[Piercemotorsports]

Ever since taking our Veloser turbo to the track, we've been working on ways to improve the handling, increase grip and overall improve the driving experience behind the wheel. After identifying some of the issues, we've started working on various idea's to help improve the platform. Currently we've got both coilovers and bushings in the works, and as of today we've finished developing/testing a couple of our different options for the lower front chassis braces.

We've built a 2 point tiebar and a 4 point lower subframe brace to help minimize the deflection in the stock crossmember/a-arm mounts and stiffen up the crossmember overall. The 2 point brace bolts to the front of the a-arm bolts and keeps the control arm mounts from flexing which reduces the toe change in both braking and acceleration. The 4 point brace does the same and adds additional strength throughout the crossmember/front chassis by attaching to the rear subframe bolts as well. I can say that the 2 point brace on a daily driven streetcar has a slight improvement on steering feel while the 4 point brace is much more noticeable. When I really noticed the difference was both yesterday and today when I had removed the 4 point brace to paint and take pics (after having them on for nearly two weeks). Steering feel was way more vague, and my daily drive home over the crest/off camber hill was not as confidence inspiring at the same speed. I guess you never know what you've got until it's gone!!!

We made our bars out of chromoly for both the strength and weight savings---never understood why companies would build bars out of ERW/1020 seamed mild steel to save a couple of dollars a foot and a bit of wear and tear on equipment/consumables...Both bars require removing the front a-arm bolts while the 4 point requires the rear subframe bolts to be removed as well. We installed the 2 point brace, took pics, removed it and installed the 4 point brace and took pics in less than 30 minutes. The install is very easy, and could be done by an average guy with a couple of sockets and a floorjack/jackstands. Here's a couple of pics-more pics will have to come later---darn computer issues....ASAP I'll post more pics...

 

[Turbo 'ToonSter]

Price?

 

[HellHunter]

Assuming this is the same thing, it's $240.

Four Point Front Tiebar Brace

Btw, I would definitely be interested in ordering the 4-point brace. I bought a Technica strut bar (which after getting it seems very cheaply made, at minimum needs a real paint job) and it made a big difference, but I can tell the rear is still flexing too much.

The original reason I bought the Technica and not an IS (which now I wish I had) is bc they offered it in blue. Of course they didn't have blue in stock, so I got silver, which turned out to be raw aluminum. I'll getting it painted once I determine my car's accent color. All the black paint around the bolts on the strut tower mounting brackets chipped off when I torqued them down.

 

[Piercemotorsports]

Assuming this is the same thing, it's $240.

Four Point Front Tiebar Brace

Btw, I would definitely be interested in ordering the 4-point brace. I bought a Technica strut bar (which after getting it seems very cheaply made, at minimum needs a real paint job) and it made a big difference, but I can tell the rear is still flexing too much.

The original reason I bought the Technica and not an IS (which now I wish I had) is bc they offered it in blue. Of course they didn't have blue in stock, so I got silver, which turned out to be raw aluminum. I'll getting it painted once I determine my car's accent color. All the black paint around the bolts on the strut tower mounting brackets chipped off when I torqued them down.

Your right it's about the same thing, just out of chromoly rather than the DOM and it only has two gusset's at the front tiebar rather than the rear---those were a bit redundant. I'm thinking $100 shipped to the forum members for the 2 point and $220 shipped/delivered for the 4 point. The bars can either be raw or painted finish---if you have a color in mind, just let me know and we'll try an accomodate it. You can PM me here and I'll get you info rather than the site, allthough I'm trying to add a product or two every couple days...Here's a bunch more pics and some teaser's of products to come-

Here's a prototype 6 point brace-

Here's a strut bar we've been building for the BG Mazda chassis cars/Porsche stuff for years now---our Veloster brace will be similar---chromoly and super strong/rigid/light and it'll actually make a huge difference in feel for the driver and the cars performance.

 

[Chargeragain]

interested... The 6point seems pretty radical. Would the 2 point and a chassis X brace be as effective?

 

[Piercemotorsports]

interested... The 6point seems pretty radical. Would the 2 point and a chassis X brace be as effective?

Good question---would it be as strong---no, the 6 point brace just due to the nature of it's design is going to be considerably stronger---not to mention the material we're using alone is much stiffer. Effectiveness---well really you dont need any of these braces to have a great time in the car---but the two point will make a small difference, the 4 point a bigger difference---the 6 point is what we run on most racecars---actually on cars that dont have cages---they just help the car/suspension work better. I like to have options/choices---we're running the car in the Redline Timeattack series next year and we'll have the 6 point in with other braces as well. It'll give us the strongest/flattest platform and really allow us to tune suspension/springrates/swaybars. We'll get things setup faster and have more predictable handling---it'll allow the changes we make to be more noticable.

 

[tubascience]

I would be very interested in a strut bar

 

[Piercemotorsports]

I would be very interested in a strut bar

Me too!!! I think out of all the braces we'll build, this one will have a huge impact on handling, especially on a car with better tires. I'm working on it---will have it available before XMAS and possibly available for order as soon as next week. I'll post pics as soon as the prototype is done.

 

[lagonwagon]

Me too!!! I think out of all the braces we'll build, this one will have a huge impact on handling, especially on a car with better tires. I'm working on it---will have it available before XMAS and possibly available for order as soon as next week. I'll post pics as soon as the prototype is done.

