[Sti491]

I installed Creative Werks CNC aluminum fender braces today. Actually I was going to buy TIC braces but they were out of stock... They said more were on the way.

I am not making any claim as to which brace which is better.. a one piece chunk of aluminum like mine or a welded piece like TIC. After doing this I suspect either would do the job nicely.

I won't go thru the entire install... that's been covered already by Rube 23 in the "how to" sticky (many thanks to that great write up Rube!) I do recommend that you read that and other posts before you do it.

My only insight is it is REALLY EASY, too easy to dent your fenders! There is just so little room to work in there. The OEM braces (wet noodle, very easy to bend by hand) were originally bolted in probably by a robot before the car was dipped or spray primered. So the damn bolts are painted tight.

When they break loose after all the force you can muster in a tight, confined area they do so with a "snap" and crack... the wrench moves pretty quick... So even after reading the posts on how to be careful not dinging your fenders my wrench slipped on the first bolt and hit the foil thin fender. Fortunately no ding.

I started to get a headache that only got worse after that... how do you spell S-T-R-E-S-S! The balance of this 3 hr or so install was done with mechanics gloves and contorsionist positions always with two hands on the box wrench... one being sure it din't slip off and one doing the Arnold Schwartsinigger thing PRAYIN' I didn't slip again.

All went well. Took it for a short drive as I had other stuff to get done. Well, you always wonder how pshycocrazy your brain can be after you spend $ and skinned knuckles to hopefully make your car better.... really wondering did it make a difference or am I imagining this.

Well, it's hard to believe that a lousy foot long piece of metal could really do anything.... IT DOES. I have no clue if the car will go around corners any better or "turn in" better or what not... what I can say is the car feels like it's carved out of granite compared to before. Hard to believe. It just feels WAY more solid. When I 45 degree'd it into my driveway that has a hump in it my winshield frame nearly always makes a crack noise from something around the firewall flexing. This time...quiet.

Can't wait to drive it some more. So far, it's worth the $92.50 and the four tylenol I needed to deal with the stress headache!

[Greg]

Thanks for the review. I've been thinking about this mod as well. Not for handling but to quiet the cabin and reduce the windshield creaking. I'd love to get your comments after about a week of ownership.

I was thinking about going with the GT SPec version. Its massive over kill for the street but its not that much more for what you are getting. I need to remove one of my fenders to get it repainted so I could install it then. Still collecting info on the GT Spec and others.

[Island Style]

installed the Offensive Racing fender braces recently...

Night and day difference after the install...as was previously stated...the car feels very "solid" now. As with above...whenever I entered or left my driveway,there would be major creaking...not anymore...

I also noticed that my car feels much more stable around corners...

Here is something we did for the install...after searching NASIOC/I-Club...all we basically found were two ways that people installed these braces..

1. Remove the fenders (safest/longest)
2. Do the pray method from below...

Well, one of our creative friends did something new...He unbolted one of the headlight bolts on top, proceeded to remove the three top fender bolts, and the two bolts in the door jamb...

By carefully pulling up and pulling over the fender from the frame, you can access the bolts hardest to reach...the first car took about two hours...because we were figuringit out...after that, each car took about 1 hour or so...the lower bolts can be easily reached as well...

For safety reasons, use two people, one to hold the fender away from the frame using either gloves or a towel...while the other wrenches...

we didn't have to remove the splash guards or anything using this method...it just took a little bit of sweating on the first one to figure out that it would not mess up the fender at all...and it doesn't...if the person holding it out does their job...

good luck.

BTW...we had zero dents in anything using this method, and all went back like normal.

[Sti491]

Well, it has not been a week but I drove A LOT around town today, probably 50 miles or so.

I am amazed a little brace can make such a HUGE difference. Basically it complements my other suspension upgrades. It's like I just added a ton of stiffening. It's just hard to believe.

I can't honestly say I can drive it any faster.... maybe,, but in feel factor alone it feels like my car must have cost $5,000 more because the ride feels so much more quality, firm and solid. So far I'd say it's a great "feel good" mod that should make a difference around corners and over bumps.

[Got2Boostit2]

Amazing isnt it? I found it hard to describe at first. But after a few autocross and track days, the front does feel more connected and stiffer.

Another good change to make to our cars.

