Best front subframe brace? - Page 3

Saabaru STI · 06-07-2007, 08:46 AM

Here's my take on braces.

Bruce is right in that we all tend to recommend what we have. I know I have, but i also have recommended against things.

Some of us, especially us with highly, highly modded cars, are much more anal on our purchases. I wasn't at first, and have almost replaced every first mod I bought for my car. Springs, exhaust, wheels/tires and UTEC were all my first purchases. The only thing left from my purchase is my exhaust, which I'm already shopping for a replacement

That said, the subframe brace is a mod I've been contemplating for over a year. The Do-Luck brace came highly recommended long before the M1 and RPM one even existed. Not sure about the GT Spec, but Perrin has since made one too.

I don't know enough about chassis flex to know if a one-piece design is needed, but I've always felt it can't hurt to have all the points connected. It does look like the GT Spec ties in all the important points. I think my concern with a multi-piece brace is if the chassis has any flex with corner-loading. I feel a one piece design, especially one with mutliple braces tying the bars together, would eliminate any chance of this.

All that being said, I do feel any upgraded subframe brace does 90% of what we're looking for in reduced chassis flex. I do belive weight is MUCH more important than people make it out to be. Reducing weight is one thing. Reducing front-end weight is another.

I talked to Phil about exactly why he uses the Do-Luck. He felt that once you get a roll-cage, the chassis rigidity is already very stiff. he picked the Do-Luck almost all for weight purposes.

Even though I don't have a roll-cage, I do feel the difference in stiffness from chromoly to aluminum for this piece is minimal. Everyone I know who uses a good brace all account for the same benefit.

I bet all of us, including myself, would not be able to tell the difference in chassis stiffness from most of the best subframe braces. Knowing that ahead of time, I was committed to getting an aluminum one.

I was set on a one-piece aluminum brace, which leaves me only to the Do-Luck brace and the RPM. The shop that helps build Phil's race car, World One, was the first to ever mention a subframe brace to me long before all of us had these many options. I told Garret about the RPM one and how I thought it looked stiffer than the Do-Luck.

One day I go into the shop to get my water injection looked at. VOILA! The RPM aluminum brace is in stock! Garret and I have similar views on subframe braces, hence he stocked the aluminum ones even though RPM primarily sells chromoly ones. Weight savings is too important to add the weight of chormoly IMO.

Am I happy with it? Very much so! That doesn't mean I couldn't have been equally as happy with many of the other braces. That said, I'm very happy that it's light. I can't imagine the improvement in feel to be any better than what I've experienced and I know the reduced weight will be huge.

The only downfall is the cost. The RPM aluminum brace was right around $800, which is about $300 than the Do-Luck I was looking at. I believe the GT Spec one is expensive too.

The good news is my ultra-anal decision to get this brace over all the others will not lead to it being replaced.

hiphopp · 06-07-2007, 09:24 AM

where can i buy this RPM aluminum subframe? or even the do-luck subframe?

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 06-07-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saabaru STI

Here's my take on braces.

that's a very well thought out and reasoned approach.

jmanrex · 06-07-2007, 10:53 AM

like people said before you tend to boast about what you have and i am with bruce on this one because i have the gt spec subframe and the cusco version 2 h-brace together and there is a noticable difference in the car over the stock brace/frame --and there is plenty of room for your alk's if you have them and i don't have any problems with scaping at all

just my 2 cents

Rookie84 · 06-07-2007, 11:09 AM

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. Looks like I'll be going with RPM aluminum

Drag-On · 06-07-2007, 12:58 PM

Any updates on when underbody splash guard/skidplate that is compatible with the RPM subframe will be released?

James@RPM · 06-07-2007, 01:04 PM

Its taking a little longer than I thought I am a hard guy to please we are still playing around with a few ideas. I would hope bye the end of next week we should have a finished product.

James@RPM · 06-07-2007, 01:20 PM

Just read Sabbaru STI s post the alum price is off by about $155.00 just thought I would add that.

***VSGTS14*** · 06-07-2007, 01:22 PM

yea i would buy an RPM brace over any of the others if you made a splash shield/cover that would work with it...because having the bottom closed up is important.

James@RPM · 06-07-2007, 01:26 PM

Its on its way ..

Saabaru STI · 06-07-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James@RPM

Just read Sabbaru STI s post the alum price is off by about $155.00 just thought I would add that.

I apologize. I remember $800, but that was the installed price after the 8.8% sales tax we pay in WA state.

Whatever it costed me, I'm happy with it

James@RPM · 06-07-2007, 04:44 PM

no prob

Rookie84 · 06-08-2007, 02:28 AM

I wonder if there will be a package of brace + underbody cover with a bit of a discount?

Saabaru STI · 06-08-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie84

I wonder if there will be a package of brace + underbody cover with a bit of a discount?

There has to be a surplus of both for that to make sense. At this point, the underbody cover hasn't been made yet.

Kickstand · 07-01-2007, 09:10 AM

I also am in the market for a subframe brace, are there any braces that allow usage of the stock underbody panels, or is there any way to modify the stock underbody panels so they will work.

