[RdRacer301]

I usually don't like to jack the car up on the sides (frame rails), so I usually jack up one end (front of rear).

I needed to replace the O2 sensor for LC1 today, so I took the shortcut and jacked up on the framerail right behind the FR wheel. Now, I installed the XBrace a little over a wk ago and this is the first time I jacked the car up after the install.

This is what I saw.


Before X-Brace, the rear wheel would still be on the ground, although not fully loaded. With the X-Brace, the chassis is stiffened up enough to lift the whole side of the car. I love it. I haven't seen such stiffness in a car without a cage.

[La Mer]

wow... if that isn't proof right there... thanks for that pic. i may have to start saving.

[RdRacer301]

Originally Posted by La Mer

wow... if that isn't proof right there... thanks for that pic. i may have to start saving.

Yeah, I was shocked when I saw this. I knew the selling point was gaining 0.1G on the skid pad. But, we really can't confirm that without certain instruments. Now, this picture definitely shows exactly what the brace does for the chassis. I highly doubt a rear strut bar could offer the same amount of stiffness.

[cpa]

Mine does that completely stock, Ive changed right and left side tires front and rear that way.

[ilovecarbs]

Mine does that stock too.

[RdRacer301]

really? interesting..... Mine did not do that without the brace.

[H4N]

ya mine did that stock.

[ilovecarbs]

Originally Posted by RdRacer301

really? interesting..... Mine did not do that without the brace.

Yep, I've swapped rims pretty easy because of it.

[VSGTS14]

yea that's not the effect of the xbrace.
the xbrace just makes the chassis have less body roll and flexing, it has nothing to do with how the struts compress and uncompress.

that is a result of big sway bars though, they tighten the rear up like that.

[RdRacer301]

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

yea that's not the effect of the xbrace.
the xbrace just makes the chassis have less body roll and flexing, it has nothing to do with how the struts compress and uncompress.

that is a result of big sway bars though, they tighten the rear up like that.

Intersting you say that. After I installed the 27-29 WL RSB last year, the car did not do that. I'm not saying X-Brace had any effect on the compress/rebound of the struts; but by tying the strut tops AND the middle of the chassis together, the rear section of the unibody doesn't flex as much as it did before.

But since there are numerous people that says stock chassis also is stiff enough to lift the whole side of the car by jacking up one corner, I really can't confirm this effect on all STis.

Just to clear things up. When I was at VIR 1.5months ago, I had to jack up each corner to change the wheels because it was too dark for me to find the diff and the front cross member (Battery ran out on the flashlight). When I jacked up the same point the rear wheel of the same side did not clear the ground. Only upgrade since then was the X-Brace. So, on my car, I know what it's doing, but I guess I can't say that for all STis.

[eXstasy]

Haha yeah my car did that in stock form also. I was impressed. Thank you Subaru for a stiff, albeit heavier, GD chassis.

[RdRacer301]

Did anybody's ride not do this in stock form? I'm starting to get a little concerned about my chassis.

[r12rex]

my car did this stock... I gave her a full de-swirl detail and even waxed the rims...inside and out...lifted one side expecting only one wheel to go up...nope...both! Now that I have full suspension work done...it's even easier! When I put my RCE T2s even moroso!! Ok enough...




Kind Regards,
Ryan

[70s-gearhead]

My car did this stock as well but the front tire came off the ground a little before the rear.

[VSGTS14]

i think you're just looking into it too much...but stiffer sways do aid in the stiffness of the suspension (such as being on three wheels when coming off a curb or something).