Is it necessary to install a strut bar in a car?
1 Answers
It is not recommended to install a strut bar in civilian vehicles. The strut bar, also known as a stabilizer bar, refers to a device that is horizontally installed in specific parts of a car to enhance the rigidity of the chassis or body when driving under special road conditions. In a broad sense, it includes both stabilizer bars and sway bars. In a narrow sense, it does not include the factory-installed U-shaped sway bars on the vehicle body, and its main function is to prevent rollovers during sharp turns or when the vehicle leans to one side. Depending on the installation location, stabilizer bars are divided into front and rear strut bars, as well as front and rear lower bars. More details about strut bars are as follows: 1. The purpose of installing a strut bar in a car: It is designed to eliminate the impact of vibrations caused by uneven road surfaces on the vehicle body. The vehicle body absorbs a large amount of external vibrations through the independent suspension system. Since the springs of the shock absorbers are independent and the material and physical properties of each spring are difficult to keep uniform, the remaining vibrations are ultimately absorbed by the vehicle body. This manifests as uneven load distribution, making it easy for the vehicle to lean or even roll over during high-speed sharp turns or emergency maneuvers. The strut bar connects the front shock absorbers of the vehicle into a single unit, enhancing the rigidity of the body, effectively preventing body deformation, balancing the torque of the wheels, preventing misalignment, reducing wheel bumpiness, extending the lifespan of the shock absorbers, and avoiding a feeling of weakness and leaning during turns. This increases the safety of the vehicle body, making driving more agile and the ride more comfortable. 2. The hazards of installing a strut bar in a car: Since civilian vehicle bodies are not as sturdy as race cars, they may not withstand the additional stress, leading to tearing and affecting the lifespan of the front shock absorbers. The benefits of a stabilizer bar are maximized only under extreme off-road conditions or high-speed driving. In daily use, the effect of the stabilizer bar is minimal and may even negatively impact handling. The quality of independently sold stabilizer bars varies, and some are marketed as fitting multiple car models. The length and diameter of the stabilizer bar are directly related to the strength of the vehicle body and the flexibility of the chassis. If the stabilizer bar is not well-matched to the vehicle body, it may reduce the lifespan of the shock absorbers at best or cause body deformation at worst.
