|
I've got a couple questions for you
What engineering goes into the design of the chassis braces? Do you perform an analysis of the structure and target specific weak points? Are there common areas that often need bracing? How do you determine the strength and shape of the required braces?
I'm all on board with the principle that a couple cleverly located braces could really stiffen up a chassis, but I'm skeptical what research, analysis, and testing went into most aftermarket braces. Adding braces costs money, and even for enthusiasts who want perfection at any expense, adding braces costs weight. I think you'd probably agree with me that there's a point of diminishing returns, after which improved handling due to chassis stiffness is more than offset by increased weight. That's why nobody is welding a steel plate between the subframes.
So my question to you is essentially this - what analysis or testing do you conduct to make a brace "buy it's way onto the car" - provide a net benefit by increasing stiffness and adding weight. I'm sure there's plenty of possible braces someone could come up with that don't meet that criteria - the structure they're bracing is stiff enough already that the weight hurts performance more than the stiffness improves performance. What process do you undergo to isolate the weakest areas in the factory chassis, that would have the most to gain from a brace, and ignore the areas in the factory chassis that are stiff enough already?
|