^^^

 

Well, here goes...

I noticed a huge difference after installing the original DiGrappa X-Brace.

I did before and after installation testing on Nichols Canyon Rd between Hollywood Blvd and Mulholland Dr in the Hollywood Hills. This is the twistiest, most torn up road I know of (it's been under recent repair).

The car was much easier to control while dodging the bumps and holes, especially when shifting and heel/toeing.

The biggest difference is when only one front wheel goes over a bump. Before the x-brace, the car would lurch hard to the opposite side, but with the brace, the car tracks straight. The difference is very impressive.

So impressive, in fact, that I've left the x-brace on the car, even though it blocks the space for the engine to drop down. I can see with my own eyes that it is blocking the path, and I have never seen any proof that the x-brace is safe in this respect. I have read a lot of uninformed opinions about it, though.

-Pete

 

I noticed a HUGE difference after installing my Muz brace. Going straight or slight turns weren't any different, but hard turns where I would normally feel my car wanting to fishtail felt more stable. Especially when you hit a bump or pothole that would normally spin you out on that turn.

 

uhhhh.... if you say so.

Bumps that would normally "spin you out" no longer "spin you out" after the x-brace?

Saying that an x-brace will either reduce oversteer or induce understeer?!?

If that is happening you probably need to get your alignment checked.

 

I have an original Digrappa and I noticed the difference immediately. The speed bumps in the parking lot at the shop where I installed it were the first test. The car felt much more solid going over the speedbumps at an angle and most of the creaks had gone silent.

Then, there's a particularly fun merge ramp near the shop, but it has a couple of whoops that would always unsettle me at the end of the curve. After the x-brace install I went straight to it and the car kept its composure. It seemed like night and day.

The Digrappa is sold now, and when it comes off I'll be trying a ScienceofSpeed brace. We'll see how it stacks up.

 

I forgot about that benefit

 

The X-Brace is not going to give you a 'noticeable' difference on the S, unless you autox or otherwise thrash the heck out of your suspension and tires on a regular basis; and I'm not talking about taking the entrance ramp to the highway at 100 either.

The S has a very limited amount of cowl shake to begin with, so you won't see a huge improvement there. Now, I don't own a x brace for my S(yet), but from past experience with other small drop-tops (miata, porsche 911, rx7), you will see a difference when you start drifting, and/or you start to lift on one side of the vehicle or the other.

Just my 2 cents.

-MikeyG

 

My experience is the exact opposite. Of course, during an autox I don't have much time to think about how much an x-brace helped

When you're "thrashing the heck" out of the suspension the effects of the x-brace, to me, are less noticable. The ultimate grip, understeer, oversteer, etc don't seem to have changed. But the stiffness was improved in the day-to-day stuff.

 

We've been selling the Whiteline X-Brace for a number of years now and it is one of our most popular items. So popular in fact that demand always outstrips supply.

From customer feedback over the years, comments in various forums and personal experience I can tell you that it does make a noticeable difference to stability and steering response. Either that or our customers all have a tendency to be liberal with the truth (which I doubt ).

Most notable comments...

Improved stability over corrugated surfaces.
Improved stability in hard turns.
Improved steering response.
Mild reduction in understeer on roundabouts and off-camber surfaces.
Less wandering on ridged, grooved and uneven road surfaces.

Our latest feedback was from a customer this morning who was pleased that he could indeed notice the difference as he was worried after reading some of the misinformation on the board.

A quick search pulls up plenty of opinions on the Whiteline X-Brace. I can not speak for any other brand as I have not tried them.

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...hiteline+xbrace

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...t=muz+whiteline

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...t=muz+whiteline

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...t=muz+whiteline

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...t=muz+whiteline

 

Car feels more stable and steering response is greatly improved,with Muz Xbrace,