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Brace yourself
#854683
22/06/2009 23:48
22/06/2009 23:48
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 792 Stafford
sandytim
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 792
Stafford
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Today I got round to fitting my lower strut brace, purchased from Nigel on his last group buy. Other than a sparco top brace, my ride hight and suspension are standard.I was going to wait until I renewed my 70k wishbones and dampers (planned to do in about a month) but the opportunity of a free ramp and skilled pair of hands arose today,so on it went. Well anyone who says they can't notice the differance must be driving in boxing gloves!! After a short (but sprited) 8 mile test drive I can honestly say it makes a great improvement to the feel and feedback at the wheel. I just wonder why fiat didn't sort out this out in the factory ? The handling reviews would have been much more favorable. Now I can't wait to get my new wishbones and dampers. My aim will be to myself get the best feel and handling, whilst retaining the compliance of the standard ride height and springs(less back pain). My brakes are already sorted with Tar-ox discs and fast road pads so the addition of a rear antiroll bar could be the next step. If your looking to improve your coupes proformance then I believe brakes and suspension should be your priority before engine mods.Its money well spent without the risks and pain of engine mods. But should that rear rollbar follow the wishbones and dampers?or am I missing a step ? Thanks to Nigel for a great bit of kit. Thanks to ginge for your time today. P.S It's still standard (and beautiful) on the outside.
Last edited by sandytim; 23/06/2009 00:36.
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: sandytim]
#854736
23/06/2009 08:28
23/06/2009 08:28
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,285 Manchester
GraemeC
Competition Level
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Competition Level
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,285
Manchester
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Uprated rear ARB makes a huge difference - you'll love it!
When you get all the wishbones done, fit some camber bolts at the same time - for the price they are well worth it and you're going to have to get the tracking set anyway
It'll feel like a new car!
It is hard to understand how a cemetery can raise burial rates and blame it on the cost of living
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: GraemeC]
#854751
23/06/2009 09:20
23/06/2009 09:20
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,034 Sweden
Per
I need some sleep
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I need some sleep
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,034
Sweden
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As in another thread next to this one, you'd feel it even more if you'd have a lowered car with extra camber upfront. Agreed, strange Fiat did'nt do this effort! The std downpipe though, is hard to get around without ruining the ground clearence.
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Per]
#854763
23/06/2009 09:36
23/06/2009 09:36
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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i think once all the little jobs on my coop are done this is one of the next mods as i really want to get the handling up to date. shame nigel doesn't have any more braces but i will try and soruce one if not then il buy a omp one and get the welder out!
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: ]
#854926
23/06/2009 13:53
23/06/2009 13:53
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
Forum veteran
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Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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Tim - glad you like it Its good to hear from somone that's fitted a brace to an otherwise standard car - I wasn't aware that it would make such a difference. Peanut - the machine shop *might* be persuaded to make one-offs, but they would be in the region of £150 due to the time taken in tooling up and having to buy in small quantities of material If you can stand this sort of cost, I can enquire for you.
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Per]
#855080
23/06/2009 17:39
23/06/2009 17:39
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 792 Stafford
sandytim
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 792
Stafford
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As in another thread next to this one, you'd feel it even more if you'd have a lowered car with extra camber upfront. Agreed, strange Fiat did'nt do this effort! The std downpipe though, is hard to get around without ruining the ground clearence. I really am loathed to lower the car as fun is the name of the game and its NO fun trying to avoid pot holes on our third world highways. I'd just like to explore what can be done in comfort (so to speak). It would be great to compare the pace of a really well sorted standard sprung car against a lowered firmly sprung one, over a real roads (humps and bumps included). Obviously for those with Damen Hill asperations going the extra mile is vitally important. I like the idea of the rear roll bar as the coupe seams to have plenty of grip but at a fair bit of angle. I've heard whiteline bars mentioned here on the forum. Would this be a good choise with a standard front bar or is it better to get matched pair ? Anyway if your reading this without a top and bottom brace go sort it NOW ! I can't believe It's taken me so long. Now I just want to go for a drive
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: sandytim]
#855097
23/06/2009 18:09
23/06/2009 18:09
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Spee
Unregistered
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Spee
Unregistered
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I have a whitline rear ARB waiting to be fitted, but I didn't want to fit it until I've got my new shocks sorted and a lower front brace. I might have to look at a lower front brace now!
