Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace?

freakadore · 08-25-2008, 01:14 PM

Hi all,
I've got an 08 and I'm just starting to mod my Prius. What should I get first, the stiffening plate or the tower brace? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!!

firepa63 · 08-25-2008, 02:13 PM

Why not drive it for a while and see what you really need/want. I've never added anything to mine and I'm very happy with it.

Bobwho · 08-25-2008, 02:27 PM

I would throw away the OEM rubber. Then go get the chassis stiffening plate. In the case of a high speed avoidance maneuver in the wet it can make the difference between controlling your way through a problem and losing control.

Been there done that and been glad to have the edge. Emergency maneuver is the only time that you need the extra traction that both mods will give you.

I have the plate, and a set of Michelin's. You will lose some mileage for the first few thousand miles with the tires but once you learn to inflate to the maximum sidewall the mileage will come back.

As for the strut mod I have not done it yet. No comment there.

Boo · 08-25-2008, 02:51 PM

If you're interested in improving both the handling and the safety of the car, I would upgrade to wider and better all season tires first. But that'll set you back at least $400, and that's not what you asked about.

If you're interested in the most dramatic handling improvement (i.e., what you as a driver would probably notice the most), I think I would go with the Strut Tower Brace first.

Of the three handling related modifications I've made (TripleTreds 195/60/15, Stiffening Plate, Strut Tower Brace), the Strut Tower Brace was the one that produced a "Wow, what a difference" from me.

blamy · 08-25-2008, 03:31 PM

The strut tower brace is a proven handling enhancement. Tires help too, but may hurt your mileage. Go with the strut first.

awai08 · 08-25-2008, 04:20 PM

I've been in the same boat. So far, I've added the strut tower brace and do notice the benefits; the car feels more responsive when initiating turns and reacts more predictably. Also because the front tires' contact patch is more consistently maintained, braking is more predictable too. I'm very happy with the results.

BTW, I have the Tom's brace, which looks almost identical to and functions the same as the BT version. I also plan on putting on the braces Toms makes for the rear.

Gadgetdad · 08-25-2008, 10:59 PM

Mine is a Touring Edition, and I have not replaced the OEM wider touring tires. I put the stiffening plate on first and noticed a definite improvement in handling. It is the cheaper modification and installation is quick and requires only 4 bolts to deal with.

The Strut brace has the most dramatic effect of the two, however, yet it's effect may have been intensified by the presence of the stiffening plate. Good luck!

Lee

cephas · 08-26-2008, 05:31 PM

will do it soon.

thomatt12 · 08-28-2008, 09:28 PM

Adding a strut bar to your ride can really help improve your car's cornering ability. Plus it helps stiffen your ride's chassis. So I vote for it!

__________________
Driving At It's Finest

thepolarcrew · 08-28-2008, 10:08 PM

I noticed the stiffening plate bolts on where the stock one is taken off. What's with the factory one, rubber?

The strut stiffener, is it a bolt on or do you have to do a mod?

08-25-2008, 01:14 PM	#1
freakadore Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 6 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? Hi all, I've got an 08 and I'm just starting to mod my Prius. What should I get first, the stiffening plate or the tower brace? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!!

08-25-2008, 02:13 PM	#2
firepa63 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 390 My Car: 2009 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? Why not drive it for a while and see what you really need/want. I've never added anything to mine and I'm very happy with it.

08-25-2008, 02:27 PM	#3
Bobwho Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chicago area Posts: 56 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? I would throw away the OEM rubber. Then go get the chassis stiffening plate. In the case of a high speed avoidance maneuver in the wet it can make the difference between controlling your way through a problem and losing control. Been there done that and been glad to have the edge. Emergency maneuver is the only time that you need the extra traction that both mods will give you. I have the plate, and a set of Michelin's. You will lose some mileage for the first few thousand miles with the tires but once you learn to inflate to the maximum sidewall the mileage will come back. As for the strut mod I have not done it yet. No comment there.

08-25-2008, 02:51 PM	#4
Boo Boola Boola Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,417 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 13	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? If you're interested in improving both the handling and the safety of the car, I would upgrade to wider and better all season tires first. But that'll set you back at least $400, and that's not what you asked about. If you're interested in the most dramatic handling improvement (i.e., what you as a driver would probably notice the most), I think I would go with the Strut Tower Brace first. Of the three handling related modifications I've made (TripleTreds 195/60/15, Stiffening Plate, Strut Tower Brace), the Strut Tower Brace was the one that produced a "Wow, what a difference" from me. __________________ Best regards, Tom 07 Pkg 2 Magnetic Gray - GY TripleTreds 195/60/15, BT Tech Stiffening Plate & Strut Tower Brace, Philips X-Treme Power Headlights 9003/H4/HB2, BumperDefender.com Bumper Guard Strips, PriusChat Body Side Moldings & Rear Bumper Protector, NoBump.com License Plate Screw Bumpers, Bumper Bully, Wheelskins Leather Steering Wheel Cover, PriusHoods.com Leather Center Console Cover, Rubber Queen Center-Hump Litter Basket, eBay Non-Slip Pads, Dalmatian Bobble Heads.

08-25-2008, 03:31 PM	#5
blamy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 308 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? The strut tower brace is a proven handling enhancement. Tires help too, but may hurt your mileage. Go with the strut first.

08-25-2008, 04:20 PM	#6
awai08 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? I've been in the same boat. So far, I've added the strut tower brace and do notice the benefits; the car feels more responsive when initiating turns and reacts more predictably. Also because the front tires' contact patch is more consistently maintained, braking is more predictable too. I'm very happy with the results. BTW, I have the Tom's brace, which looks almost identical to and functions the same as the BT version. I also plan on putting on the braces Toms makes for the rear.

08-25-2008, 10:59 PM	#7
Gadgetdad Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Modesto, California Posts: 300 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? Mine is a Touring Edition, and I have not replaced the OEM wider touring tires. I put the stiffening plate on first and noticed a definite improvement in handling. It is the cheaper modification and installation is quick and requires only 4 bolts to deal with. The Strut brace has the most dramatic effect of the two, however, yet it's effect may have been intensified by the presence of the stiffening plate. Good luck! Lee

08-26-2008, 05:31 PM	#8
cephas Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Prius Posts: 23 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? will do it soon. Last edited by cephas; 08-26-2008 at 06:59 PM.

08-28-2008, 09:28 PM	#9
thomatt12 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 14 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? Adding a strut bar to your ride can really help improve your car's cornering ability. Plus it helps stiffen your ride's chassis. So I vote for it! __________________ Driving At It's Finest Last edited by thomatt12; 09-15-2008 at 08:09 PM.

08-28-2008, 10:08 PM	#10
thepolarcrew Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,579 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Stiffening Plate or Strut Tower Brace? I noticed the stiffening plate bolts on where the stock one is taken off. What's with the factory one, rubber? The strut stiffener, is it a bolt on or do you have to do a mod?

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