retail price please.

Just out curiousity, which AISI high carbon steel?

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by arskiker:
retail price please.

Just out curiousity, which AISI high carbon steel?<hr></blockquote>

The Retail Price is $78.95, and I will have to get back to you on the number, I don't have the certs here.

Thanks

 

gee...that looks like a familiar design....

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by icemanZX3:
gee...that looks like a familiar design....<hr></blockquote>

It should, I haven't seen two many stress bars that down attach to the tops of the strut towers, and run across the engine bay. The wouldn't function well if they didn't attach there. The routing of the bar is dictated by the availible room under the hood. We started with a 01 Four Door Focus and begin routing. The tight spot was between the fuse box and the air box. This dictated the location of the bar on the drivers side of the car. Once that obstruction was clear the next problem was the TB and allowing enough room for engine movement. The general lay out of the engine bay dictates the shape of the bar for clearance issue. I would suspect that any bar for the Focus would have follow a similar routing to ours, because of the design of the engine compartment.

 

I think what he's referring to is the fact it is very similar to the front strut tower bar offered by Focus Sport.

http://www.focussport.com/stressbars.htm

Granted.. yours connects to all 3 points on the shock tower.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by lamron:
I think what he's referring to is the fact it is very similar to the front strut tower bar offered by Focus Sport.

http://www.focussport.com/stressbars.htm

Granted.. yours connects to all 3 points on the shock tower.<hr></blockquote>

It doesn't surpise me that the routing is similar. The bars have to connect at the same points, and clear the same obstructions in the engine compartment. I would suspect the next producer of a stress bar will follow a similar route as ours. That is dictated by the engine compartment.

I was kind of surprised somebody brought it up. Nobody ever brings up the fact that all exhaust systems look similar, but they are also dictated by the car and its obstructions.

 

Looks good, and the price is decent as well. The only thing that would sway me towards the FocusSport bar over yours is the fact that they back the bar with a 2-year warranty, your's only has 90-days(stated on your web page).

 

I agree. I think the main reason anyone would give you flack about it is b/c Focus Sport has a large loyal customer base. Its just a simple fact that they came out with there's first so I can see that they will see it as you copying a previous design. Form follows function. What works best may be similar to a previous product. Your comparison to an exhaust is dead on IMHO.

I, myself, am somewhat interested in your product over the FocusSport product because its cheaper, and is available in plain ol' black. My one gripe about the FocusSport bar is that it only comes in bright colors or in chrome which is tacky IMHO. I'd like plain ol' black on my black ZX3. (And to any would-be nay-sayers, yes I know I could just paint it black, but it isn't worth the trouble in my eyes)

If you guys do any group buys on these, count me in for one.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PhocusZX3:
Looks good, and the price is decent as well. The only thing that would sway me towards the FocusSport bar over yours is the fact that they back the bar with a 2-year warranty, your's only has 90-days(stated on your web page).<hr></blockquote>

OK we will stick a 36 month warranty on it. Would you like to place an order with one of our dealers?

 

My statements are non-biased. As much as I love FocusSport and what they do for the Foci community, I do like to see new products coming out.

The way I see it, you can only do the strut bars one of two ways. The way FS and AFX have it; or the straight across, lower the fuse box and powersteering resivour pain in the ass way. I don't think they "copied" FocusSports design, since it is THE only route to take with a strut tower brace if you don't want to relocate things.

[ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: PhocusZX3 ]</p>

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by lamron:
I agree. I think the main reason anyone would give you flack about it is b/c Focus Sport has a large loyal customer base. Its just a simple fact that they came out with there's first so I can see that they will see it as you copying a previous design. Form follows function. What works best may be similar to a previous product. Your comparison to an exhaust is dead on IMHO.

Nothing wrong with loyalty, we have a loyal following as well. Being first on the market with a product has its advantages. We can only counter by building a quality product, which I believe that we do. I'm confindent that others will also find our product a quality product.

I, myself, am somewhat interested in your product over the FocusSport product because its cheaper, and is available in plain ol' black. My one gripe about the FocusSport bar is that it only comes in bright colors or in chrome which is tacky IMHO. I'd like plain ol' black on my black ZX3. (And to any would-be nay-sayers, yes I know I could just paint it black, but it isn't worth the trouble in my eyes)

Please keep in mind our product is not painted, it is powder coated. This gives a tuffer finish than paint, and better protection than paint.

If you guys do any group buys on these, count me in for one.

