Most liked posts in thread: X Brace to stiffen your MINI

Coming up on a year now with a brace on the Clubbie. Very happy with how things turned out

Mark

 

TSW brace is a significant improvement over the Madness brace. The convertible is more stable over rough pavement and RR tracks, and more stable in the curves and generally at higher speeds. (Not saying how high). There is definitely less cowl shake. There wasn't much before, because of the braces I had, but noticeably less now. TSW brace is very much worth the money. I have Koni FSD shocks, tower plates and brace, plus poly bushings.

 

+1 for best option. It doesn't have clearance issues like the M7 USS does and you don't have to mess with 'nutserts'. Think about it.....how much can the USS actually do if you are bolting it to thin sheetmetal with the nutsert? The x-brace bolts to solid mount points.

 

I have the R53 version. It is a well made item and installs easily enough. The X-brace is very strong, it simply has to stiffen the chassis, and it would provide some measure of protection for an inadvertent off-road or off-track excursion.

However, I would warn you to NOT use the torque specs supplied as they are wrong. Or at least they were wrong, I could not find the install instructions on Way's site to verify. Just use the shop manual, and all will be well.
I know, not your fault Way, but it is your burden to fix.

Also, while it does install fine after you get the proper torque specs, there are fitment issues with some after market headers. Specifically, there can be interference with the cat on an after market header where it smacks the top of the gusset right at the 'X'. Also, there can be fitment issues with the post cat O2 sensor location or an AFR bung location, meaning they can also interfere with the center 'X' area of the brace. Sure you could blame any fitment issues with another after market component all on the other component. Regardless of fault, there are definitely fitment issues.

 

How does this differ from a rear say bar in what it does for the car? Just asking as I don't really know.

Jim

 

I have the TSW X-brace and I love it! I did a lot of research on it before I purchased it and it was the only one I considered from the start. Noticed the difference straight away when I installed it.

 

While I have front and rear swaybars as well as a strut bar brace I thought the X Brace a great extra

I'm tempted to uninstall the strut bar and sell as I don't see it having anywhere near the impact the XBrace does

If it wasn't a royal PITA I would do the same with the front swaybar

For those who have not done anything to the front suspension this is a no brainer. Easy to install with great bang for the buck compared to all other choices.

One of my 'Mod Mantra's' is take care of the suspension before adding the 'go fast' stuff

 

Way, could you email to me so I can make sure I am torqued to spec. When I installed I took to snug and about a 1/2 turn beyond

 

It's a great part

I have one on my car, and all I can say is that it really, really stiffens up the chassis. My car is old and beat, and this really helped it. It's an easy install and does what it's supposed to.

I do bump into an occational speed-bump in parking lots though.

But it really tightens up the whole chassis. If you put one of these on, you'll have to re-tune you suspension settings to get you back to your sweet spot though. It does make that much of a difference.

Matt

 

So, what did you have to re-tune in your suspension due to the added chassis stiffness?

I guess I just do not have a sophisticated enough suspension butt dyno, but for my car it just seemed that things were a little tighter, turn-in a little sharper, more controlled, etc. I was just better. However, I did not make any suspension adjustments after install.

What am I missing?

 

Nothing.

Its a well made piece that stiffens the front of the chassis and does just what you described; nothing more and nothing less.

PS: There have been X-braces much the same as these available for BMWs for a long time.

 

I think what Matt is saying , is if you adjusted your suspension, ie shocks to compensate with the flex, that once it's gone you may have to readjust shock settings.

 

Another happy X-brace owner here. It really stiffened up the convertible flex!

 

I've got one and I love it!

 

Update after the install of the TSW/Way Upper Motor Mount as a replacement for the stock hydraulic mount and the TSW/Way damper.

Fitment issues are history! I no longer experience any contact between the after market cat and the X-brace.

 

Excellent!!!!!

 

Glad you got that worked out! I noticed that on my car, too. I had to use a bunch of washers to get my catback exhaust centered in the rear bumper. After I installed the TSW motor mount, I removed a bunch of washers because it realigned everything.

 

Thanks, it was frustrating for a while there. The damper is great, it is just not strong enough for my needs. And speaking of washers, I also used washers as spacers for the rear mounting points of the X-brace to lower it away from the cat. I know I can go and remove them now, and allow the X-brace to function as designed. (Yeah I know it will not be a noticeable difference, still...)