REVIEW | DC Sports rear subframe brace / rear subframe lateral brace

[mav1178]

Recently I had a chance to test out the DC Sports Chassis Under Brace for the FRS/BRZ. It is very similar to the TRD brace (more info), with a few differences:



The DC Sports bar are two separate sets, sold separately. Rear lateral subframe brace (more info) and rear subframe brace (more info).

The front bars bolt between the front mounting points and the rear lower control arm mount points (just like the TRD), while the rear lateral brace bolts between the rear subframe mounting points.

Some install pics:

The rear lateral brace mounts here:


Rear lateral brace, installed on the car:






Rear subframe brace (front), installed on the car:



Both sets of bars installed:


A few notes from installation:

• The braces triangulate the various points where the subframe mounts to the chassis. In theory, it just boxes the subframe to prevent minimal flexing under hard cornering. Ideally, these would be used with stiffer subframe bushings or collars, but do offer a slight improvement over stock in terms of rigidity.
• A lot easier to install if car is entirely on jack stands, and rear subframe is supported by a jack (as shown above).
• The rear lateral brace sits entirely behind the muffler, should not cause any clearance issues unless it's an uber exotic exhaust with weird piping.
• The front braces clear the JDM underpanels on my car. It will be okay for both USDM and JDM cars.

-alex

[mav1178]

Driving impressions:
The rear end of the car feels stiffer. When jacking up the car or otherwise going up sharp driveways, the decrease in rear end flex is noticeable.

There is a sharper initial turn-in feel when at speed, both on freeway interchanges as well as at the track. It does improve response a bit, but it is more of confidence-inspiring feeling instead of a performance-increasing feeling.

Beyond that, if you have a set of relatively stiff coilovers you probably won't feel this mod very well. The chassis is already fairly stiff from the factory, the bars make a minor improvement but nothing night/day to write home about.

It's very nice to have this mod on the car without being intrusive. The bars are hidden, out of sight, and I often forget that they're on the car.

Price for the pair of front braces is $160 MSRP, and rear single is $95 from what I've been told.

-alex

[7thgear]

....but you still have the mushy oem crossmember bushings? At least now the L and R can movea round in tandem


i don't think the horizontal bar would do much.. said inserts would be much more benefitial.

but the conrol arm cross link seems like a much better purposed piece! Could that be bought seperatly?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

....but you still have the mushy oem crossmember bushings? At least now the L and R can movea round in tandem


i don't think the horizontal bar would do much.. said inserts would be much more benefitial.

but the conrol arm cross link seems like a much better purposed piece! Could that be bought seperatly?

Yeah, as I stated these will improve a minor amount, but would work more ideal with stiffer subframe bushings.

At least the beauty of this is that, unlike the TRD set, the front pair and rear brace are sold separately.

-alex

[continuecrushing]

I like the sub frame brace

[acemanic]

I like the coilovers!!

[mav1178]

Updated post #2 with driving impressions.

-alex

[Mikepage]

Look like the feeling i have with the Whiteline insert.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60623