[94SilverCab]

No, this isn't 968.net and not an ad for Viagra either...



I just had Strut Brace number 001 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> installed with the new RS Barn/Design 1 Racing underbrace....the difference is nothing short of amazing. Cowl shake is gone, the front end is so tight I was chirping the front wheels cornering. The body roll is gone and whole handling package feels more aggressive.



This is on a 968 that only a few hundred miles ago got M030 sway bars, hemispehrical drop links, Koni shocks and full alignment, so the suspension was as good as it could be.



The whole install took less than 2 hours (ok, we monkeyed around a bit) and the directions were very exact and easy to understand (maybe a bit anal, but one can never be too careful, don't forget to wax your strut towers while disassembled...LOL)



All in all a fabulous product...thanks Pete and Flash (you owe me autographs on my braces)



Regards,



Jay

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[flash]

i'll post a pic of what the coupler hardware should look like - that shot shows incorrect installation - lol - i thought i wrote the instructions right, but i guess i needed to be even more clear on this



one jam nut should be against the brace, and one against the coupler (the third one goes against the coupler on the heim side)



loctite 242 is VERY important here



glad you liked the result though

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[Fox944]

i'm installing the lower brace tonight. I have a Coupe with a KLA Strut Brace on it already, so my change wont be drastic...but hopefully i'll report back with some positive comments tonight or tommorow

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[flash]

on the lower brace, you need to be sure your motor mounts are in good shape - 2mm of collapse and you will have problems with contact with the brace as the engine torques - if you make contact, remove the brace until you replace your motor mounts - failure to do that will result in wearing a hole in your downpipe



this is a note i will be adding to the install instructions

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[Fox944]

[quote name='flash' post='38227' date='Jul 13 2007, 05:47 PM']on the lower brace, you need to be sure your motor mounts are in good shape - 2mm of collapse and you will have problems with contact with the brace as the engine torques - if you make contact, remove the brace until you replace your motor mounts - failure to do that will result in wearing a hole in your downpipe



this is a note i will be adding to the install instructions[/quote]





Good info. my motor mounts have about 6K miles on them, if that. So i'm in good shape. Aside from the brace i'm installing the Header/hi-Flo Cat/Exhaust today as well as swapping my Promax 7700 for an RS Barn Stage 2 Chip remapped for a 7700 RPM cut-off. So i'm looking forward to the new found power i will have tonight as well as the stiffer chassis. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

cool - yeah, you'll be fine

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[Mark]

Damn Jay, once you started modding you could not stop. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[94SilverCab]

Just wait, it's going to get lots better <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[ds968]

[quote name='94SilverCab' post='38223' date='Jul 13 2007, 02:08 PM']I just had Strut Brace number 001 <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> installed with the new RS Barn/Design 1 Racing underbrace....the difference is nothing short of amazing.[/quote]



With the KLA, I can not feel the slightest bit of difference ! No doubt that in addition to the appearance and fit differences this brace must be far superior in its function. Of course, the underbrace in combination with the top one could also contribute a lot to the amazing result you're experiencing ?



Anyway, looking forward to getting my new brace in, although at this point I'm not planning to do the underbrace...yet <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

lol - i think it's because of the kind of driving you do - you won't notice it much until you get into some really good corners - looking at your tire wear patterns, i don't think you are driving that hard where its function would come into play much



i don't think my upper brace has any significant functional advantage over the kla - the brackets are stiffer, which helps some with strut tower deformation, but that's about it - i designed it mostly to clear the vanity cover, clear the hood better, and improve the aesthetics



the addition of the lower brace to a strut tower brace is the real story - it completely boxes in the front end of the car



i think you need to drive my car - lol - or maybe not

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[94SilverCab]

I agree with Flash, the difference is in the under brace. I had a similar situation with the Miata, the strut brace doesn't add nearly as much alone.



I took a good long drive this morning. The car is so much more refined. It almost has a drive by wire feel, floating but without a hint of losing control.... I don't have the words that describe it, not being a racer.



Dan, spring for the few hundred bucks, you won't regret it.



Regards,



Jay

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[ds968]

[quote name='94SilverCab' post='38260' date='Jul 14 2007, 09:57 AM']I agree with Flash, the difference is in the under brace. I had a similar situation with the Miata, the strut brace doesn't add nearly as much alone.



I took a good long drive this morning. The car is so much more refined. It almost has a drive by wire feel, floating but without a hint of losing control.... I don't have the words that describe it, not being a racer.



Dan, spring for the few hundred bucks, you won't regret it.



Regards,



Jay[/quote]





not a money issue, but seems a bit of a hassle to add that brace, if the motor mounts are not absolutely in perfect shape you have to change them, yada, yada.. and then again not tracking the car and taking corners somehwat aggressively but not quite at the car's limits, I was not sure what benefit I could really gain from it.



then again, I'm meeting Bob on Friday so who knows ?! - might find a gas station willing to rent us a lift for 30 min and pop that underbrace in <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/huh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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