those with stock strut mounts is a matter of minutes.  A typical install for an E36 is less than 10 minutes with hand tools.
• For E36 models with M50/S50 engines with oil fill caps towards the firewall, the brace does not interfere with the removal of the cap.  Use of a funnel is recommended for spill-free oil additions.

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