Front ladder bar

[turtl631]

Does anyone have any input on the front lower ladder bars available on ebay, etc? I believe they connect the frame rails around the area below the trans bellhousing. Def mentioned to me a while back that some cars have a brace here stock and that it might be worth it for the relatively low cost (I think they're $40 or $50 on ebay). I won't be going to a full cage for a long time if ever, but I wouldn't mind a little bump in chassis rigidity if there are some pieces that make a noticable difference. The power brace that connects the tension rod brackets seem to be pretty universally lauded, as are fender braces.

[veilside180sx]

The firewall is a traditionally weak point on most unibody cars. The harness bar in my B14 helped quite a bit as well, and would do the same in an S chassis. I intend to make harness bars for the S chassis, but that has stepped down the priority list as I've been working on this suspension stuff.

[turtl631]

I actually have a bolt-in 4 point bar (Kirk Racing). Just looking for some more front end stiffness I guess.

[2Fass240us]

For $40 or $50 (if you can indeed find them for that as you've mentioned), I think it worth a try.

The fender braces seem to be well-liked on FA, but I have no other opinion to offer.

-Andy

[Def]

The firewall is a traditionally weak point on most unibody cars. The harness bar in my B14 helped quite a bit as well, and would do the same in an S chassis. I intend to make harness bars for the S chassis, but that has stepped down the priority list as I've been working on this suspension stuff.

Do it.. and give me Chinese slave labor pricing.... NOW!!!


haha - really though, the trans tunnel is a huge weak spot, so yes you should feel the difference. Every BMW 3 series I've seen has a support there, and the "upgrade" for E36s is to use the convertible stock brace which X's out to two plates that bolt to the bottom of the front subframe. It effectively ties together the front subframe to the framerails and makes a very noticeable difference in front end stiffness.

I wonder if it'd be feasible to do something like that on S13s.... and I also wonder why the cheap S14 ladder bar doesn't fit an S13...


BTW - Ross, I'm charging you $5 for every time you quote our AIM conversations on NRR - your current bill is $145 and rising. I accept paypal +3%.

[turtl631]

Crap, I can't afford this. Mum's the word from now on.