I have driven a with stainless steel braided lines and a Cusco MC brace. The car was on R4S. The pedal feel was ok, but not really any better than my project remix (94 civic si w/ABS). remix still on factory rubber line and no MC brace. I've driven another civic with brace, still, the pedal isn't as firm as say, a E46 BMW 3 series. I've been wondering if it's at all possible to get pedal feel like the BMW. Perhaps their firewall is stiffer and the pedal assembly flex less? But as long as the pedal doesn't get spongy, I don't think performance suffers at all. Sometimes the BMW pedal seems to "touchy"... as you get braking just by getting on the pedal ever so slightly.

For you guys that've added a brace, can you really feel the diff??

I wanted to add a 4th option but it doesn't look like I can go back and edit... last options is don't have one, and don't care for one (which is me!).



Modified by GhettoRacer at 4:24 PM 7/7/2003

 

we'll see. don't have stainless lines or mc brace YET. will do one at a time and record the differences, if any.

 

Some BMWs have grossly over-boosted MC which result in touchy brakes a seemingly firm pedal(due to higher line pressures with smaller pedal movements).

My E36 M3 feels like it has the most unboosted brakes of any car I have ever driven(besides old trucks and whatnot ). So it does seem like the there is some pedal flex, but the whole assembly definitely feels more stiff than my DC2 Integra.

As for a MC brace - if you think two dinky screws put into your strut tower are going to stop any meaningful amount of force - sorry, not gonna happen.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Added an MC brace to my ITR, and I do feel the difference.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How so?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eee Pee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

How so?</TD></TR></TABLE>

and which one? (or was it DIY?)

 

I have a DIY MC brace. More specs just to be clear - Cobalt GT-R spec VR front pads, ATE superblue, stock brake lines.

I do not feel a difference. I have removed it between track sessions AND autox sessions. Nothing.

I wonder if a thicker MC brace would do anything, my best guess is that the brace is too thin, allowing for some flex, maybe enough to counteract its intended purpose.

 

I have an LHT MC brace on my ITR. The difference in pedal feel is quite noticable. You know how stiff the pedal feels when the car is off? Mine feels like that all the time.

 

I had the LHT brace on my R. Felt the difference as I was backing out of my driveway.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

LHT brace. Firmed up the pedal very nicely.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Lets see how long it takes to tear out of your shock tower

If i knew you had one i woulda told you over the weekend.

 

MC Brace = garbage. More crapola started in JDM land.

Warren

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Warren &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">MC Brace = garbage. More crapola started in JDM land.

Warren</TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe this after my comparison at gingerman in june....

A good bleed + good pads + good fluid - MC Brace = awesome pedal feel.

 

I have no doubt that it can improve pedal feel somewhat. What I'm talking about is the stupid braces changing your suspension geometry under hard braking.

Has anyone bothered to look at the damn things while hitting the brakes? The ones that bolt to the control arms are the worst ones yet.

Warren


Modified by Warren at 12:44 PM 7/8/2003

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Warren &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have no doubt that it can improve pedal feel somewhat. What I'm talking about is the stupid braces changing your suspension geometry under hard braking.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Warren, can you explain a little more how the geometry is changed?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by StageOne &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Warren, can you explain a little more how the geometry is changed? </TD></TR></TABLE>

When it was installed on Warren's car and Steve and I were looking at it as Warren hit the brakes, it was the oddest thing the booster, MC, LHT and shock tower all moved. The shock toward doesn't seem to be strong enough in the longitudinal direction.

I'll be doing something different on my H1 car and oh yeh, who needs a booster.

 

We also checked another type of brace at the track, and it did something similar.

Warren

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">http://www.sms-products.com coming....</TD></TR></TABLE>

when???

 

Does this MC brace come with the little orange booties to cover your resevoir so that it doesn't get cold?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SMSP &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When it was installed on Warren's car and Steve and I were looking at it as Warren hit the brakes, it was the oddest thing the booster, MC, LHT and shock tower all moved. The shock toward doesn't seem to be strong enough in the longitudinal direction.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Has this been witnessed on other cars also?

I'm not doubting the structural integrity of Warren's car though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GhettoRacer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've been wondering if it's at all possible to get pedal feel like the BMW. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hahah, dude your trying to get a honda to feel like a bmw? ... the BRAKES! Hell no, never going to happen.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm not doubting the structural integrity of Warren's car though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then you're in the minority

 

anyone have pictures of thier MC braces? I've never heard of one before..

 

Hmm. Are we sure that the amount of gorilla pedal pressure applied during a flex test in the paddock is comparable to actual pedal pressure needed to stop the car? My guess is that you're pushing harder during the flex test...just a guess!

(FYI, same reply also posted in Type R forum)

 

Tested in 3 different cars.

Warren

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">



Has anybody every warned the crowd in the ITR Forum? It's a very popular modification over there.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

It wouldn't matter. A lot of people wouldn't listen. Either that or everyone would take it off immediately without testing it themselves. That's just how it goes over there... :sigh:

I plan on testing it to see how much everything moves around sometime soon...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I plan on testing it to see how much everything moves around sometime soon...</TD></TR></TABLE>

How would you go about doing your MC brace test? After a few track days or races(whatever the case) and do some measuring?

I'm interested because a friend has trouble aligning his ITR and he has the MC brace. I think he has only done a few track days so I don't know if this has anything to with his situation.

Definitely interesting though!