steeda light weight radiator support

[stang389]

has anyone ran this? http://www.americanmuscle.com/steeda-0509-radiator-support.html
thanks for the help guys

 

[3vs197]

$180 for less than 10lbs?!? i know its better but boy, there has to be something else to spend your money on first.

 

[stang389]

Not really have all the rest of the suspension done not going into the engine for a while

 

[Rubrignitz]

I considered it once then wrote it off after weighing my options. Team it with this and you save a bit more. But yes, expensive.

http://www.razorsedgemotorsports.com/raedsulifrbu.html

 

[Department Of Boost]

The 2011 GT’s have a brace that runs from the radiator support to the K-member that they call the “Z” brace. The only function that I can see that it has is too reinforce the radiator support so it can better control the swaybar mounts under load. Clearly Ford would not have added it if they didn’t think they needed it. Going with the Steeda radiator support seems like going in the opposite direction than what Ford did. I can’t imagine that the Steeda brace doesn’t have more fore/aft flex than the OEM radiator support does and that is what Ford tried to eliminate with the “Z” brace. Under load I would bet that the swaybar can deflect the Steeda radiator support.

Otherwise I think it’s a good buy. After the easy stuff shedding weight usually averages out to about $100/lb. Clearly the Steeda brace has that beat by a mile.

 

[Rubrignitz]

That thing is constructed of tubular chromoly steel. I doubt it would flex. I wonder if steeda located the bracing issue before Ford did. These have been available for some time now:

http://www.steeda.com/store/steeda-front-swaybar-mount-brace-for-ford-mustang.html

 

[alexthejew]

i have one. i love it. every bit counts!

 

[Rubrignitz]

yeah, every bit does count but I laughed at the reviewers on am muscle. 'my car is faster now!' 'I can really feel it!'

I'd love to lighten my car but the a/c and subwoofer are staying!

 

[Philostang]

I had the same worry that gmitch conveyed, but I know some folks who run this unit and track their Mustangs hard. Haven't heard any complaints from them.

I'm no mechanical engineer (so take this w/a grain of salt), but looking over the Steeda design for the area where the sway bars tie in and how it would transfer loads, I don't see any huge advantage the OEM unit has over theirs (esp. given the superior material used by Steeda). Given that Steeda had those braces out before the radiator support came out, I wouldn't be surprised if they took whatever they knew about flex in that area into consideration when they designed the tubular support. But again, this is just speculation.

Best,
-j

 

[stang389]

Alexthejew do you drive your car in de's ? How's does it hold up

 

[alexthejew]

yeah, every bit does count but I laughed at the reviewers on am muscle. 'my car is faster now!' 'I can really feel it!'

I'd love to lighten my car but the a/c and subwoofer are staying!

don't get me wrong, dollar for dollar, there are much better things you can do, but coupling that with headers that aren't cast iron absolutely made the car feel better around corners. then i did a battery relocation. also, i'm sure people had the placebo effect of adding a mod to their car.

it all adds up...

Alexthejew do you drive your car in de's ? How's does it hold up

not following the acronym... sorry that i'm stupid.

 

[stang389]

Driving events track days at a road course..

 

[alexthejew]

Driving events track days at a road course..

ahh. not yet. i want to soon, but i need to be able to afford a set of tires after. i really want to hit up an autocross event.

 

[ArizonaGT]

I'll let someone else test this out--this looks like a drag-race-only part to me.

 

[alexthejew]

I'll let someone else test this out--this looks like a drag-race-only part to me.

i actually bought it on a fluke. i ran down to steeda to pick up udps after my moto blue crank pully broke on me, and i saw it, and i was asking about it, and they were all talking about how it was developed for road racing. the drag racing ones usually delete the sway bar. i have eibach sways, and they work great together.

like i said though, i havent been on the racetrack yet.

 

[Vapour Trails]

Draining your windshield wiper reservoir has about the same effect (or taking a poop).

 

[alexthejew]

Draining your windshield wiper reservoir has about the same effect (or taking a poop).

but, what if you take a poop, drain your windshield wiper fluid, and have the lightweight brace? then you are really ready to race!

 

[stang389]

Ahh I do that anyways!

 

[DusterRT]

There are at least two threads specifically on this part in this sub-forum alone. I search; therefore I know.

 

[Vapour Trails]

Go on a diet