The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing rant!

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The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing rant!

Postby bigBADbenny » Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:36 pm

Not the everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing rant?

Will your feelings be hurt?
Odds are yes, highly likely, apologies :swoon:

The time has come to tear down the walls and talk about one of our favourite and affordable “handling” mods.

I admit I have a few, but I feel I like the bling factor more than the nvh.

How can a brace that weighs around a kilo going to change the handling?

Then there’s those, like my buddy olm8, who literally has all of them, any more and they’ll have to be custom.

Anyhow my point is that there’s a big line to cross in these handling mods: subframe bushes, pineapples etc, oh and at that point, rigi cola.

I think that point is demonstrated by the STi S series chassis reinforcement parts, which are sets of flexible braces on mini heim joints.

For a road car this is an advantage over braces that ultimately interfere with the subframe bushes…

Ultimately the question is probably custom subframes: what would you change to get a better result ?

Edits forthcoming lol.
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby Turbo Lag » Mon Jan 24, 2022 3:38 pm

Haven't noticed any differences on either of my setups with bracing added or removed. Will I still buy them for the bling factor? Of course!

I must add here that there is an appreciable difference in chassis stiffness when comparing sedan and wagon. The sedan feels fairly taught and 'solid', and almost feels like a short wheelbase car. The wagon is much more flexible (not in a good way) and I don't believe any of the bracing available on the market will fix this. The fact that it is a tin can on wheels with nothing to support the roof in the middle does not help!

I believe Jeremy did notice a difference with a solid front strut brace but I am not sure if it was for the better either.

I think I will leave it at that. :lol:
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby JezzaH6 » Mon Jan 24, 2022 8:17 pm

Can't say any of the braces I've added have made any noticeable difference on track or street. In saying that, my area is steep and I have a fairly twisted driveway, and both the front and rear strut tower bars go from 'loose and somewhat flexible' to 'fairly tight, needing more force to bend the bar in the middle' on the worst section- so they are definitely doing 'something'. Worth noting this is the furthest thing from scientific testing :lol: And would I stop buying them for the bling factor- absolutely not! They do add extra steps to bigger jobs though which does get annoying.

I did feel like the rear strut tower brace made the rear end feel 'more planted' but whether or not this can actually be measured is very different- no noticeable speed increase has been observed through familiar corners. I also played around with the DCCD programming at that stage so it's likely that is what I was feeling.

I must add here that there is an appreciable difference in chassis stiffness when comparing sedan and wagon.


Agreed 100% here- I was surprised to the difference when driving yours it is immediately noticeable.

Ultimately no feelings hurt :lol:
2007 Subaru Liberty 3.0r-b 6MT
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby aySKE » Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:22 pm

JezzaH6 wrote:I did feel like the rear strut tower brace made the rear end feel 'more planted' but whether or not this can actually be measured is very different- no noticeable speed increase has been observed through familiar corners. I also played around with the DCCD programming at that stage so it's likely that is what I was feeling.
It did past my mind and actually looked these up for the BR9 but figured probably not worth the time/money since they're rarely sold. So with that, probably says a lot

On the track personally, I think aiming to find the ideal line and pushing the speed on certain corners will net me great gains that even HP can't probably guarantee...
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby bigBADbenny » Fri Jan 28, 2022 6:12 am

In terms of bracing types, let’s make a taxonomy!

Oem: the arrangement and function of the subframes, bushes, supports and the body, the intent behind how they work together to provide predictable handling and NVH suppression.

Rigid: most aftermarket braces, limits expansion and contraction between points

Flexible: STi S series, oem, oem plus, limits expansion not contraction.

Body to body braces: eg strut tower braces, body triangulation, stock HD towbar…

Subframe to subframe: strengthens the subframe in isolation from the body.

Subframe to body: locks the subframe to the body, subframe floats less.

Rigid collar: locates and locks the subframes to the body for fixed alignment of subframe location. Subframe can still float on its bushes, unless those are replaced with hardened or solid items.

Did I miss anything?
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby hyphen321 » Fri Mar 04, 2022 8:33 am

I'm fully invested in this post.

Would love some more people to chime in.
I bought Cynner's car.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23586&hilit=cynner now with added +15 STI Box, Shockworks
Arm chair GTB ecu diving amateur.
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby bigBADbenny » Fri Mar 04, 2022 7:43 pm

Yeah James is going some fancy solid subframe bushes on his in progress gen4.
As such he’s crossing the line.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=35401&start=150#p452532

Apparently AVO HD rsb mounts also lock the rear subframe?

I’m doing rigi cola if I can find the bag :P

Where’s your ecu madness thread, anyways?

Are you the type to have all the bars n braces, then spin off regardless?
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby hyphen321 » Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:56 am

Wouldn't you know it, I bought another car. A wrx that is already ruined for daily driving*. No need (or want) to risk that on the Lib anymore.

My ecu madness thread will probably fall on deaf ears here. I've found that the depths that I aspire to understand the OEM ecu require a lot of coding knowledge to further develop. I think it will be easier to get my tuning fix from slapping a Link in the WRX and use something truly fit for purpose.

*its actually so bad on the street i'm turning it down a notch. removing 2 way front diff, trans and engine mounts back to group N, NPC organic HD clutch rather than twin plate.
I bought Cynner's car.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23586&hilit=cynner now with added +15 STI Box, Shockworks
Arm chair GTB ecu diving amateur.
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby bigBADbenny » Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:16 pm

Two way front diff?

That’s… gravel spec!!!

What’s up with that?

20kg vlscd too?
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby hyphen321 » Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:20 am

Yup it's noisy and makes turn in a challenge on road and track.

Just 12kg centre diff.

Oh and I've got subframe lock bolts!
I bought Cynner's car.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23586&hilit=cynner now with added +15 STI Box, Shockworks
Arm chair GTB ecu diving amateur.
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby bigBADbenny » Mon Mar 28, 2022 3:41 pm

So… that’s someone’s gravel project, a former rally car, or some weird cocktail from that notorious gearbox specialtist?
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby hyphen321 » Sun Apr 17, 2022 2:46 pm

I can't imagine it was anything but a compromise to get the 6 speed into the car cheaply.
Previous owner (as with all my purchases) is a legend. He is extremely knowledgeable about track driving the GD chassis and i'm sure he didn't make a mistake here. Must be a calculated choice.
I bought Cynner's car.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23586&hilit=cynner now with added +15 STI Box, Shockworks
Arm chair GTB ecu diving amateur.
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Re: The everything bracing and other chassis reinforcing ran

Postby bigBADbenny » Mon Apr 18, 2022 6:52 am

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