Cusco Power Braces on DD BRZ/FRS

[blackhawkdown]

I've been doing some research on Cusco and what they had to offer. I am considering buying all the Power Braces for the chassis to include the FSB and RSB. Has anyone have a majority of these braces installed on their car? Does the car shake a lot? It's just a consideration right now. I will be DD this car. It will probably see ZERO track time and that is fine with me. I understand that it might be wasted $ but I will be happy with it if it does what I want, reduce chassis roll and improve handling.

[AdrianG]

It is a waste of money IMO. They don't do anything but make the car heavier.

- AdrianG

[Calum]

X2

[Lavalover]

There is an entire thread on this topic a few rows down.

[was385]

The overwhelming opinion is that they don't do anything and the money could be spent much more effectively elsewhere. This isn't some econobox chassis that has been repurposed. It was built to be a stiff sports car chassis from the ground up.

[Roadliner]

TRD underbody brace kit, TRD carbon fibre strut bar, TRD door braces, TRD/STI engine mounts and transmission support.

Running just the brace kit and strut bar, there was a difference already with how the car felt over bumps( more all of one piece feeling) and through bends (less body roll).
Even a fellow 86 owner sitting as a passenger could feel how good the chassis feels.
After putting in the door braces and mounts, the car feels even better.
All of this on stock suspension that I have no intension of changing and all stock bushings which I WILL be changing in strategic places.

Bracing the car up DOES make a difference but only if you go all the way. I dont think just the power braces will have much effect on their own?
hope this helps

[gramicci101]

It does, but at what price? And does something else at that price make much more of a difference? Cusco power braces are expensive; I'd rather put a nice coilover system on my car for the same price and much better result.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

I've been doing some research on Cusco and what they had to offer. I am considering buying all the Power Braces for the chassis to include the FSB and RSB. Has anyone have a majority of these braces installed on their car? Does the car shake a lot? It's just a consideration right now. I will be DD this car. It will probably see ZERO track time and that is fine with me. I understand that it might be wasted $ but I will be happy with it if it does what I want, reduce chassis roll and improve handling.

Based on street, canyon, and track feedback, it actually does do something. While it's not a groundbreaking development, it has small improvements in tightening up the chassis a little bit. Ping us if you're interested!

[blackhawkdown]

Originally Posted by Roadliner

TRD underbody brace kit, TRD carbon fibre strut bar, TRD door braces, TRD/STI engine mounts and transmission support.

Running just the brace kit and strut bar, there was a difference already with how the car felt over bumps( more all of one piece feeling) and through bends (less body roll).
Even a fellow 86 owner sitting as a passenger could feel how good the chassis feels.
After putting in the door braces and mounts, the car feels even better.
All of this on stock suspension that I have no intension of changing and all stock bushings which I WILL be changing in strategic places.

Bracing the car up DOES make a difference but only if you go all the way. I dont think just the power braces will have much effect on their own?
hope this helps

Agreed, I plan to use some Whiteline bushings on other components.

Originally Posted by gramicci101

It does, but at what price? And does something else at that price make much more of a difference? Cusco power braces are expensive; I'd rather put a nice coilover system on my car for the same price and much better result.

cusco braces are pretty cheap. They range around $200 bucks or so. That is cheap to me. I don't plan on changing the suspension anytime soon as I am trying to work on saving for Ohlins just because race car.

Originally Posted by CSG David

Based on street, canyon, and track feedback, it actually does do something. While it's not a groundbreaking development, it has small improvements in tightening up the chassis a little bit. Ping us if you're interested!

Will do soon once I get back from deployment.

I just don't see how it does not make an improvement. Cusco is a reputable company that wouldn't make something that was useless. Adding additional weight for some chassis stiffness and improve handling, response is worth it in my book. Again, I am no professional drive or anything but I think it would make an improvement.

[Roadliner]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

It does, but at what price? And does something else at that price make much more of a difference? Cusco power braces are expensive; I'd rather put a nice coilover system on my car for the same price and much better result.

you have a very valid point there.
The way I see it, getting coilovers wont bring out the best without supporting bushes, camber adjustments and supporting hardware, tyres. Going FI without supporting chassis mods wont be very nice to drive too.
But bracing the chassis as far as it will feasibly go and moving to the bushes from there, followed then by coilovers and finally FI means being able to enjoy the car as a 'whole' if that makes sense? Every step along the way, the car isnt compromised by each change, rather its just getting better overall.

[CSG David]

On a side note, list the goals you have for the car such as the look, the feel, the actual application. This will guide you towards a direction that will satisfy those goals. We may have some sort of plan for you to work off of to satisfy your goals without sidetracking yourself.

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

Will do soon once I get back from deployment.

I just don't see how it does not make an improvement. Cusco is a reputable company that wouldn't make something that was useless. Adding additional weight for some chassis stiffness and improve handling, response is worth it in my book. Again, I am no professional drive or anything but I think it would make an improvement.

[blackhawkdown]

Originally Posted by Roadliner

you have a very valid point there.
The way I see it, getting coilovers wont bring out the best without supporting bushes, camber adjustments and supporting hardware, tyres. Going FI without supporting chassis mods wont be very nice to drive too.
But bracing the chassis as far as it will feasibly go and moving to the bushes from there, followed then by coilovers and finally FI means being able to enjoy the car as a 'whole' if that makes sense? Every step along the way, the car isnt compromised by each change, rather its just getting better overall.

I agree with you. Coming from built WRX and STi, I can say that I learned a lot of do's and don'ts. Start building power without proper chassis and breaking system upgrade makes the power useless. This time around, I am gonna build my chassis and suspension first before I start to build power.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Roadliner

you have a very valid point there.
The way I see it, getting coilovers wont bring out the best without supporting bushes, camber adjustments and supporting hardware, tyres. Going FI without supporting chassis mods wont be very nice to drive too.
But bracing the chassis as far as it will feasibly go and moving to the bushes from there, followed then by coilovers and finally FI means being able to enjoy the car as a 'whole' if that makes sense? Every step along the way, the car isnt compromised by each change, rather its just getting better overall.

i dont think thats the case. when you go to mod a 30 year old corolla, the chassis support makes sense because with 200 treadwear tires, the door light would come on under lateral loads. those braces might do something but im sure the sways are doing about 95% of what you would be feeling. going with sway bars before coilovers can make sense but if youre intent on getting coilovers i would wait. its kind of like adding salt to your plate before you have the steak imo.

there are plenty of cars running coilovers and ridiculous tires without the cusco brace with tons of success so you shouldnt worry about it.

[was385]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

I agree with you. Coming from built WRX and STi, I can say that I learned a lot of do's and don'ts. Start building power without proper chassis and breaking system upgrade makes the power useless. This time around, I am gonna build my chassis and suspension first before I start to build power.

I completely agree that suspensions mods should be first but those braces just aren't necessary IMO. This is a true sports car chasis that is already plenty stiff. If you do everything and at the end you still want more, I'd say go ahead but I would put chasis braces really close to the end of my list. The money would go a lot farther elsewhere IMO.