Lower strut brace

1. ukgaz Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2008 Maidenhead Posts: 683 Saxo VtR '52

   #1 3rd September 2009, 17:42

   Has anyone used the OMP lower brace? Are they any good, are they easy to fit?
   
   Currently got a raceland one on but was a nightmare to get on there. And now bent quite badly.
2. user_4681 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2004 Grimsby United Kingdom (England) Posts: 5489 SUPERCHARGED saxo vts

   #2 3rd September 2009, 18:03

   ive one on my vts. wouldnt want to be without it
   
   its got a few scrapes but im very low. fit nice when new. nor removed since.
3. user_36563 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 anywere lol Posts: 253 2001 saxo vts 1993 vw polo

   #3 3rd September 2009, 18:06

   you running a omp lower brace down 60mm? does it bottom owt much? cheers
4. DanT Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 P'boro Posts: 1619 R27 Clio

   #4 3rd September 2009, 18:27

   I have an omp lower and im down 50mm. It has never scraped on anything at all........except and unfortunate live rabbit
   
   Wouldnt be without mine either. Wasnt too tricky to fit. Swan neck socket set ftw.
5. user_7256 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 7657

   #5 3rd September 2009, 18:43

   it was a bitch to fit, but best mod for £.
   
   As others have said, i certainly wouldnt be without mine.
6. Add91289 Established Member Joined: Aug 2008 In The Peak District Posts: 2348 Icelandic VT?

   #6 3rd September 2009, 18:47

   no personal exp but iv herd it improves the handling substantially. much more effective then the upper strut brace
7. ukgaz Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2008 Maidenhead Posts: 683 Saxo VtR '52

   #7 3rd September 2009, 18:55

   hmmm, think i will be changing from raceland to omp
8. user_36563 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 anywere lol Posts: 253 2001 saxo vts 1993 vw polo

   #8 3rd September 2009, 19:13

   good good. hoping it will make a bit off a differance. al get the omp one as it dont hang as low as the sparco iirc. cheers all
9. ukgaz Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2008 Maidenhead Posts: 683 Saxo VtR '52

   #9 3rd September 2009, 19:20

   i think the raceland one is slightly short and considering we had to drill bigger holds was not a good thing
10. DanT Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 P'boro Posts: 1619 R27 Clio

    #10 3rd September 2009, 19:27

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ukgaz i think the raceland one is slightly short and considering we had to drill bigger holds was not a good thing

    LOL. Raceland stuff never fits right
11. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

    #11 3rd September 2009, 19:30

    i was thinking about one of these... but the fact that my downpipe catches on pretty much anything, kinda puts me off the idea!
    
    i got an upper one, and noticed a different when iw as down 50mm with it.
    and driven other cars with lower ones! and have noticed a difference over, say mine being a standered one.
12. quickkwak07 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2008 norwich Posts: 317 1999 vtr

    #12 3rd September 2009, 20:08

    would a lower one be ok considering im down 50mm on 15s with 45 profile tyres and i park curb???
13. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #13 3rd September 2009, 20:11

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by L16_vts good good. hoping it will make a bit off a differance. al get the omp one as it dont hang as low as the sparco iirc. cheers all

    Other way round
    sparco is higher than omp
    but is shit I swapped mine for an omp after a few weeks
14. user_36563 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 anywere lol Posts: 253 2001 saxo vts 1993 vw polo

    #14 3rd September 2009, 20:41

    sparco it is then lol. cheers alex
15. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #15 3rd September 2009, 22:06

    you did read the bit where i said there shit yes
16. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #16 3rd September 2009, 22:11

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by quickkwak07 would a lower one be ok considering im down 50mm on 15s with 45 profile tyres and i park curb???

    I'd say you'd be twatting it almost constantly.
    
    
    
    
    How are you guys lowered not catching things? My car catches on stuff and I'm standard height.... Welsh roads perhaps?
17. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #17 3rd September 2009, 22:17

    im 50mm down with an omp
    
    just have to take it steady n rough roads
18. JamesRm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Aug 2008 Liverpool Posts: 15517 Saxo VTR

    #18 3rd September 2009, 22:17

    When i buy by upper brace (some time) i will also be getting one, believe the 2 together make quite a difference
19. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #19 3rd September 2009, 22:20

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaXo_vtr123 When i buy by upper brace (some time) i will also be getting one, believe the 2 together make quite a difference

    not really
    i barely noticed my upper tbh
    on a hard sprung car there more beneficial tbh
20. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #20 3rd September 2009, 22:27

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AlexB im 50mm down with an omp just have to take it steady n rough roads

    Parking on kerbs though?
    
