Yes there are shaped different but what does this translate to in terms of how my 2k is going to react and handle? Difference from stock? I know that cusco claims to reduce bumpsteer and increase chassis rigidity. Spoon and Comptech only make claims about the chassis. There is a 200$ difference between them and I don't mind spending the money, but I want to know what I am paying for.

 

Cusco can claim all they want but no under-body brace does anything for bumpsteer. Bumpsteer is a product of changing suspension geometry through its range of travel and no x, y or z brace can do anything about that

 

just wrap the bottom of your car in duct tape, it'll work about as well as the cusco braces.

 

So I personally don't believe in the cusco brace...just think about about the forces involved and home much more the cusco can torque. It's a nice bling piece but I personally don't believe it's as effective as the other X-braces. I do think adding the 3-piece cusco brace will enhance the cusco 'X' brace, but I'm not sure even then if it will be as effective as a traditional X brace.

 

I have all those darn braces and to tell you the truth (shhh, I bet the companies know this already) I dont feel a damn thing lol. I got my stuff for a bargain so I dont mind the extra placebo effect it gives but I really never noticed a difference with all that stuff on.

 

I have had all the above braces and didnt really notice anything. I mostly freeway and hillside run. I really noticed a lot when the full cage was added. I had the Comptech lower tiebar, Cusco, and the Spoon. IMO the price for the tiebars should be under $150 for each of them.
Spoon bars are about the same quality as Cusco. Comptech had a nice finish.

Its funny how Cusco/Safety 21, Japan supplies cages for most of the race prepped S2000s, STI's, EVO 5-8's in Japan. Cusco can care less what a few hundred people in the US think about there products. I sure wouldn't care. They are obviously doing better than any of us and their products are proven in Japan. Thats a fact.

Kai Office has the full Cusco lineup on their Silvia and I guarntee that car would outperform any S2000 on the track here in the states. I got an up close look at it at my friends car shop (Endless Garage) in Hawaii and they went over everything with us.

 

They don't supply those cages to race cars in the states because they don't meet any of the design requirements from any recognized race series organizer. That's a fact.

As far as the braces go, whatever they do they have zero effect on suspension geometry and the resulting bumpsteer. That's a fact.

When a company flat out lies about what a product does, I have a hard time putting them in any other category than that of snake-oil merchants supreme.

 

"They don't supply those cages to race cars in the states because they don't meet any of the design requirements from any recognized race series organizer. That's a fact".

Uhh, Hello the cage is made for a RHD car, thats why they dont meet the requirements. They do fit however. Been there done that. I have had 2 cages already. Thats also at some (not all) tracks. Thats a fact.

"As far as the braces go, whatever they do they have zero effect on suspension geometry and the resulting bumpsteer. That's a fact".

I was not talking about that at all. I was talking about the quality of the rear tiebars. So that is irrelevant.

"When a company flat out lies about what a product does, I have a hard time putting them in any other category than that of snake-oil merchants supreme".

Maybe they have proof. Have you honestly called them in Japan and spoke with there R&D team? I highly doubt it.

 

Their cages are 2mm thick (from their website). Minimum acceptable for a roll-cage main tubing according to SCCA is twice that.

As far as the bumpsteer issue, the burden of proof is on them to back up their claims.

 

[QUOTE=Ludedude,Oct 29 2004, 12:19 PM] Their cages are 2mm thick (from their website).