Alright, I could search for days about chassis bracing on here. Which ones are good, which ones are bad, etc, etc. I've noticed that there are A LOT of different braces on the market. Shock tower bars, chassis braces, C-Pillar bars, etc...

My question is: Which bars work best, and if there such a thing as overkill?

 

Absolutely there is overkill. You could easily spend $1000 on every bolt-in brace on the market, and yet the car still wouldn't be as rigid or give you the protection of a $200-$300 weld-in cage.

IMHO anything more than upper shock tower braces on a street-driven car is overkill, and really you only need the rear upper on a hatchback. Sedans and coupes already have tons of metal bridging the rear shock towers, so any brace back there is overkill.

 

So, 4-point roll cage w/harness bar, both shock towers and a c-pillar bar should be plenty? Nothing under the car?

 

what do you think chassis bracing will acheive in terms of performance?

like why do you even care about chassis bracing...

 

The car will primarily be used for autocross and track days, as well as some canyon carving. I don't like flimsy cars.

 

so what does that mean to you?

what does a stiff car do compared to a flimsy car?

do you think it will make your car handle better? if so, how? how much?

 

Not attacking you or anything but I highly doubt you can tell the difference between your flimsy car and one with bars in it.

What class do you want to run? There are a lot better places you can put your money such as a good set of tires/wheels.

 

Too many questions.

Having been a Miata owner, where chassis bracing makes a world of difference, I sure can tell the difference between a flimsy car and one that has been braced up.

 

then i wont bother giving my input.

btw, im not a chassis brace hater. i just know where its appropriate on a honda. was trying to help you out. oh well.

 

Are you prepared to run in an AutoX class that allows all these braces?

 

I live in a small town, and the local autox events and track days are organized and run by a guy that I work with. We don't have SCCA or NASA here. No worries about rules.

 

dang, no SCCA sanctioning? What about insurance? What if someone gets hurt? I don't think I'd want to participate in a non-sanctioned event.

 

He has insurance through someone, not sure who. Just because you aren't a well known sanctioning body doesn't mean you can't have events. VVV

www.redrockracers.com

 

I'm guessing your building an EK, I can tell you that when I install my EM rear lower "Z" it made a world of difference. When I used to park on uneven ground the car would have the rear tires on the ground, now the rear will "dog leg" lift in the same spot.

 

tires>any bracing

 

A sway bar will do that. Don't see how a chassis brace would cause it, though. I mean, the chassis doesn't flex THAT much without bracing.

 

New wheels and tires (Kumho XS or Bridgestone RE11) on the way next week.

 

Already had the sway installed. I can't tell you why but all I know is it happend.

 

I agree that filling up the car with braces is overkill, however I have seen the lower 'H' style braces really tighten up the front end on EGs and Integras. I think it can vary from car to car.

 

H braces just make changing the oil a major pita. If you have good tires, dampers and springs, and rear swaybar that will take care of most of your handling needs. Then maybe shock tower bars. If you need more than that a cage is the best thing to get. At that point it better be a dedicated track car. cage + your head = bad.

 

That's the problem - you (usually) can't safely run a cage in a street car.

 

Couldn't you just get good padding on the cage?

The only braces that I would consider would be a good cage and/or a-pillar bracing. I already have a good shock/spring combo along with an upgraded RSB. Anything beyond these you are getting diminishing returns IMO.

Or you could just look at what extra bracing the ITR has and incorporate them

 

Have you ever felt the thickness and hardness of the so called foam that wraps the bars of a cage? Now if you have, and still question why people say it isnt a good idea to DD with a cage, picture me standing next to you holding this:



Now wrapped in this weaksos stuff:



Doing this at least one, if not 2 or 3 more times to your melon:

 

 

No I haven't, but thanks for the imagery. Eh...just get low brackets and sliders for your seat, get an approved helmet and keep it in the car for your riding pleasure and safety. Then get a kick out of the soccer mom looking at you and thinking 'WTF'?