i think someone should do a poll for a group buy, i would but i dont get on the net that much

Can someone just confirm that the following will fit a 20vt;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OMP-Lower-Strut-Brace-ALFA-ROMEO-156-2-0-16V-TS_W0QQitemZ150284614592QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150284614592&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Cheers, Matt

Scrap that!

Me that is

It wont fit? or is it crap?

No it was me not reading the thread properly, my tired brain read it as an upper brace for some reason (hand slapping forehead smiley)

Ha ha no worries joe

It's a shame that the write up doesn't include some dimensions, I could measure a sub frame up tomorrow and let you know.

Yeah there is no adjustment or anything on that one from ebay. only saw it as someone mentioned a 156 brace would fit. Interesting to know if it does. Cheap mod!

For the money yes a very cheap mod, gets my vote for value for money

I prefer it without the adjuster, something less to worry about catching underneath, simple design.

Yes it will fit

I have ordered one of the 156 braces from rallydesign.co.uk as Having read about and experienced Strutbracer's customer support first hand, I'm not keen to repeat that....
Anyway, he has none in stock, and OMP have just come back off their annual shutdown...If anyone else wants one, the order will be going in early next week, and will not be repeated until next month....

I also would be intrested in one to

Yes it will

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/James_Hardwick/picture3.jpg

And there it is fitted to a 20vt

How much clearance do you have with that brace Jimbo?

From the ground or the exhaust ?

I had to put a washer between the chassis and brace to stop it touching the exhaust.
Ground clearance will depend on how low your car is I guess.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/James_Hardwick/picture2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/James_Hardwick/picture4.jpg

Both taken from the front so you can see how far it sit below the undertray.

Tight, very tight Jimbo.

Only 50 quid..mmmm

I also have the OMP 156 lower strut brace. Have only hit the floor a couple of times but not that hard and is still in one piece.

whats the ground clearance like jimbo,you hit it on anything yet?

tempted at 50 quid

Not hit anything on normal roads but went to visit the girlfriends parents who live in the middle of nowhere, I'm not talking B roads here, these are G roads !

There is a huge camber off both sides of the single track lane so the centre was raised about 10" from the edges. The brace caught on it and managed to pull the wishbone bolt that the brace mounts to right out of the mountings !

If you live on a farm I would think again but for normal use its perfectly ok.

Agree with jimbo ok normaly roads but not a good idea on "G roads"

I have been thinking about this, and I reckon it would be possible to use a piece of Flat steel bar bolted between the front wishbone mountings.

As it is flat it souldn't affect ground clearance much. It would also be cheap, probably less that £15 even if it was powder coated.

What do you all reckon? I have access to some free 50x8mm flat bar at work, as well as some longer bolts for the wishbones.

What do you guys think?

Clearance to the downpipe is an issue with the lower support braces. I'm sure someone will be along with a technical metalurgist type assessment of tube/solid vs flat bar.

Chris

flat bar (especially only 8mm) would flex under compression

Tube is just as strong as solid bar under compression and tension, and is possibly even stronger in flex.

However, my experience of tube is that it is much less resistant to large rocks and bricks, and will end up being bashed flat at some point in its life (especially if you're already lowered)

I spent a LONG time designing my lower brace and came up with solid 20mm stainless bar - not exactly the lightest solution, but highly resistant to everything that's hit it so far.

Now polling to see if there's enough interest in a new batch

new subframe brace GB thread

Thanks for that Nigel..
I did think that it may flex, but I thought I may as well ask as I have it freely availably.

Do you think 25x25 3mm wall box section with mounting tabs welded at the ends would work? As I have access to that as well as a welder.

it would work better than flat plate, but it will still flex more than tube or circular bar

Ok then, thanks Nigel.

A bit of a generalisation! It would flex less then a 25mm diameter round tube of 3mm steel.

Oh no it wont !

square section isn't particularly resistant to bending - its OK in tension and it would be fine if it was triangulated.

Nope - round is best

You have to ask yourself whay all space framed cars (and all roll cages) are made from circular section

That is a common misconception. Bending resistance is governed by the second moment of area, and a square section wins over a round one given equal sizes i.e. diameter of round section is same as the egde of the square section and same wall thickness.

The reason that round tubes are used for some space framed cars (many use square) is that for a given resistance to bending, round tube is lighter, i.e. it's a more efficient use of material.