When I was in Austin last weekend, I was driving Sondra's car around. We went on some spirited hill country drives and I kept complaining to her that her car just felt loose. The steering was nowhere near as tight and precise as Scarlet's. The only suspension pieces I have on the car are the Comptech STB (which I don't think does much for corner handling, just a little smoother over bumpy roads, etc) and the Spoon x-brace. When I put my x-brace on, it was in the middle of winter, so I didn't have the luxury of driving the much just before putting the brace on.

Now I see the difference in steering feel that many have said was so dramatic. At least one person, Jason and Scott at King come to mind, that the x-brace is irrelevant and can't possibly make the steering more precise and turn in response even more crisp. I'm here to say that those two bars being the only suspension modifications made a HUGE difference between my car and Sondra's car.

This is an honest assessment of what I truly felt in driving a car with and without the x-brace. Her car may very well have other issues, but in comparison, the steering wheel was just dead. In fact, it made me nevous at times and I know how the S2000 handles with over 4000 miles on the track and plenty of hills and twisties...

Would love to have honest appraisals of your feelings of this suspension mod. It was hard for me to determine a difference in feel, until now. Now, I am a believer...


Thoughts?

[Edited by gregstevens on 06-06-2001 at 02:35 PM]

 

After driving with the Mingster's brace for several weeks now, I have to say, you are correct. Quite an amazing thing how it tightens up everything and makes the steering much more predictable. I can see why they wouldn't put such a bracing at the factory, increasing rigidty and effecting a little tighter ride - but that is all minimal in my book - it doesnt ride any harder, just better. Shameless plug - far from it. I wish the guys you mentioned would be as convinced as the rest of us. Glad you got the comparison car to test, I've yet to drive another s2k without one since I've had mine. Very happy with the product though.

 

A valid assessment, Greg... but don't rule out the many other factors that can create the sensations you felt. I'm not debating you, just going off my experiences with tuning and racing - strut tower bars help on strut suspension when all the load is transferred through the strut. However our strut towers are merely shock towers, and the true suspension loads are fed into the chassis elsewhere for the top A-Arms. The X-Brace is more apt to be the cause of any benefit you're feeling because it actually ties together the lower suspension pick-up points and x-bracing is about as strong as it gets... however, I feel there just isn't that much lacking in stiffness in that region of the subframe.

However, I'll be the first to admit that there are always gains to be made whether in power or stiffness or anything. So the X-brace certainly has it's effects. Don't forget the effects of tire pressure and alignment in your assessment, Greg.

That said, I'm glad that you feel a benefit from your braces and that it helps you enjoy your car... that's what we're all here for, right?

 

Jason, when I put the STB bar on last summer, I really didn't notice any difference in handling, I only felt like things were smoother going over bumpy surfaces with offset pot holes, etc.

But with the x-brace, I found what I will credit to the x-brace for, a very significant difference in turn in and steering preciseness. The STB I don't think comes into any serious play when discussing handling...it only smooths things out on bad roads. And don't forget, when I put the STB on last summer, I was driving just before and after installation, therefore would able to note more differences which I only found as noted above.

And yes, I concede your point about their being other differences that MAY account for this handling disparity. But honestly, the difference was that dramatic, I would hope that stock-to-stock S2000's wouldn't have this much variance in turn in and steering feel. It was almost scary!

Made me do this ----> a couple of times!




Additionally, I don't push other people's cars that hard, maybe about 7-8/10ths, I would have pooped in my pantalones at the limit, but I am never at 10/10ths on the street in my car either....

 

I lot of us made similar observations a long time ago.. I guess no one was listening.

In fact I was going to recap the handling I have experienced, the mods I made, and the results in another couple of threads, but they turned to shit so I have given up on sharing for now.

[Edited by cdelena on 06-06-2001 at 02:42 PM]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cdelena
[B]I lot of us made similar observations a long time ago.. I guess no one was listening.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cdelena
[B]I lot of us made similar observations a long time ago.. I guess no one was listening.

 

Chris
Please PM me with your handeling thoughts as I am extremely interested in this subject, and am quite sick of the crap that is being slung in some of the other threads with suspension topics (not this one though)
Thanks
Mark

 

Chris,

It seems that I am not the only one that feels the way I do....advise away!!!

See how I don't call it "consult-ing"....I don't want you to start charging for your thoughts!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gregstevens
[B]And yes, I concede your point about their being other differences that MAY account for this handling disparity.