I have seen the ones that go underneath and I'm considering the "X" brace myself. Well, not really "considering" it, I'm going to get one and a month or so. Too hot right now to mess with it. Jim
Hey Chuck when I'm old enough to need one could you make me a walker? A cool one like your brace with a cup holder & a place for donuts.
Sure.... You want it with little wheels and hand brakes as well? Might even hook it up with a little 2 cycle engine.
While this is a very nice looking bit of work (as usual!) I don't think this is actually going to do anything for you as it is only attached to the seat back frame and not to a part of the body that is under any kind of stress. Same situation as some of the first gen rear strut bars and those were shown not to add any benefit.
So MM, will you come out and help me make a better engine mount for the GP *blink* *blink* *blink* :wink: I think mine is toast, NOT THAT I HAVE BEEN THRASHING THE CAR (3 track days and several autoXs since -um November). I like your bar, it may not seem much, but it'll help with the body twist under turns (and it looks cool!).
Yeah I agree, right now I have a seat back brace not a strut brace (which I believe is what all the aftermarket ones are as well). I haven't gotten far enough along with the diagonals and their measurements yet. If there is a way to make a connection to the tops of the strut mounts with the diagonals, well then.....
:cornut:I have this brace(after market)also and when I had installed both front and rear braces, only then did I notice an improvement in hard cornering. But I did notice an improvement. So last night I started searching various computer sites to gather info on this rear brace. The vendors and owners ,of course, say that it's wonderful. The under frame cross brace people say that it's 'eye candy' trash. I never found info other than the condescending:"well I'm an engineer(really,'Union Pacific' or 'Santa Fe'?) and it's not connected to either the strut tower or the frame so it is trash."But, if they never did a side by side, computer data,on the track, with and without test then they wouldn't truly know. So as long as they(front and rear together) 'tighten up' MINI Margi in the turns, they stay on the car. I must admit that one Miniac gathered computer data 'at the track' both with and with out his under frame cross brace installed and the data revealed higher speed corner/turn exits with the cross brace installed. It appears that this kind of testing has never(that I can find)been done with the 'strut tower braces.' Oh well, my braces stay on the car and life goes on. Please chime in if you know something. Jason
The under car braces are by far the best investment for performance as they actually do add to the stability of the chassis. The rear seat back brace unfortunately is not in a position to actually resist any real suspension stress. It will assist in the elimination of body shake and rattle, kinda like the cabrio braces up front, but has little to no effect on suspension stress's. I am offering this information because I have a friend that is an automotive engineer who works for Ford and I ask him to look at both the cabrio braces and the rear seat brace sometime ago to see if either had any real world benefit. He did some research and it was his opinion that I have repeated here. He did state that a weak point in the car was in fact the under body areas around the engine as it would allow a lot of body movement and those under body braces would in fact help eliminate those stress's.
:cornut:Thanks. You know though, I truly feel a difference. Maybe some one has done that 'side by side' and this discussion will draw them out. Now hopefully, we can get others to open their fund of knowledge. Jason
It is my own humble opinion for what that is worth, that no ones arse is sensitive enough to feel the differences made by such add on braces. I'm sure they do help to some unknown extent, but until someone straps a MINI on a shaker stand & measures the before & after it will remain just smoke & mirrors. If it makes someone feel better bolting those things on they should go for it. We do know for a fact that it hurts nothing other than ones wallet & fattens the wallets of those who peddle those parts. I'm taking a nap now. :sleep: