Suspension strut tower brace
View Patent ↗A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system includes a first suspension strut tower and a second suspension strut tower spaced from the first strut tower. At least one wall extends between and interconnects the first strut tower to the second strut tower. At least one strut tower brace is attached to the wall and spaced from the first and second strut towers. The strut tower brace includes a first support member having a first end and an opposite second end, and a second support member attached to the first support member at location spaced inward from the first and second ends of the first support member. The second support member is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the first support member so as to form a generally Y-shaped configuration.
1. A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system comprising:
a first suspension strut tower;
a second suspension strut tower spaced apart from the first strut tower;
at least one wall interconnecting the first strut tower to the second strut tower;
at least one strut tower brace having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first and second ends fixedly attached to the at least one wall, wherein the entire at least one strut tower brace overlays the at least one wall and is spaced from the first and second strut towers;
wherein the strut tower brace comprises:
a first support member including the first end and the opposite second end; and
a second support member having a first end fixedly attached to the first support member at location spaced inward from the first and second ends of the first support member, and a second end opposite the first end fixedly attached to the at least one wall.
2. The strut tower bracing system of claim 1 , wherein the second support member is arranged at an oblique angle relative to the first support member.
3. The strut tower bracing system of claim 1 , wherein the first support member is arranged substantially parallel to a ground surface.
4. The strut tower bracing system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second support members generally form a Y-shaped configuration.
5. The strut tower bracing system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the at least one strut tower braces is positioned entirely between one of the first and second strut towers and a longitudinal center plane of the vehicle.
6. The strut tower bracing system of claim 5 , wherein an open end of the at least one strut tower brace is positioned adjacent a strut tower and an opposite closed end is positioned adjacent the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle.
7. The strut tower bracing system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one strut tower brace comprises a first strut tower brace arranged between the first strut tower and the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, and a second strut tower brace arranged between the second strut tower and the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, the first strut tower brace being spaced apart from the second strut tower brace.
8. The strut tower bracing system of claim 7 , wherein a closed end of the first strut tower brace and a closed end of the second strut tower brace are positioned between an open end of the first strut tower brace and an open end of the second strut tower brace.
9. The strut tower bracing system of claim 8 , wherein the open end of the first strut tower brace is spaced inward from the first strut tower and the open end of the second strut tower brace is space inward from the second strut tower.
10. A vehicle suspension strut tower bracing system comprising:
a vehicle body having a wall connected to a first suspension strut and a second suspension strut;
at least one strut tower brace attached to the wall, the at least one strut tower brace including a first support member having a first end and an opposite second end, and a second support member having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the second support member fixedly attached to the first support member at a location between the first and second ends of the first support member to form a Y-shaped configuration, wherein the at least one strut tower brace being attached to the wall only at the first and second ends of the first support member and the second end of the second support member.
11. The strut tower bracing system of claim 10 , wherein a distance between the first end of the first support member and the second end of the second support member being less than a distance between the second end of the first support member and the second end of the second support member.
12. The strut tower bracing system of claim 11 , wherein a distance between the first end of the first support member and the first suspension strut is less than a distance between the second end of the first support member and the first suspension strut.
13. The strut tower bracing system of claim 10 , wherein the wall is disposed between a passenger compartment and a rear storage compartment of the vehicle.
14. The strut tower bracing system of claim 13 , wherein the wall is fixedly attached to a first strut tower supporting the first suspension strut and a second strut tower supporting the second suspension strut.
15. The strut tower bracing system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one strut tower brace comprises two strut tower braces arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the vehicle.
16. The strut tower bracing system of claim 15 , wherein the two strut tower braces are spaced apart from one another.
17. The strut tower bracing system of claim 10 , wherein the second support member is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first support member.
18. The strut tower bracing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one strut tower brace is fixedly attached to the at least one wall only at the first and second ends of the first support member and the second end of the second support member.