[BayRain]

I am having a hard time spending $100 at the moment on these braces. I have heard mixed reviews about them. I have heard it range from people saying they improve turn in drastically, responsiveness and it is the best mod they have done...to people saying they can't feel a difference at all. Usually, I guess people say they can't tell if it does anything except make the car "feel" better. Which we all know is completely subjective.

Is the improved "feel" really worth that 100 bucks? The 95 spent on bushings was absolutely worth it. But does it change the reaction of the car that much? I don't know and for now I am really un-decided about these cowl braces.

[Got2Boostit2]

Originally Posted by BayRain

I am having a hard time spending $100 at the moment on these braces. I have heard mixed reviews about them. I have heard it range from people saying they improve turn in drastically, responsiveness and it is the best mod they have done...to people saying they can't feel a difference at all. Usually, I guess people say they can't tell if it does anything except make the car "feel" better. Which we all know is completely subjective.

Is the improved "feel" really worth that 100 bucks? The 95 spent on bushings was absolutely worth it. But does it change the reaction of the car that much? I don't know and for now I am really un-decided about these cowl braces.

BayRain,

The biggest difference I noticed was when autocrossing and during my last track day. I had felt what I will call a disturbance in the steering wheel that was not there after the braces were installed. It's hard to describe, kinda like a "be there". My car feels more solid/connected than my friends 2006. I attribute it to the added stiffness in the front of the car.

You will not notice much for daily driving. For track days and autocross, I'm gonna say the "C" note is worth it IMHO.

If you have the opportunity to drive a car at the track with and without, take the opportunity.

Blue

Note, there are a lot of opinions here that aren't worth a darn.....this may be one of them. But I'm not saying it cuz I spent the money. I "feel" the car is a lot more solid. No equipment available to measure body hertz/flex etc.
Also, your car has way more stiffness parts than I do, so you may not "feel" the difference.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by BayRain

I am having a hard time spending $100 at the moment on these braces. I have heard mixed reviews about them. I have heard it range from people saying they improve turn in drastically, responsiveness and it is the best mod they have done...to people saying they can't feel a difference at all. Usually, I guess people say they can't tell if it does anything except make the car "feel" better. Which we all know is completely subjective.

Is the improved "feel" really worth that 100 bucks? The 95 spent on bushings was absolutely worth it. But does it change the reaction of the car that much? I don't know and for now I am really un-decided about these cowl braces.

If you spent $95 on bushings, and noticed it, then you'll notice the beefier cowl stays.

[Island Style]

It's noticable to me...The Offensive Racing braces were so much sturdier than the stock...I would have picked up the GT Spec Triangle brace...but the $94 price for these on NASIOC were too hard to resist...

My suspension setup prior to adding the fender braces were:

Cusco Coilovers
Cusco Front/Rear Strutbars
Cusco V2 Brace
Perrin Front/Rear Endlinks
Rear Perrin swaybar w/heavy duty mounts
Prothane Steering Rack Bushings
Whiteline Motorsports ALK

then I added the fender braces...and I still felt the difference.

Like someone said above, I noticed a more "solid" feeling around corners...and my car hardly creaks at all when I go up a steep incline at an angle...with the stock "aluminum shed" material...it creaked quiet a bit...Turning seems to have created an even more "neutral" feeling than what I thought was neutral before...The other day, just for fun, I took a 90 degree corner doing about 30...it was like on rails...there was a slight chirp of my tire as I accelerated out...but the thing was solid...

Highly recommended.

[krees23]

I installed the TiC braces and you notice it most when going around corners really fast. Before, the steering felt "less precise" when modulating the throttle. Now... it's like a rail.

[rkevans]

The price doesn't bother me.
The installation doesn't bother me.
The chance that they won't make much of a difference doesn't bother me.

Being bumped to F Prepared in SCCA Solo prevents me from doing it.

Rick

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by rkevans

The price doesn't bother me.
The installation doesn't bother me.
The chance that they won't make much of a difference doesn't bother me.

Being bumped to F Prepared in SCCA Solo prevents me from doing it.

Rick

Hence we have to find the exact part that is used in the 07 STI Limited.

Chris

[kursplat]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Hence we have to find the exact part that is used in the 07 STI Limited.

Chris

for an ST* class wouldn't we need subaru to issue a TCB, or whatever it is, stating these supersede the old part ?

[IGoFast1589]

this is a really intresting thread is these just for the older sti's though?

[WolfPlayer]

SOA '07 Fender Braces ...

https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...oducts_id=1149

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