I am looking to add a chassis brace to my R53. Ive looked at: M7 Under Strut System (haven't read anything good about it) M7 Under Strut System (M7-USS) | M7Speed.com Madness Lower Stress Brace Madness Lower Stress Brace for the MINI Cooper S TSW X-Brace TSW XBrace - Way Motor Works Cusco Power Brace 02-06 Mini Cooper S Cusco Power Braces: JSC Speed GT Spec Under Chassis Cross Brace GT Spec Under Chassis Cross Brace MINI Cooper Clubman GTS-SUS-1337 K-Brace II Auto X Cooper I am leaning towards the TSW brace. I haven't heard much of anything about the K-Brace II. Ive talked with the builder Donald and he was willing to sell his kit as a package deal with the rear strut brace for 249.99 shipped. Great deal and I am seriously considering it. My only reservation is that it is bolted together and not welded solid. Looking for any input! Thanks Everyone!
Cusco because if you look at it you will see it ties the mid section of the car together where you really need to stiffen the car up. The others only reinforce the front clip (sub frame) which is already stiff. You need to tie in the Mid section in like real sub frame connectors do to stop the car from twisting at it weakest points. The front and rear sub frames are strong but you need to tie them together or make them just as rigid as the front and rear. This is common with all uni-body cars.
Your just wrong. Tested them, the Cusco really works, ask Ian Stewart if you don't believe me, he was running one on his NASA national championship winning Mini. The only system that ties the front and rear together.
With the Cusco you can dial in more turn in the car and still get more forward bite off the corner. 2 cents
If I where doing things over I would go with the Cusco. I have the X brace under the Rat, and it does stiffen up the front, but as Mark stated it doesn't tie the front to rear. Ideally if you have the Cusco braces, a good fabricator can add cross sections in the center and even tie the bracing into the floor plates of a cage for ultimate chassis stiffness.
I'm not sure the Cusco was available a few years ago when I opted for my Madness brace. I'd defiantly entertain it if I were to do it over.
Cusco is certainly the most expensive option, but does look to be the most effective! Gotta pay to play and I am not one to cut corners on a cost only basis! :mtrn: Anyone know of a good vendor to get the Cusco from? (also the best price?) Ok, SO if I add the two Cusco braces do you think front and rear upper strut braces are needed/effective anymore? I was leaning on not having a front all together in the first place regardless of underbracing. I have coil-overs with camber plates and front/rear sway bars.
Neither of the upper braces are needed! If you look at the design of the body shell, all the suspension mounting points are about as rigid of a spot as they can get, and these cars are built strong. Pretty much the only other bracing that will have any effect is a cage!
Thanks Rick! Pretty much confirmed my research and own findings! I hate the idea of either of them. Have to remove the front to do anything under the hood and the rear is utterly in the way of anything functional!