MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Performance Modifications => Topic started by: Polo6n1600i on December 24, 2012, 11:32:11 am

Title: Strut braces?
Post by: Polo6n1600i on December 24, 2012, 11:32:11 am
With my Fabia I had an upper front strut brace, and an upper rear one. Now I'm not sure how much flex the mk5/jetta shell has, but are these worth doing?

I've seen the Tomas rear ones which look pretty cool - I have a jetta, but its still got the same rear seats, so in theory it should still fit?

And I've seen the lower subframe & centre bars. What's the deal with all these?
Title: Re: Strut braces?
Post by: sub39h on December 25, 2012, 04:38:13 pm
Have a search for the Unibrace. RedRobin has done some good reviews on both.

There is no point in a strut brace on PQ35 chassis cars. The bulkhead is so close to the struts they're not meant to add any additional rigidity
Title: Re: Strut braces?
Post by: Bignod00 on December 25, 2012, 04:43:56 pm
I'm currently looking at purchasing the UNIbrace UB & XB, they're amazing bits of kit and so well made its untrue! :happy2:
Title: Re: Strut braces?
Post by: RedRobin on December 25, 2012, 07:42:39 pm
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FRED_INK%2FGTIforum_sig_600px_zps6e90d673.jpg&hash=a736895dab2e2b2d4d7db62cd1d9f6691a5c213a)

Review on the UNIbraces:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,48722.0.html

 :happy2:
Title: Re: Strut braces?
Post by: the bruce on December 31, 2012, 03:19:59 am
With my Fabia I had an upper front strut brace, and an upper rear one. Now I'm not sure how much flex the mk5/jetta shell has, but are these worth doing?


Take a look at the engine bay and you'll see a similar 'connection' between both struts.
If you feel a need (track the car, run a super stiff suspension) then on a hatch consider
a rear brace. The Jetta won't even need this as its glued in rear window stiffens the rear.

BTW, there a 100 other things to do first.
Title: Re: Strut braces?
Post by: El1M1N8OR on June 08, 2019, 12:05:48 pm
Have a search for the Unibrace. RedRobin has done some good reviews on both.

There is no point in a strut brace on PQ35 chassis cars. The bulkhead is so close to the struts they're not meant to add any additional rigidity

How straight forward is fitting one of these braces?  I would refer to the one that goes into the vehicle cabin behind the rear seat.

Does it fit in directly without any modifications?
Title: Re: Strut braces?
Post by: pudding on June 15, 2019, 01:04:20 am
MK5 doesn't need any bracing, front or rear.  You can't brace the rear without welding anyway due to the spring and damper mounting points.  The best way to make a MK5 hatchback as stiff as it can be is to weld in a Jetta rear seat bulkhead.