tritium_pie

I installed my Muz x-brace recently, and fortunately my mechanic was cool enough to let me use his lift and tools... what am I saying?? the guy pretty much did the whole install himself, all I did was hold the x-brace up. (he didn't even charge me-- one of the perks of being a loyal customer)

so anyway, anybody else who installed an x-brace (not necessarily the Muz one) find you had to kind of tweak it a bit to get it to fit? I'm sure that after 19K miles on twisty, bumpy roads, and even once accidentally driving the R-rear tire up and off of a curb in SF that my frame was ever so slightly tweaked and the x-brace itself was straight.

it took a bit of tweaking to get it to fit, namely loosening a few of the bolts on the triangular bracket at the L-front part of the brace (and tightening them later), and then the L-rear and R-front bolt went in fine but the R-rear part was ever-so-slightly out of line, so we had to get a VERY large flathead screwdriver (more like a straight pry bar, really) and brace it against a nearby bolt on the frame and ever so slightly bend the x-brace toward the hole-- probably >2mm-- just enough to have it straight in to hand tighten it. remember: you DO NOT want to force these bolts in because if you strip the threads in the frame, you are f*cked. it is for this reason that I highly recommend anyone installing an x-brace to do it on a lift. I couldn't imagine having to do this on my back on the ground, and it certainly wouldn't have been a 1-man job. but anyway, after that we tightened them up with a torque wrench. due to the lateral tension of the x-brace with all the bolts in, some of the bolts we had hand-tightened already were tight, so I can't say that they had 28lb-ft of tension inwards, but I'm not too worried about them backing out and coming loose.

now, for driving impressions, I took the car out on a very twisty road that I've driven many times before at speed, and I'd say the car does feel a bit more settled, particularly on sharp turns where the asphalt is a bit bumpy/wrinkly. the cool thing was that on the way to this road in front of me was a 'Vette (probably '01 or '02) who got it in his head that he was going to lose me, and I was able to stick to pretty much the same distance from him the whole time (a safe distance, of course-- 2 car lengths with us going approx 45-60mph)-- his V8 worked for him on the short straights, but where he'd be scrubbing speed just before a curve I was simply holding the throttle steady and f*ckin tossing my S around the S-curves (pun intended ) with ever increasing confidence. (in reality, it was probably 8/10ths-- only a bit of rear end sliding). but my S2k just felt flat and planted. dry road with S-02s helped too. the 'Vette eventually pulled over and let me pass. so yeah, I'd say I could feel a real difference with the x-brace, even if the difference was mostly in my ego/bravado. (no, seriously, I did feel a difference-- the car was a lot more settled and secure feeling)

anyway, sorry for the long post. had a lot to say.

beanolo

hmm.. i jus installed it with jacks on a level surface.. didnt have any probs or notice it being uneven.. hmm.

problem_child

arent u parting out ur car soon???
sell me the muz x-brace!!!
dibs

beanolo

problem_child

thetz99

I had one bolt that I had to shimmy into place on my install. I think i used a pry bar to get leverage on the bottom frame I needed to flex into place. Another person probably would have made the install easier.

I didn't notice alot of handling difference because I already had a strut bar in place that really had a big effect on uneven pavement. I think having either the top or bottom of the frame tied together gives you the same handling effect.

soundzero

Alot of what you feel is placebo effect.

S2Kreative

Well glad you had fun chasing down the vette.. that is what the S is best at!!!Anyway i would pay the same amount to have my car feel more secure!! Anything that will make you have more fun while your driving, i am all about!

Bass

errr a strut bar has ZERO effect on the s2000

there is no way you'll stiffen up the I beam under the airbox

btw i have an x-brace and a strut tower bar as well -

Helios

I've been driving with the Muz X-brace in place for a week. Had a mechanic install it and was present when it was done - like you, a little tweaking was required, but it finally settled with no problems.

Does it make a difference? Honestly, I don't know yet. The car MAY handle a bit better and feel more settled over rough pavement. The rear end feels more planted than before, but that also may arise from the U-K alignment I had done back in December. Anyway, it feels good, so I'm not complaining.