What's New in the 2011 FRPP Handling Pack?
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Cobra R Member
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From: Southeastern Virginia
What's New in the 2011 FRPP Handling Pack?
So can someone say with certainty what are the differences in the new 2011 $1359.95 FRPP handling pack (‘vert link below) and the 2010 $1275.95 handling pack (‘vert link also provided). Other than bump stops being included in the photo I see no difference. Are the dampers any different? Note that FRPP provides scant information on the dampers for the ‘vert.
2010:
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=11446
2011:
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=12413
2010:
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=11446
2011:
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=12413
Last edited by Double-EDad; Aug 31, 2010 at 11:28 AM. Reason: To Provide Correct Link for 2010 'Vert
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Cobra R Member
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From: Southeastern Virginia
Here is the correct link to the 2010 'vert kit:
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=11446
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Cobra R Member
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From: Southeastern Virginia
That’s a great question that I wish Ford or someone knowledgeable would answer. Ford really needs to hire David Borla, who is doing an excellent job as Manager of Marketing & Advertising @ Borla. Product information available from Ford re their FRPP stuff is nil. 
Bullitt Member
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From: Vancouver, BC
V6 Member
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From: Toronto Ontario
[quote=First Stang;5940260]If you have 19" wheels, would you need to swap out the strut tower brace or would the one that comes with the 19" wheels be as stiff?[/quote
Doesn't matter. Strut tower brace is for looks only.
Cheers.
Doesn't matter. Strut tower brace is for looks only.
Cheers.
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: April 20, 2010
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From: Dallas
[QUOTE=nemosgt;5941323]Hmmm, I am going to have to disagree on this one.
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Cobra Member
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[QUOTE=nemosgt;5941323]as others have said, nope that is not true....Read up on their purpose and why we use them.
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Cobra R Member
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From: Southeastern Virginia
About the strut brace - even if the FRPP pack strut brace was somehow stiffer than my stock one (doubt it, but maybe it's made of titanium? yeah, right), I'd be reluctant to take my stock one off - it looks better IMHO.
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: April 20, 2010
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From: Dallas
I agree, the stock one looks great. Two options, call FRPP and see if they will still make you a package deal. Or just talk to one of the TMS vendors, they will make you a deal. Otherwise, buy the kit and sell the strut brace yourself.
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From: Metro Detroit
i will get you the answer as soon as i get back to the shop. (later tonight)
V6 Member
Joined: August 2, 2010
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From: Toronto Ontario
[quote=todd03blown;5941588]
um, yes. There are two reasons for STBs on the Mustang. Looks and profit. Now don't think that I am totally against them. My car came with one and I am not about to remove it. It looks really cool on the 5.0. The OP wondered which one would be better. I say it doesn't matter. Either one will add weight and decrease performance. The 2011 Mustangs are structurally strong enough not to need one, especially as he is not interested in tracking his car. So, buy the one that catches your fancy but do not expect it to help performance-wise. Even using full race suspension and race rubber there may be no real need for it.
The Ford 2010 drift race car doesn't have one. Lots of sideways force there. The Koni challenge FR500C doesn't list one, although the FR500S, which is aimed at us, does have one. Some professionally set-up cars for competing against the world's best street cars leave them off because our cars perform better without them. As for reading up, try a search on Mustang Forums under strut tower bars in the handling section for some professional opinions from Legion5 and racing company Impulse Cars.
I know everyone has their own ideas on STBs. We don't always agree and that's fine but I still stand by my original statement. For our purposes, on the street, the bar is cosmetic only. Just don't think otherwise.
Drive safely guys.
Cheers.
um, yes. There are two reasons for STBs on the Mustang. Looks and profit. Now don't think that I am totally against them. My car came with one and I am not about to remove it. It looks really cool on the 5.0. The OP wondered which one would be better. I say it doesn't matter. Either one will add weight and decrease performance. The 2011 Mustangs are structurally strong enough not to need one, especially as he is not interested in tracking his car. So, buy the one that catches your fancy but do not expect it to help performance-wise. Even using full race suspension and race rubber there may be no real need for it.
The Ford 2010 drift race car doesn't have one. Lots of sideways force there. The Koni challenge FR500C doesn't list one, although the FR500S, which is aimed at us, does have one. Some professionally set-up cars for competing against the world's best street cars leave them off because our cars perform better without them. As for reading up, try a search on Mustang Forums under strut tower bars in the handling section for some professional opinions from Legion5 and racing company Impulse Cars.
I know everyone has their own ideas on STBs. We don't always agree and that's fine but I still stand by my original statement. For our purposes, on the street, the bar is cosmetic only. Just don't think otherwise.
Drive safely guys.
Cheers.
