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Post by V6 on Sept 12, 2016 7:45:31 GMT
Right, next up on my learning curve... chassis bracing! When going down a particularly badly choppy and rutted road, I notice some chassis flex. So I am moving chassis bracing up the agenda. But what to do and where first? 1. I am hoping to get a roll bar which will work on a mk1 with a glass rear screen. So far GC seems to tick that box. Other ideas welcome. 2. However I was also told under chassis bracing may be more important, due to how the fives suspension works. If you have any more info on this please share it. 3. Obviously there are engine bay strut braces available too. Which ones will fit around throttle bodies? (for when I finally save up for them). When recommending something please bear in mind: build quality, rust resistance, weight penalty v rigidity gained. Thanks again all you five experts  |
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Post by moro on Sept 12, 2016 8:20:24 GMT
Frame rail braces make a very noticeable difference. I wouldn't lose my sleep over engine bay strut brace as MX5 doesn't have so much load on strut towers as MacPherson strut-equipped cars where strut braces are really beneficial.
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Post by myothercarsa2cv on Sept 12, 2016 8:38:34 GMT
As I understand it: because the bit between the front and the back of the car is lacking in any kind of structure (where the doors are) and it's basically flat, that's where the twisting will be. Anything you can do to stop that will help. Obviously a full cage would be just the ticket but a pain to live with day to day. I have frame rails and a rollover bar and it feels good, however when you put on the hardtop you do notice the difference a roof makes! If you don't mind climbing over them, door bars would also help. I doubt a rollover bar would make the car noticeably stiffer than an OEM cabin brace, but they do add safety. Just make sure your head is well away from it. My TR Lane GPD works with my glass rear screen just fine, even if you don't unzip it.
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Post by Rickster on Sept 12, 2016 9:26:34 GMT
I have GCF roll bar and frame rails and its pretty good i think, butterfly brace or some other way of linking frame rails would help also but it depends on how much you want to spend. there are lots of options for bracing on mx5 which makes me think that no one is completely sure of what is best!!
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Post by joeytalent on Sept 12, 2016 9:36:02 GMT
I have a TR Lane roll bar and door bars. The door bars made the biggest difference to the feel of the car, as like Mr 2CV said, there isn't much longitudal bracing on the 5.
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Post by atlex on Sept 12, 2016 9:44:22 GMT
GC and others make front and rear braces too, which are beneficial.. (they are whipping up a rear lower brace for today as it happens) there are also more complex braces available elsewhere. i.e. butterfly braces mentioned above.
Also you get front fender bracing.. look up"boss frog arms". others also make similar things. I think Cobalt does as well as Garage Star and others.
A correctly installed rollbar will also give great rear bracing.
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Post by atlex on Sept 12, 2016 9:50:49 GMT
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Post by V6 on Sept 12, 2016 10:00:11 GMT
I am happy to climb over door bars if they are a key element of making the car better to drive. They will just add to the sense of occasion as well.
It will be great to get some feedback from anyone who tracks these hard or even race these. I guess the more abuse gets thrown at them the easier it will be to tell if they work.
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Post by Rickster on Sept 12, 2016 10:09:30 GMT
I am happy to climb over door bars if they are a key element of making the car better to drive. They will just add to the sense of occasion as well. It will be great to get some feedback from anyone who tracks these hard or even race these. I guess the more abuse gets thrown at them the easier it will be to tell if they work. Id like to hear more about the GCF door bars, I'd have to be sure they provided a good benefit if i am going to get my overweight, unfit, 50 year old body clambering over them every time!!! |
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Post by Horney on Sept 12, 2016 10:13:51 GMT
Door bars will 100% help. The door opening is always the weak point in chassis rigidity in a 2 door vert.
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Post by Rickster on Sept 12, 2016 10:21:12 GMT
I wonder if you could get frame rails, butterfly, front and rear upper and lower subframe/suspension braces, wing braces, roll bar and one more that ran down the sills and linked front and rear subframes and the frame rails altogether you could replace all the panels with plastic and never worry about rust ever again!!?
Some one is going to tell me that this is already been done now!
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Post by Rickster on Sept 12, 2016 10:23:08 GMT
Door bars will 100% help. The door opening is always the weak point in chassis rigidity in a 2 door vert. Yup, but will I look like a Canoe getting in and out - and don't say I already do!!  |
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Post by V6 on Sept 12, 2016 11:08:41 GMT
The Cusco front to rear door bars were hardly intrusive at all. But as some say they may not work with a glass rear window.
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Post by atlex on Sept 12, 2016 11:15:07 GMT
The Cusco front to rear door bars were hardly intrusive at all. But as some say they may not work with a glass rear window. Door bars shouldn't be anywhere near the rear glass window lol. |
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Post by myothercarsa2cv on Sept 12, 2016 12:01:09 GMT
I wonder if you could get frame rails, butterfly, front and rear upper and lower subframe/suspension braces, wing braces, roll bar and one more that ran down the sills and linked front and rear subframes and the frame rails altogether you could replace all the panels with plastic and never worry about rust ever again!!? Some one is going to tell me that this is already been done now! None of the panels that can be easily replaced are structural though so you could replace with plastic anyway |
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le sigh