    
    Only asking as I haven't fitting my lower brace to my VTS yet. But it catches on stuff at standard height. Particularly kerbs.
21. E3D Established Member Joined: Aug 2007 Tunbridge Wells Posts: 1465 Furio 1.4 2002

    #21 3rd September 2009, 22:28

    im down 50mm all round, does it scrap when u drive up kurbs to park? south east roads are crap compared to the west mids which put me off alot.
22. JamesRm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Aug 2008 Liverpool Posts: 15517 Saxo VTR

    #22 3rd September 2009, 22:29

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AlexB not really i barely noticed my upper tbh on a hard sprung car there more beneficial tbh

    I know the bottom one makes more of a difference, but i thought when they where coupled together they made a really noticable difference
    
    Learn something new everyday
23. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #23 3rd September 2009, 22:42

    The top brace is only noticable when the chassis begins to flex over and above the normal amount. As that's what it holds steady.
    
    The lower brace is attached to a more flexible component so makes a more noticable difference to most people.
    
    A decent set of tyres on standard springs is enough to flex the chassis enough to notice the effects of the upper brace to be honest.
24. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #24 3rd September 2009, 22:45

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr_P Parking on kerbs though? Only asking as I haven't fitting my lower brace to my VTS yet. But it catches on stuff at standard height. Particularly kerbs.

    dont park as far over lol
25. JamesRm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Aug 2008 Liverpool Posts: 15517 Saxo VTR

    #25 3rd September 2009, 22:48

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr_P The top brace is only noticable when the chassis begins to flex over and above the normal amount. As that's what it holds steady. The lower brace is attached to a more flexible component so makes a more noticable difference to most people. A decent set of tyres on standard springs is enough to flex the chassis enough to notice the effects of the upper brace to be honest.

    At the risk of making myself look a arse, do bushes make a difference to the effects of strut braces?
26. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #26 3rd September 2009, 22:49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AlexB dont park as far over lol

    I don't, Don't park on kerbs either as such. Only when I stop outside the house for a sec or two. Which is once in a blue moon.
    
    Won't give a fuck once I've moved back home next month though. NO kerbs
27. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #27 3rd September 2009, 22:52

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaXo_vtr123 At the risk of making myself look a arse, do bushes make a difference to the effects of strut braces?

    they dont effect the brace no
    
    however say a stiffer front wishbone bush was fitted then the stress gets transfered to the chassis more
    so you would then notice more difference with the brace to stop the extra stress flexing the chassis
28. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #28 3rd September 2009, 22:54

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaXo_vtr123 At the risk of making myself look a arse, do bushes make a difference to the effects of strut braces?

    In a way yes, the sameway as all parts of a suspension sytem make a difference to the others.
    
    A standard bush will flex more than an aftermarket bush so stiffens up the suspension flexing. So the strut brace will be keeping the gemoetry of a selection of stiffer components the same instead of a bunch of 'loose' components.
    
    So although the bushes won't essentially affect what the brace does, it will benefit with the brace.
    
    If you get me?
    
    Or am I blabbering shit?
29. JamesRm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Aug 2008 Liverpool Posts: 15517 Saxo VTR

    #29 3rd September 2009, 23:04

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mr_P In a way yes, the sameway as all parts of a suspension sytem make a difference to the others. A standard bush will flex more than an aftermarket bush so stiffens up the suspension flexing. So the strut brace will be keeping the gemoetry of a selection of stiffer components the same instead of a bunch of 'loose' components. So although the bushes won't essentially affect what the brace does, it will benefit with the brace. If you get me? Or am I blabbering shit?

    No, i understand. You certainatly no what you talking about suspension wise
30. user_10473 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 Swansea Posts: 4946 Bianca White Peugeot 106 S2 Rallye, Saxo VTS

    #30 3rd September 2009, 23:07

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaXo_vtr123 No, i understand. You certainatly no what you talking about suspension wise

    Lol, I wish
    
    You have just reminded me I need to order some polybushes
31. ric_b3 Established Member Joined: Mar 2009 essex Posts: 1041 Saxo 1.1 animal

    #31 4th September 2009, 13:06

    I've just put mine in yesterday and I've only got standard springs and both made great differances
32. user_36563 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 anywere lol Posts: 253 2001 saxo vts 1993 vw polo

    #32 4th September 2009, 13:17

    happy with them both then?
33. ric_b3 Established Member Joined: Mar 2009 essex Posts: 1041 Saxo 1.1 animal

    #33 4th September 2009, 16:18

    Defo