I took off the OMP strut brace on my 850 after 10yrs, and…
… and the most notable observation was that the driver’s door opens/closes differently when I park on uneven surfaces, especially where one wheel is more or less elevated than the others. The door contacts the frame (of course with the seal in-between) in different places… it feels different and sounds different.
This reinforces, no pun intended, that the P80 is a flexy platform, and finding ways to brace it make it a more predictable handling car, if not quieter and smoother-riding.
Thus the use of the rare C70 convertible subframe brace on other P80 models.
And also the added bracing if the car is involved in an accident.
I would have repaired my recently written off ’99V70 if the struts weren’t closer together after the impact by around half an inch (the subframe was also bent so I called it quits)
Some of the extra movement in your body can be attributed to time related chassis flex. The car would have been slightly stiffer when new overall.
I did notice a substantial feel after installing the OBX strut brace. It was meant to be additional support for the unibody repair that I had done. It is not a high end racing piece by any means, nor is the ’93 n/a.
Last Updated on April 28, 2025