P.S. I am leaning towards either the RPM or the GT Spec

06-07-2007, 08:46 AM	#31
Saabaru STI Grassroots STI Racer Posts: 503 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Best front subframe brace? Here's my take on braces. Bruce is right in that we all tend to recommend what we have. I know I have, but i also have recommended against things. Some of us, especially us with highly, highly modded cars, are much more anal on our purchases. I wasn't at first, and have almost replaced every first mod I bought for my car. Springs, exhaust, wheels/tires and UTEC were all my first purchases. The only thing left from my purchase is my exhaust, which I'm already shopping for a replacement That said, the subframe brace is a mod I've been contemplating for over a year. The Do-Luck brace came highly recommended long before the M1 and RPM one even existed. Not sure about the GT Spec, but Perrin has since made one too. I don't know enough about chassis flex to know if a one-piece design is needed, but I've always felt it can't hurt to have all the points connected. It does look like the GT Spec ties in all the important points. I think my concern with a multi-piece brace is if the chassis has any flex with corner-loading. I feel a one piece design, especially one with mutliple braces tying the bars together, would eliminate any chance of this. All that being said, I do feel any upgraded subframe brace does 90% of what we're looking for in reduced chassis flex. I do belive weight is MUCH more important than people make it out to be. Reducing weight is one thing. Reducing front-end weight is another. I talked to Phil about exactly why he uses the Do-Luck. He felt that once you get a roll-cage, the chassis rigidity is already very stiff. he picked the Do-Luck almost all for weight purposes. Even though I don't have a roll-cage, I do feel the difference in stiffness from chromoly to aluminum for this piece is minimal. Everyone I know who uses a good brace all account for the same benefit. I bet all of us, including myself, would not be able to tell the difference in chassis stiffness from most of the best subframe braces. Knowing that ahead of time, I was committed to getting an aluminum one. I was set on a one-piece aluminum brace, which leaves me only to the Do-Luck brace and the RPM. The shop that helps build Phil's race car, World One, was the first to ever mention a subframe brace to me long before all of us had these many options. I told Garret about the RPM one and how I thought it looked stiffer than the Do-Luck. One day I go into the shop to get my water injection looked at. VOILA! The RPM aluminum brace is in stock! Garret and I have similar views on subframe braces, hence he stocked the aluminum ones even though RPM primarily sells chromoly ones. Weight savings is too important to add the weight of chormoly IMO. Am I happy with it? Very much so! That doesn't mean I couldn't have been equally as happy with many of the other braces. That said, I'm very happy that it's light. I can't imagine the improvement in feel to be any better than what I've experienced and I know the reduced weight will be huge. The only downfall is the cost. The RPM aluminum brace was right around $800, which is about $300 than the Do-Luck I was looking at. I believe the GT Spec one is expensive too. The good news is my ultra-anal decision to get this brace over all the others will not lead to it being replaced. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

06-07-2007, 09:24 AM	#32
hiphopp STI Driver Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Posts: 200 Join Date: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Best front subframe brace? where can i buy this RPM aluminum subframe? or even the do-luck subframe?

06-07-2007, 10:53 AM	#34
jmanrex Professional STI Driver Car: 04 wrb sti Fav Mod: buying a sti and gias Location: enola, pa Posts: 495 Join Date: Feb 2004 Trader Rating: (6)	Re: Best front subframe brace? like people said before you tend to boast about what you have and i am with bruce on this one because i have the gt spec subframe and the cusco version 2 h-brace together and there is a noticable difference in the car over the stock brace/frame --and there is plenty of room for your alk's if you have them and i don't have any problems with scaping at all just my 2 cents

06-07-2007, 11:09 AM	#35
Rookie84 Spec C Club Car: '93 RX-7 Fav Mod: LS6 and T-56 swap :D Location: Columbus, OH/Northern VA Posts: 1,461 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: Best front subframe brace? Thanks everyone for the recommendations. Looks like I'll be going with RPM aluminum

06-07-2007, 12:58 PM	#36
Drag-On Grassroots STI Racer Car: '06 Aspen White STI Fav Mod: RCE Tarmac 2 Location: So Cal Posts: 565 Join Date: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: Best front subframe brace? Any updates on when underbody splash guard/skidplate that is compatible with the RPM subframe will be released?

06-07-2007, 01:04 PM	#37
James@RPM Amateur STI Driver Posts: 27 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Best front subframe brace? Its taking a little longer than I thought I am a hard guy to please we are still playing around with a few ideas. I would hope bye the end of next week we should have a finished product.

06-07-2007, 01:20 PM	#38
James@RPM Amateur STI Driver Posts: 27 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Best front subframe brace? Just read Sabbaru STI s post the alum price is off by about $155.00 just thought I would add that.

06-07-2007, 01:22 PM	#39
*VSGTS14* Muller Chevrolet Car: 08 Chevy 2500HD Fav Mod: a new 08 STi Location: Milford, NJ Posts: 9,851 Join Date: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	Re: Best front subframe brace? yea i would buy an RPM brace over any of the others if you made a splash shield/cover that would work with it...because having the bottom closed up is important.

06-07-2007, 01:26 PM	#40
James@RPM Amateur STI Driver Posts: 27 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Best front subframe brace? Its on its way ..

06-07-2007, 04:44 PM	#42
James@RPM Amateur STI Driver Posts: 27 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Best front subframe brace? no prob

06-08-2007, 02:28 AM	#43
Rookie84 Spec C Club Car: '93 RX-7 Fav Mod: LS6 and T-56 swap :D Location: Columbus, OH/Northern VA Posts: 1,461 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: Best front subframe brace? I wonder if there will be a package of brace + underbody cover with a bit of a discount?

07-01-2007, 09:10 AM	#45
Kickstand Professional STI Racer Car: '07 SWP STi Fav Mod: 30k service Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 772 Join Date: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Best front subframe brace? I also am in the market for a subframe brace, are there any braces that allow usage of the stock underbody panels, or is there any way to modify the stock underbody panels so they will work. P.S. I am leaning towards either the RPM or the GT Spec This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.