Thread: Rear Strut Tower Brace from Octotat (edit: with pics)

I just installed this part on my car, made by Chuck (Octotat) who is a vendor on the other forum. I just wanted to make sure that everybody here knew of this thing. The post for his product is:
http://www.sr20forum.com/bolt-bars/215931-new-product-anouncement-b13-rear-strut-tower-bars.html

And here are my initial thoughts as posted in that thread:

I finally had the opportunity to install mine the other day, but unfortunately I have not been able to do much spirited driving. As mentioned previously, the bar is a piece of art, this does not look like a low volume one-off piece. The installation was a snap, once I thought about it for a second. After pulling the back seat, bending out the metal brackets that the rear seatback mounts to, and popping the front of the rear deck out (all total 5 minutes to do), I got the strut nuts off and the bar in there. I kept getting one side of the bar on, with the other side having the bolts and holes just barely not matching up. After 10 minutes of trying to figure this out, it finally dawned on me to push down on the center of the bar, which stretched the bar out a bit and it popped right on! 5 minutes later I was done putting everything back together.

Unfortunately it was raining after the install and, combined with my snow tires, I couldn't really test how the bar affects handling. I should also mention that I already have the IKEA brace installed. However, there are fewer creaks from the back now and it seems that when I enter angled driveways (so one front tire is still on the street while the other front tire is up on an incline), my inside rear tire doesn't come up so high. I have one driveway in mind I will officially test that hypothesis on shortly.

So while I'll have to wait until I get the snow tires off and the Azenis on to really test the handling feel, the workmanship on the piece and the fit and finish is top notch. Installation was a snap and the car feels more solid. Time will tell, but I think this has made more of a difference in the back than the IKEA brace by itself did.
I am very happy with this product and highly recommend it to all!!

You will really like it with the Azenis. I've had this mod on my VE'd 94 for about 2-3 months and all I can say is wow. What a difference. Easy to rotate, definitely more solid in the rear by far. Better than the Active Tuning RSTB that I had on before. Chuck's bars are still available so get these while you can. His forum name on the other forum is Octotat and he has these just sitting in his back yard, powdercoated and ready to buy. Great guy, loves road racing if he has the time these days. He's working on a group buy for the NX RSTB that he is finishing up so show some support and jump on these and the Classic bars!

So it causes more oversteer, similar to installing a larger rear sway bar? You know, just after installing it (in the wet and on the snows) I took an on-ramp pretty quickly and by letting off the throttle, I actually got the back end to step out (which is one of the reasons I love snow tires, SO easy to control). I had been getting close to the back end stepping out before (dropping the throttle tightened the line), so I wasn't sure if it was the bar or if I was just going in a bit more aggressively.

I just don't understand how keeping the back end more flat (either through a larger rear sway or apparently this RSTB) and thus keeping the inside tire more on the ground actually leads to more oversteer? Can anybody dumb down an explanation for me?

just ordered mine yesterday. cant wait.

Adding this brace won't necessarily cause more OS, what you'll find is the rear tires will track flatter to their set camber instead of some angle that's a combo of chassis twist and camber settings. It especially will help in high traction situations like sticky summer tires on dry pavement - help you get the most traction.

It will make any amount of OS much more controllable, it's the "close the box" compliment to a good rear sway.

Fit was excellent, he really did his homework and the parts are light, too. I still have to put in the trunk triangulated brace, not a big deal, I was just really impressed with the ease of installation and great fit.

Very nice work, just put some of my first pics here

Looks very nice up there. Is there a handling difference from it been up or down?

Def something i would buy if i could get hold of it.



and are those feet and hand marks on the sheet metal

Please explain to me why this RSTB will make your car handle better than the Active tuning RSTB.

As far as I am concerned both of these bars do the same job. I can even argue that the Active RSTB is more sturdy with a complete straight design than this one with those 2 30 degress bends on each side.

Also the Active bar is adjustable so you can actually tension the bar to make for a tighter chasis.

I am not saying this bar is any worse but to say this bar is better is a stretch.

Lastly I do like the bar and it does seem to have a better fitment, but I got an Active RSTB already.

Do you guys have the Active RSTB you took of your car a friend of mine is looking for one.

Haha, yes it came that way...

My clutch is toast so have to wait until next week to see how she handles

Dunno just know good product when I see it, Chuck did really nice work, great fit, strong mounting, lightweight.