So I am looking for some honest opinions. I am looking to replace my factory strut bar with a Carbon fiber one. Many people say dont do it, it's weak. But to the best of my knowledge CF is UBER strong. Like stronger than steel. Am I wrong?

 

Depends on grade of fiber much like......... grade of fabric =)

 

first off the only carbon fiber strut bar available is made by a japanese company called feels. the bar cost over 500 dollars. second you dont want to remove the factory strut bar all strut bars available for the car are add on bars. I would suggest a cusco bar for you as your best looking option.

 

i have the neuspeed and for half the price of the cusco i think it looks nice.

 

How about the Comptech bar? Titanium/aluminum design might be better than CF. Isn't CF, though strong possibly brittle?

 

Comptech bar??? Tell me more. I was unaware of the Comptech bar. It's not brittle. Atleast to my knowledge.

 

http://www.comptechusa.com/store/150080.html

Though I'm not sure why your so obsessed with the strut bar. If you want a quick, cheap and instant upgrade, get the Comptech rear sway...

I have the Spoon strut bar and it just isnt as dramatic an upgrade as the rear sway...

 

Picture with arrow pointing to OEM Front Upper Strut Bar.


Picture arrows showing OEM and Neuspeed.


The Comptech replaces the OEM.


There are a couple of other ones, Spoon, Cusco, etc and none of them make a tremendous difference over stock.

Replace your sway if you want something you can immediately feel. You can get a Comptech or a Progess.


joerockt has an excellent write-up here.
http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21136


stiffy ... is that you?

 

Without looking up the mechanical properties, brittle is actually desireable for a strut tower bar. You want that sucker rigid as can be. Having a ductile material (one that can bend and return to its original shape) would defeat the purpose of having a strut tower bar.

 

brittle != rigid


I second the notion that you should look at a rear sway bar if you are looking to improve handling

 

 

i wouldnt get the comptech rear sway if you plan on an after market exhaust as it hits any exhaust other than comptech. if you are going to get an exhaust get the progress rear sway.

 

In europe we only have a 'sort of strut bar' running from (both) suspension ends toward the firewall. Not a trut running over the engine. I did not know this was different from the tsx.

Is the tsx OEM strut attached to the firewall?