Various Chassis Braces?

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

Or it could be they weigh 3x as much as an 86 and weight may play a factor in how a metal chassis contorts across the road.

It could be but it's not. I honestly don't know what to say when someone when weight and chassis flex are good for any car.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by fatoni

It could be but it's not. I honestly don't know what to say when someone when weight and chassis flex are good for any car.

I’m just saying this car without chassis bracing is more comfortable than this car with chassis bracing. Adding reinforcement to the front of this car will add resistance to the vertical forces of a pot hole, bump etc and be transferred directly to the driver and passenger.

Does stiffening up the front of the chassis add positive turn in response? Yes of course it does. But just like everything in motorsports, it’s another compromise you will have to deal with.

As an experiment you should take out your oem steel v bars, and run over a crappy part of the road and tell me it doesn’t feel more comfortable.

[Gunman]

Originally Posted by Roadcone

Which braces do you feel do something beneficial and which braces do you think just take your money?

The TRD member brace kit all seems legitimate to me. The rear bumper brace doesnt apply to USDM cars as we apparently have a beefier bumper 'cuz 'murica.

These will definitely drop your lap times, the compliance in your seat rails is insane...

[Rail]

Originally Posted by Gunman

These will definitely drop your lap times, the compliance in your seat rails is insane...

What do they even claim that those do?

[Gunman]

Originally Posted by Rail

What do they even claim that those do?

I suspect lighten your wallet, but that is just because they make no claims.
https://www.gtspec.com/product/gtspe...-s-gt86-ft-86/

[Ernest72]

Don't get crazy with braces to bushings. yes if you do a bunch you can transform your car like I did with my 04 WRX wagon. But as a DD you feel it everyday. It comes at a price. The BRZ probably does not need much as its got a nice feel stock for DD. If you track well then everything is on the table if it makes the car handle better.

[Roadcone]

some older JDM cars the floor plans flexed like hell and they really could use seat rail bracing... not like that but they could use something.

Originally Posted by Ernest72

Don't get crazy with braces to bushings. yes if you do a bunch you can transform your car like I did with my 04 WRX wagon. But as a DD you feel it everyday. It comes at a price. The BRZ probably does not need much as its got a nice feel stock for DD. If you track well then everything is on the table if it makes the car handle better.

That's subjective. I'm asking for objective.

[slacker221]

I believe some bracing has its performance benefits, but of course will create more NVH. So it is up to you on how much, and what you want to brace. For the majority of driving I do, I can most certainly feel a difference in the way the car handles, and I feel that it is a big improvement. I personally like the chassis to be stiff, and don't mind the "discomfort" of daily driving with the braces. I actually decided to make most of the braces myself, not as pretty looking as what is available online, but I also did not want to end up spending $1k+ in just bracing. I also was having a very hard trying to find a good trunk/X-Brace online, so I decided to fabricate my own. I attached a photo of my DIY X-Brace

So far I have added bracing to :
Both front and rear strut towers
X-Brace inside of trunk
Rear subframe upper brace
Rear lower control arm braces
Front lower control arm brace & front side subframe brace
Steering rack lockdown & rear side front subframe brace
Master cylinder brace

[new2subaru]

^Nice job man!

[Tristor]

That looks great slacker. I wish there was a solid commercial option like this that I could use.

[Gunman]

Originally Posted by Tristor

That looks great slacker. I wish there was a solid commercial option like this that I could use.

Spencer used to make one:


and D2D has this, but it's not triangulated.
http://d2bdmotorwerks.com/i-16297967...werks-com.html

[fatoni]

I've never bought braces outside of cars designed in the 80s but I feel like they would reduce nvh since they eliminate the flex that causes random squeaks and rattles.

[Tristor]

Originally Posted by Gunman

Spencer used to make one:


and D2D has this, but it's not triangulated.
http://d2bdmotorwerks.com/i-16297967...werks-com.html

That Spencer design looks perfect and even appears to be compatible in this photo with the Shrader Performance rear seat delete (with maybe some minor modification). I'd be very interested in acquiring one of those. I know Spencer Fabrications has shut down, but I went ahead and emailed them at the last known good address to see if I can get a reply. The D2D setup isn't really what I'm looking for.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by fatoni

I've never bought braces outside of cars designed in the 80s but I feel like they would reduce nvh since they eliminate the flex that causes random squeaks and rattles.

You’re right it’s not true NVH as there’s no addition noise or vibration like suspension mounts, but the H for harshness rings true.