<hr></blockquote>

We don't sell direct to the public, only through our dealers. Group buys usally not all they are cracked up to be. The waiting period, after the sale follow ups, etc. Pick a reputable dealer, and develope a working relationship with them. This will reap benefits in the long run that usally out weigh the short term gains of a group buy.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AFX Manufacturing:


It doesn't surpise me that the routing is similar. The bars have to connect at the same points, and clear the same obstructions in the engine compartment. I would suspect the next producer of a stress bar will follow a similar route as ours. That is dictated by the engine compartment.

I was kind of surprised somebody brought it up. Nobody ever brings up the fact that all exhaust systems look similar, but they are also dictated by the car and its obstructions.<hr></blockquote>

LOL...good stuff.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AFX Manufacturing:


We don't sell direct to the public, only through our dealers. <hr></blockquote>

Then.... who are your dealers?

Its impolite to make your potential customers have to go looking.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by lamron:


Then.... who are your dealers?

Its impolite to make your potential customers have to go looking.

<hr></blockquote>

NEW EDGE PERFORMANCE

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by lamron:


Then.... who are your dealers?

Its impolite to make your potential customers have to go looking.

<hr></blockquote>

http://www.newedgeperformance.com

 

Thanks....

but I don't see it on their site under suspension.

I'm assuming they just haven't updated it yet.

[ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: lamron ]</p>

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by lamron:


Then.... who are your dealers?

Its impolite to make your potential customers have to go looking.

<hr></blockquote>

Here is the link to deal list on our webpage. http://howell.mountain.net/AFXManufacturing/AFXDealerInfo.html

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by lamron:
Thanks....

but I don't see it on their site under suspension.

I'm assuming they just haven't updated it yet.

[ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: lamron ]<hr></blockquote>

They probably haven't updated their web page yet, I'm sure if you call them they will be happy to help.

 

Any plans for a lower bar? I'd like to see one that mounts in more than two points. I have always felt that a lower bar does more than an upper.

And buy one from TonyD at New Edge. He supports the Jet and is far more than a mindless order taker. He knows the car and the product he sells.

[ 11-22-2001: Message edited by: teamDFL ]</p>

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by teamDFL:
Any plans for a lower bar? I'd like to see one that mounts in more than two points. I have always felt that a lower bar does more than an upper.
[ 11-22-2001: Message edited by: teamDFL ]<hr></blockquote>


Not at this time for the Focus, it is something we may consider in the future.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by teamDFL:
Come on Rob, you know as well as I do what this and every other bolt on, two point stress bar does...<hr></blockquote>

If your refering to parallel lines of force, because of the 2 mounting points you are somewhat correct, but you actually have 6 mounting points. In order to rotate the structure around the mounting points, you would have to have only used on bolt on each end of the bar, in order to give a pivot point. By using 3 bolts on each end you have introduced two angles for two additional force vectors on each side. These two additional mounting points add rigidity.

Taking the mounting points in isolation also discounts the fact that you are adding more material (the bar itself) to resist compression. A steel bar is going to resist compression alot better than the air that is in the engine compartment now.

Will any stress bar eliminate chassis flex, no. Will any stress bar reduce chassic flex, yes, and that is the best anybody can hope to achieve.

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by AFX Manufacturing:

Will any stress bar eliminate chassis flex, no. Will any stress bar reduce chassic flex, yes, and that is the best anybody can hope to achieve.<hr></blockquote>

That is what Rob and I have discussed before. Most any design will help, but in order to resist all forces, the bar must triangulate. Now, I am unwilling to drill holes in my firewall, so a two pointer is all I'll get. Plus, many people mistakenly believe a strut brace will stop strut towers from bending in. It won't. Place the end of any bar against the foundation of yoour home and push against it with all your weight. You can feel it bow. Yes, the steel of your bar resist compression, but since the force will not be perfectly parallel to the bar, this is not really a huge issue. That is why an aluminium bar is just as good in many cases.
Fortunately, this is not the most common force encountered. Strut tower spread is far more prevelant. That force requires the straighest bar possible as the force will attempt to straighten any angles. I have quipped that linking a chain between towers can be as effective as many of the poorer designs offered. As for the forces in torsion that you mention, you are correct about widening the mounting plate.

I like your answer. It is a pity that you have no plans for a lower brace as your components seem top quality (I have an AFX UDP) and fairly priced. Plus, since you use steel, it is much easier for me to weld little add on brackets to hold down other things under hood.

 

What analysis have you done to show the benefit of this bar? Did you measure the before and after flex of the chassis?

Did you do any analysis that shows the bar is stiffer than the chassis itself?

 

Come on Rob, you know as well as I do what this and every other bolt on, two point stress bar does...

 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Come on Rob, you know as well as I do what this and every other bolt on, two point stress bar does... <hr></blockquote>

I know, but I keep on hoping that somebody designs a chassis brace by first determining a real need, and then setting out to make a real improvement over stock. Not just doing it "just because."