I was planning to get the luxon strut brace but I'll go with yours now. I really like the 6 point brace as well. I'm assuming that it's you experience in the field that allows you to R&D and get the product to the market so quickly. I mean you've only had the VT for a month or so. Lol Are my kids going to be disappointed when Santa doesn't deliver because you kidnapped his elves to build you stuff?

 

[HellHunter]

Sign me up for a 6-point brace! As soon as you have pricing and dates, PM me. I am going to buy one. I'm going to guess $350 for the 6-point.

I'd almost say I'd get the strut too, but only if I could resell the old one (and dependent on price). I hate poor purchase decisions.

 

[Piercemotorsports]

I was planning to get the luxon strut brace but I'll go with yours now. I really like the 6 point brace as well. I'm assuming that it's you experience in the field that allows you to R&D and get the product to the market so quickly. I mean you've only had the VT for a month or so. Lol Are my kids going to be disappointed when Santa doesn't deliver because you kidnapped his elves to build you stuff?

It's experience and the way we've got our shop setup---we're building racecars/rollcages everyday so we're really well equipped to work with tubing/tube fabrication. We'll make a template and then quickly plasma cut flanges/shape/fit and have them bolted onto a car pretty quickly---Once the prototype is fitted and tested then our laser cutter has a 3-5 day turnaround. I've been working/updating the design's for 12 years on roadrace/rally cars and almost 20 years on the offroad stuff. The one piece designs are functionally hard to beat---install is more work and the jigs have to be precise, but well worth it in the end...

Hellhunter I'll PM you on Monday AM with pricing---since your the first one to express interest you'll get free shipping! Now I just have to figure out how to effectively box them...!!!

Thanks for the interest/support guys-being new here I really appreciate it!

 

[Fixer]

I've been thinking about getting the rear "torsion bar" or "X brace" from Shark Racing. After reading this, I wonder if they would have any effect at all. Sounds like this 4 point brace would better the way to go. Any opinions on whether their design do anything at all, not even knowing the quality of the steel used?

 

[Piercemotorsports]

I've been thinking about getting the rear "torsion bar" or "X brace" from Shark Racing. After reading this, I wonder if they would have any effect at all. Sounds like this 4 point brace would better the way to go. Any opinions on whether their design do anything at all, not even knowing the quality of the steel used?

I'm sure they're selling fine products. I apologize, I haven't seen their product line yet, but plan to---I've seen the Luxon stuff and the upper strut brace was actually a pretty good design-compared to the 2-3pc bars it would be an improvement for sure. I'm not sure what material they've used and the quality of the fabrication, but usually it's pretty good/better than from other parts of the world. A rear torsion bar might be a sway bar inside the rear beam---that would be a way to reduce the rear roll couple/tighten up the rear suspension and reduce toe change or "bump steer" from the beam flex---definitely a worthwhile product if it's built properly.

 

[Fixer]

After reading this post and seeing your 4 point brace, it looks like it would provide more rigidity than their rear torsion bar, because the mounting points are spread much farther apart and your steel is probably a better quality . Their X-brace seems flimsy in comparison. Would either of these even do anything seeing the way that they mounted? What do you estimate the shipping would be to Toronto, Canada and it's availability?

 

[Piercemotorsports]

After reading this post and seeing your 4 point brace, it looks like it would provide more rigidity than their rear torsion bar, because the mounting points are spread much farther apart and your steel is probably a better quality . Their X-brace seems flimsy in comparison. Would either of these even do anything seeing the way that they mounted? What do you estimate the shipping would be to Toronto, Canada and it's availability?

Maybe I need to see a pic of the rear torsion bar---I'm thinking we must be talking about two different things. The X-brace I've see would provide some rigidity to the trans tunnel behind the front suspension---I doubt it would have a noticable effect on steering input, but would strengthen the tunnel. I'd say shipping to Canada for the 4point would be under $60---PM me your postal code and I'll get you FEDEX and USPS quotes on Monday morning.

 

[bOoStIn-VT]

Ohh man I want that strut bar!! Hopefully a good price once you release the bar. With all this rotors and suspension stuff your selling I think I'll be one of your best customer.

 

[Piercemotorsports]

Ohh man I want that strut bar!! Hopefully a good price once you release the bar. With all this rotors and suspension stuff your selling I think I'll be one of your best customer.

I look forward to it---I love the car and I can get kind of "fanatical" about them, so I plan on developing a complete performance product line for the trackday/roadrace and also rally enthusiast. The parts will be geared more towards "functionality" than "show" and many of them wont be necessary for a street driven car, but still it's nice to have choices!

 

[Chargeragain]

I don't think I'll be tracking the car anytime soon, it's a DD that I plan to put close to 60k miles on in the next two years but I would like to improve the handling characteristics to be more efficient for street use and improve chassis longevity. Put in me in the lineup for the 4 point, and a strut tower setup. I feel the combination of those two together may be all that's needed up front. I'm not picky about finishes, just that they hold up. Do you plan on powdercoating them?

 

[Piercemotorsports]

I think that's a great point about improving chassis longevity, an added benefit for sure. I'll mark you down for a set---I've been typically just painting them and they seem to hold up pretty well, but I do have a powdercoater and can offer that service. I'll PM you Monday with some info---thanks again for input/support!

 

[Boots Ylectric]

Pierce, keep developing everything you can to make this thing handle better and come spring you'll have a customer in me that's for sure. I'm liking what I'm seeing and reading. I'm super stoked to stiffen this thing up and make it grip!