Thread Starter
Cobra R Member
Joined: June 17, 2010
Posts: 1,666
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From: Southeastern Virginia
[quote=nemosgt;5941722]
um, yes. There are two reasons for STBs on the Mustang. Looks and profit. Now don't think that I am totally against them. My car came with one and I am not about to remove it. It looks really cool on the 5.0. The OP wondered which one would be better. I say it doesn't matter. Either one will add weight and decrease performance. The 2011 Mustangs are structurally strong enough not to need one, especially as he is not interested in tracking his car. So, buy the one that catches your fancy but do not expect it to help performance-wise. Even using full race suspension and race rubber there may be no real need for it.
The Ford 2010 drift race car doesn't have one. Lots of sideways force there. The Koni challenge FR500C doesn't list one, although the FR500S, which is aimed at us, does have one. Some professionally set-up cars for competing against the world's best street cars leave them off because our cars perform better without them. As for reading up, try a search on Mustang Forums under strut tower bars in the handling section for some professional opinions from Legion5 and racing company Impulse Cars.
I know everyone has their own ideas on STBs. We don't always agree and that's fine but I still stand by my original statement. For our purposes, on the street, the bar is cosmetic only. Just don't think otherwise.
Drive safely guys.
Cheers.
As Ricky Bobby said, "With all due respect, and I mean with ALL DUE respect", I disgree with the above, at least in my situation, because I have a convertible, and every little bit of stiffness counts. (That's what she said.) 
Your postulation has some basis in the fact that Ford does not include the brace until you have either a coupe with nineteens, or a convertible, presumably (my theory) that the structure isn't challenged enough until suspension loads are large enough (in the coupe's case). I doubt Ford would put the money and weight into adding a part that wasn't needed. It may not even be for anything more than preventing long-term/fatigue stresses & the rattles that would come with it, but there's that. I would only buy the "Profit" theory if the things were only offered as accessories, and even then my previous cars have benefitted from adding a non-stock strut tower brace (STB).
um, yes. There are two reasons for STBs on the Mustang. Looks and profit. Now don't think that I am totally against them. My car came with one and I am not about to remove it. It looks really cool on the 5.0. The OP wondered which one would be better. I say it doesn't matter. Either one will add weight and decrease performance. The 2011 Mustangs are structurally strong enough not to need one, especially as he is not interested in tracking his car. So, buy the one that catches your fancy but do not expect it to help performance-wise. Even using full race suspension and race rubber there may be no real need for it.
The Ford 2010 drift race car doesn't have one. Lots of sideways force there. The Koni challenge FR500C doesn't list one, although the FR500S, which is aimed at us, does have one. Some professionally set-up cars for competing against the world's best street cars leave them off because our cars perform better without them. As for reading up, try a search on Mustang Forums under strut tower bars in the handling section for some professional opinions from Legion5 and racing company Impulse Cars.
I know everyone has their own ideas on STBs. We don't always agree and that's fine but I still stand by my original statement. For our purposes, on the street, the bar is cosmetic only. Just don't think otherwise.
Drive safely guys.
Cheers.
Your postulation has some basis in the fact that Ford does not include the brace until you have either a coupe with nineteens, or a convertible, presumably (my theory) that the structure isn't challenged enough until suspension loads are large enough (in the coupe's case). I doubt Ford would put the money and weight into adding a part that wasn't needed. It may not even be for anything more than preventing long-term/fatigue stresses & the rattles that would come with it, but there's that. I would only buy the "Profit" theory if the things were only offered as accessories, and even then my previous cars have benefitted from adding a non-stock strut tower brace (STB).
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 17, 2005
Posts: 209
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[quote=nemosgt;5941722]
um, yes. There are two reasons for STBs on the Mustang. Looks and profit. Now don't think that I am totally against them. My car came with one and I am not about to remove it. It looks really cool on the 5.0. The OP wondered which one would be better. I say it doesn't matter. Either one will add weight and decrease performance. The 2011 Mustangs are structurally strong enough not to need one, especially as he is not interested in tracking his car. So, buy the one that catches your fancy but do not expect it to help performance-wise. Even using full race suspension and race rubber there may be no real need for it.
The Ford 2010 drift race car doesn't have one. Lots of sideways force there. The Koni challenge FR500C doesn't list one, although the FR500S, which is aimed at us, does have one. Some professionally set-up cars for competing against the world's best street cars leave them off because our cars perform better without them. As for reading up, try a search on Mustang Forums under strut tower bars in the handling section for some professional opinions from Legion5 and racing company Impulse Cars.
I know everyone has their own ideas on STBs. We don't always agree and that's fine but I still stand by my original statement. For our purposes, on the street, the bar is cosmetic only. Just don't think otherwise.
Drive safely guys.
Cheers.
You are seriously going to use cars with roll cages as examples of why a STB isn't needed? Interesting....using that logic I'd say that the race cars don't need STB's because they run 18" tires just like the street cars without STB's. I'm not saying your wrong but your logic has some flaws in it.
