sorry, dont know. contact s2x

 

I just put on the X-brace and Cusco on last night while spending a significant time tinkering around the car.

I took a good look at the mounting points of the Cusco.

It does seem like the rear suspension points are secured in a way that could flex and rotate. Securing them with a brace on top of that point, sandwiching it in place may have a functional benefit.

Still snowing so I don't have any opinions on what the braces actually do.

 

i was kidding all of you. these braces are worthless. save ur money

 

The mounting points of the X-brace reinforces the existing thin metal factory struts. The bolts that hold those thin metal plates in place are very shallow. The supplied X-brace bolts are appropriately longer to account for the thickness of the X-brace. The wide washers also help tack the front suspension pieces down.

Once again, I don't know what it does but it theoretically would stiffen things.

 

Thanks to the OP for starting the thread!

I had my S2X 4pt. STB installed earlier this week.

I had it powder coated too, like some of the others on this forum. Here's my pics:


see more images

And here's my evaluation:

Since I already had and like the X-Brace (Rick's Billet X-Brace), I was expecting more of the same, which for reference is: slightly quicker turn in response, and significantly less shuddering on bumpy roads. However, I was kinda surprised at the difference.

On flat smooth streets when I turn quickly the car seems to stay flatter. (Before all you backyard physics professors and rocket scientists flame me by saying that isn't possible, let me try to explain what I mean. )

Now the car goes evenly and smoothly right to a certain amount of body roll and then stays there until I straighten when it evenly and smoothly returns to upright. Previously to STB it has done some oscillation, a bumpy or bouncing or whatever you want to call it when it got around the full extent of body roll for that turn. Also when straightening the wheel and getting on the gas, it used to similarly bounce a bit. This extra bouncing doesn't happen now with the STB and so it feels flatter. I'm not saying that the body rolls less, just that feels more stable and flatter.

I think this is what people refer to when they talk about an undampened spring (the body flex) vs. a dampened spring (the wheel suspension) working.

From the cockpit, the car is easier to drive, steers more responsively, is less bouncy or jarring in response to driver input, and feels flatter when making quick steering changes, both turning tighter and straightening out, and also getting on or off the throttle especially mid turn.

I didn't notice much difference on bumpy roads, though all the bumpiness now seems to be all in the mid or rear of the car, so that's what I'll attack next with more bracing...

I'm very happy with the effectiveness of the S2X 4pt. STB. I'm also very happy with the fit and quality of the bar, the install went very well, a perfect fit. I also like the (understated) look with the bar powder coated semi-gloss black.