Fitted a lower brace today, it seems to have a lot more effect than when I fitted the top struct brace. Is this my imagination or have other people found the same

No ... I agree ... I think it made a massive difference.

1deg negative camber and a stiffer rear ARB made even more difference though!

Exactly my point too..
Could hardly feel the strut brace, but the lower transformed the car, especially in acceleration.

Sadly I've got used to it now.. Maybe i should take it off and compare again!

another one agreeing it makes it better. the only fault is it grounds out a fair amount on crap roads/speedbumps etc.

also consider a whitleine arb, makes a big difference

You're driving it wrong then

I never ground mine out, but I have to negotiate the 'pillow' type speed bumps with the two tyres on / two tyres off method

i now avoid all speedbump roads i know of and, of course, do the 2 on/2 off thing too and it does work. round here though there's some absolutely huge full-width ones that catch. my car is quite low too which doesn't help.it grounded out a LOT round the back roads near cuborough recently when mcmike got us lost down some very narrow and lumpy roads

Full-width speed humps can't possibly ground out the subframe brace as its pretty much between the wheels

yes in theory that's right, however they're so badly maintained here it's a joke

it's also so low to the road that a few time srecently i've had to scrape roadkill off it

Surely the height of the car will be the main factor, especially if you have lowered springs?

What is the eye lop that sticks out of the undertray on the drivers side for? I've caught that a few times by just going up some steep hills and was thinking about cutting it off.

I had a few laps round Combe this week (as a favour) just on the road tyres, not pushing it at all. Simply put, I could not believe the difference in handling between my porto with just the upper strut brace, and yours with the lower, arbs etc.

Been offered an afternoon slot at Comber for £99 next Monday, but I'd like to get a few things done before and probably will time out. Mallory next for her on the 14th.

yes, even the AA managed to ground it whilst lifting it onto one of their low-loaders

I removed mine as it just wasn't practical for a road car. Planning your journeys to exclude roads with speed bumps is just crazy, for the little difference it makes on the road it's simply not worth it.

A track car however is a different matter.

Also how much work you put into making the brace higher. Depending on exaust, it's possible to get the brace to undertray-level, making it not much lower than std.

Glad you enjoyed it! Just wait til you get the track rubber on
1:23.1 is the best time I got round CC

They are dangerous on the nurbergring i ground mine coming out of the "Karussell".

I totally agree that the lower brace seems to make a bigger differance than the top brace...but maybe it's because it completes the job ,so to speak.
In other words I bet every one puts the top brace on first and if it was the other way round perhaps the top brace would seem to have a greater effect.

My Mods (in order of fitting) were;
Tar ox brakes
Top brace
Lower brace
Osravs & camber bolts
solid bushes and Whiteline 22mm rear ARB

I must say that the uprated ARB has really made the whole package come together and transformed the car.

It's a pity I forgot to put some decent tyres on for Curborough
Ecrab, I'll get you back next year

I didn't!

No chance now I've got the lower brace, and a 22mm rear ARB soon

Looser buys lunch ?

That OK by me, looks like I'll be getting a free lunch then

Lunch should taste good for you.......as long as you enjoy eating humble pie !! :

Note to self;
350bhp before next curborough