If you look at the pictures I also see that one has jounce bumpers and the other doesn't. That might account for some of the price difference.
um, yes. There are two reasons for STBs on the Mustang. Looks and profit. Now don't think that I am totally against them. My car came with one and I am not about to remove it. It looks really cool on the 5.0. The OP wondered which one would be better. I say it doesn't matter. Either one will add weight and decrease performance. The 2011 Mustangs are structurally strong enough not to need one, especially as he is not interested in tracking his car. So, buy the one that catches your fancy but do not expect it to help performance-wise. Even using full race suspension and race rubber there may be no real need for it.
The Ford 2010 drift race car doesn't have one. Lots of sideways force there. The Koni challenge FR500C doesn't list one, although the FR500S, which is aimed at us, does have one. Some professionally set-up cars for competing against the world's best street cars leave them off because our cars perform better without them. As for reading up, try a search on Mustang Forums under strut tower bars in the handling section for some professional opinions from Legion5 and racing company Impulse Cars.
I know everyone has their own ideas on STBs. We don't always agree and that's fine but I still stand by my original statement. For our purposes, on the street, the bar is cosmetic only. Just don't think otherwise.
Drive safely guys.
Cheers.
If you look at the pictures I also see that one has jounce bumpers and the other doesn't. That might account for some of the price difference.
I actually have some experience testing in this department (strut tower braces)...
Do they work? The short answer is yes! Are they worth it? Depends....
nemosgt:
You state that drifters are generating a lot of side loading.. That is not exactly true. A sliding car generates very little lateral loading on a car because the tires are WAY outside their optimal slip angle.
You make a comment about the FR500C car. The reason there is no strut tower brace is because there is absolutely no room to slip a brace between the stock hood and the intake manifold. Otherwise, it would have one. It fit the FR500S car so it gets one. These are cars that generate a significant amount of lateral load and can benefit from the use of a strut tower brace.
Here's the skinny on STBs. They benefit a street car the most. The reason is the load case. The highest loads into the strut towers comes from the vertical load generated by the shock and spring forces. These are highest during impacts (like when you hit a pothole). The strut tower brace adds stiffness to the front and helps control shake. That being said... The newer cars are MUCh stiffer (structurally) than the older cars. That is why it's not a noticable difference (to most) on the coupe. Also consider the long-term effects of not having a STB. With the reduced stiffness, the front structure will fatigue faster. With the STB, the chassis will feel more taught for longer. If you have ever had an opportunity to drive a car that has been through Ford's durability test with and without a STB, you would notice a BIG difference (recall the last fox Mustang you drove).
Now, to the point of which is better... Take your pick. They all do just about the same amount of work. Personally, I prefer the Ford Racing STB for the Shelby GT500. That piece is STOUT. I only wish the did that same design in a piece that would clear the stock GT hood so I didn't have to put the Shelby front end on my car...
Do they work? The short answer is yes! Are they worth it? Depends....
nemosgt:
You state that drifters are generating a lot of side loading.. That is not exactly true. A sliding car generates very little lateral loading on a car because the tires are WAY outside their optimal slip angle.
You make a comment about the FR500C car. The reason there is no strut tower brace is because there is absolutely no room to slip a brace between the stock hood and the intake manifold. Otherwise, it would have one. It fit the FR500S car so it gets one. These are cars that generate a significant amount of lateral load and can benefit from the use of a strut tower brace.
Here's the skinny on STBs. They benefit a street car the most. The reason is the load case. The highest loads into the strut towers comes from the vertical load generated by the shock and spring forces. These are highest during impacts (like when you hit a pothole). The strut tower brace adds stiffness to the front and helps control shake. That being said... The newer cars are MUCh stiffer (structurally) than the older cars. That is why it's not a noticable difference (to most) on the coupe. Also consider the long-term effects of not having a STB. With the reduced stiffness, the front structure will fatigue faster. With the STB, the chassis will feel more taught for longer. If you have ever had an opportunity to drive a car that has been through Ford's durability test with and without a STB, you would notice a BIG difference (recall the last fox Mustang you drove).
Now, to the point of which is better... Take your pick. They all do just about the same amount of work. Personally, I prefer the Ford Racing STB for the Shelby GT500. That piece is STOUT. I only wish the did that same design in a piece that would clear the stock GT hood so I didn't have to put the Shelby front end on my car...
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[quote=Double-EDad;5941795]
What about all the scoops (side and hood) that do nothing but increase drag and add weight? The plastic engine cover? The "diffuser"?
There is lots of stuff on these cars that has no real need. I'm not saying the STB is one of those things- I don't know. At least it is doing something- has to be increasing stiffness somewhat- now if it's needed.... you'd have to run sensors on the shock towers to see if they are moving without the brace, and run lots of laps to see if there is an advantage to running with or without it.
There is lots of stuff on these cars that has no real need. I'm not saying the STB is one of those things- I don't know. At least it is doing something- has to be increasing stiffness somewhat- now if it's needed.... you'd have to run sensors on the shock towers to see if they are moving without the brace, and run lots of laps to see if there is an advantage to running with or without it.