Got my Digrappa brace today from Rick's
The difference is amazing! The car feels so much more solid and tighter.
I really am shocked how much affect it had.
Install will typically take 30 min or less, 4 bolts.
The only real trick is make sure you have an 8mm allen wrench! I had to run up and buy one since my set was missing the 8.
you take out 4x 14mm bolts and the brace comes with 4x 8mm hex key bolts to replace them with.

Anyway, here are the pix...


Here's what ya get...


Just jack the front end up a little. I took my Feel's front spoiler off while I was installing, just to give me a little more clearance to slide under the car - it's only a couple of bolts.


before

after


if your're concerned about ground clearance- don't be. The brace is definitely not the lowest point on the undercarriage.

Well that's it, and like I said, the feel of the car is a lot better now. I really can't wait for Honda to fix my rear CV joints now, but that's another story...
If you drive it hard, get a brace!

-V

 

It doesnt look like that piece makes that much difference, then again I am not an X-Brace owner. I am thinking of getting one

 

V,
Can you really feel a difference? I've been battling for months on whether to get one or not?

 

do it, u can feel it

I'd offer to let you drive mine but the damn CV joints would shake your teeth out right now!

-V

 

I hope you were only using that POS scissor jack for the pictures only, and not sliding underneath the car to install the brace (or do anything else for that matter!) lifted by only the jack...

 

You can definitely feel the difference in the rigidity of the chassis. I just had one installed in my '02 and could tell the difference almost immediately. The car "soaked up" a particularly crappy patch of the North bound 5 much better than it did without the brace.

I am very satisfied with this mod. Not cheap, but at least it works.

 

My thoughts exactly.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pfb
[B]I hope you were only using that POS scissor jack for the

 

Yes I had jackstands under the front while I was working- placed along the frame rails between where the arms of the X-brace go, not very conducive to photography of said brace, so I took them out of the way for pix.
The floor jack was out in the barn and I didn't feel like dragging it up, so I used the "POS" scissor jack. Wow, the "POS" lifted the car just fine...

Sorry to spoil your critique of my work habits.



-V:

 

Thanks for the words of confidence, and the installation pics/instructions

Mark

 

I can't remember for sure, but I believe that I had to loosen some other bolts (I think the fronts) so that everything would go on. The fit is very specific, so I had to be careful to even tighten bolts all together. I did find one of the front bolts difficult to start, but install wasn't bad and the results were very much to my satisfaction. I waited, and waited, and waited for it, but I must admit, it looks very impressive!