Gareth
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: ]
#855106
23/06/2009 18:36
23/06/2009 18:36
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sweetride
Unregistered
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sweetride
Unregistered
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Great little write up, look forward to fitting mine
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: ]
#855123
23/06/2009 18:57
23/06/2009 18:57
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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once i have bought my other suspension bit i recon i would be up for this but i need to get the coop running lovely first and some nice shocks springs and top mounts. basicly i think i am going for the same setup as your car nigel as it seams to be the best comprimise on handling,comfort and price. hopefully il have some koni's soon and then im getting some apex springs for a 16vt and maybe eibech front and rear arb's brovo top mounts and gtv camber bolts and omp front upper brace.
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: ]
#855125
23/06/2009 18:58
23/06/2009 18:58
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ActionHank
Unregistered
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ActionHank
Unregistered
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Got mine on too! Definately makes a noticable difference! Now if only I could stop my 'pulling left' issue......
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: ]
#855245
23/06/2009 21:31
23/06/2009 21:31
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694 Midlands
MCMike
Club member 2095
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Club member 2095
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694
Midlands
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Is it worth fitted an uprated rear ARB on it's own ?
...or should I consider doing the front too ?
1972 Triumph Stag 1984 Alfasud TI 1999 Fiat Coupe Turbo LE 2005 350Z
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Per]
#855315
23/06/2009 22:48
23/06/2009 22:48
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694 Midlands
MCMike
Club member 2095
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Club member 2095
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694
Midlands
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Ok great - I think I may well be getting one of these...also do the camber bolts make a noticable difference to front end grip ?
1972 Triumph Stag 1984 Alfasud TI 1999 Fiat Coupe Turbo LE 2005 350Z
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Per]
#855330
23/06/2009 23:14
23/06/2009 23:14
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694 Midlands
MCMike
Club member 2095
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Club member 2095
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694
Midlands
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excellent - I reckon I will get these done at the same time ! thanks for the feedback....
1972 Triumph Stag 1984 Alfasud TI 1999 Fiat Coupe Turbo LE 2005 350Z
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: MattM]
#855348
23/06/2009 23:43
23/06/2009 23:43
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694 Midlands
MCMike
Club member 2095
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Club member 2095
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694
Midlands
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I remember that Matt - would you still recommend I get them ?
1972 Triumph Stag 1984 Alfasud TI 1999 Fiat Coupe Turbo LE 2005 350Z
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Per]
#855544
24/06/2009 12:25
24/06/2009 12:25
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,285 Manchester
GraemeC
Competition Level
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Competition Level
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,285
Manchester
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Yes they certainly do! They will almost suck you into the roundabouts.. They also make the front a bit more nervous in a straight line, nothing I couldn't stand though. And the lower brace made it almost normal again... Interesting - I only had camber bolts fitted after a lower brace (upper brace, whiteline rear ARB, bilstein and eibachs all fitted previously ) and at 1 degree negative I didnt notice the front being any more nervous at all - the braces must be doing their jobs! After approx 8 months of 1 degree negative, I've no noticiable difference in tyre wear so next time the car is tracked I'm going to get them to set it to 1.15 and see how that works!
It is hard to understand how a cemetery can raise burial rates and blame it on the cost of living
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Nigel]
#855657
24/06/2009 16:04
24/06/2009 16:04
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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out of interest nigel do you think if you went for a coilovers your handling would greatly improve and how good actually are you koni's?
i think a front brace really needs to be on my list to get very shortly. get the car mint then start amking it handle very well
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Nigel]
#855833
24/06/2009 21:05
24/06/2009 21:05
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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would you say on par with billes then even give the harder ride? osravs are a option but i would need to save. what springs do you run?
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Re: Brace yourself
[Re: Nigel]
#855895
24/06/2009 22:07
24/06/2009 22:07
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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peanuthead
Unregistered
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well hopefully il get the koni's than :-) i have seen the group buy and i really want one just got to make sure i can afford it as i have to get the car in good working order first really before i spend to much on fancy parts. im sure i will beable to get one though.
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