I have always wondered if there is anyway to measure if a strut bar or a three point bar does anything? Is there? Do any offer a significant advantage?

 

it stiffens the chassis. particularly at the suspension points in the front. between which there is a gaping hole where the engine lies.

stiffening the chassis has its effect, but arguably negligible. depends on chassis and suspension design. macpherson strut assemblies benefit more than double wishbone. some chassis are stiffer than others.

i will go on record that on both CRX's ive owned, i have felt improved response from adding a neuspeed front strut bar and will continue to vouch for them. and feel the small cost of one (particularly used) is worth the addition. no it doesnt transform my car into some track monster. it shouldnt. but i prefer to have one than none.

i wont vouch for ebay pos. nor any other strut or tie bar, at any other location.

 

A strut bar ties the normally unsecured top of the strut towers to the chassis. By connecting the two points [and sometimes a third], the amount of flex that can be experienced by the points on top of the strut will be reduced. Think of trying to squish a square; without a center cross-member, it will squish easier. Now apply that theory to your engine bay. The degree to which bars will affect your car vary with every possible design. Hollow,solid, oval and square will all act differently. Less chassis flex will lead to better handling response all around, to some degree.

As far as measurement, the strength of the shape of the bar can be easily calculated. But, I assume you mean measuring a reduction in chassis flex. To measure flex in a race car, one can simply bolt the chassis to a table by the suspension points and apply load to calculate a torsional rigidity. I can't come up with any simple ideas for a complicated system such as a Honda, so I'd go with the seat-of-your-pants calculations.

 

Go to an autox event and try it out with it on and off.
times wont lie.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sneakysneaky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Go to an autox event and try it out with it on and off.
times wont lie. </TD></TR></TABLE>

...or try to turn into the neighborhood at 25mph with & without a bar, you'll definitely notice a difference

 

If anything, a solid, one-piece strut bar should do what it's supposed to much better than one with pivot points.

Like Tyson said, the neuspeed bar works

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sneakysneaky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Go to an autox event and try it out with it on and off.
times wont lie. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It wont make you any faster.

 

When I put on my front upper strut and upper trunk bar, i noticed a little bit more response, but nothing to celebrate over.