Elephant Racing's X-Brace(993)
09-30-2014, 02:21 PM
#32
Seared
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
09-30-2014, 02:27 PM
#33
Using this logic, we should all probably remove our existing strut tower braces as well, right?
maybe its just me, but the use of a sheetmetal screw in the front doesn't seem like its ideal for stiffness.
Is there a huge difference between this brace and the RUF strut tower brace that I have that is not an "X" or is mine 9/10ths of the increased rigidity just connecting across the strut towers?
Just because it came from Ruf, does not mean its the best application; look at their beautiful, but boat anchor like wheels for a case in point.
Alois Ruf, says their heft assists with straight line stability. Baaaaaahaaaaahaahaaaaaaaaaa!
Last edited by nine9six; 09-30-2014 at 02:53 PM.
09-30-2014, 02:58 PM
#34
Rennlist Member
my description of 'noticeable' and 'maybe even substantial' are based on friday's test and tune track day running without and with the x-brace.
I already had a strut brace installed so I left that part in place for my testing.
I'll disagree with ken here, I think installing a bolt on strut brace or a bolt in das roll bar can be noticed right away.
I was busy between sessions so when I got out with the x-brace installed I'd forgotten about it and my first thought was that my alignment had somehow changed.
the noticeable difference was on turn in especially in one tight corner. it felt like front toe had gone from zero to maybe 1 or 2 mm toe out.
and if I just muscled the car into the corner because I turned in early or late the front tires scrubbed badly. this makes me think that the stiffer front amplified my mistakes.
the maybe even substantial difference is my best lap was 1.2 seconds better than last spring on this track configuration, same car, same tires, same driver.
I'm not saying all that time was due to the x-brace, some guys came out in june to compete in time trials and just running against them improved my driving.
that is why I qualified with 'maybe even substantial' rather than substantial.
worth the money? for me yes, I have no idea for others. I wouldn't bother buying one for my street car but I did bother buying a perfect power strut brace for my street car.
I already had a strut brace installed so I left that part in place for my testing.
I'll disagree with ken here, I think installing a bolt on strut brace or a bolt in das roll bar can be noticed right away.
I was busy between sessions so when I got out with the x-brace installed I'd forgotten about it and my first thought was that my alignment had somehow changed.
the noticeable difference was on turn in especially in one tight corner. it felt like front toe had gone from zero to maybe 1 or 2 mm toe out.
and if I just muscled the car into the corner because I turned in early or late the front tires scrubbed badly. this makes me think that the stiffer front amplified my mistakes.
the maybe even substantial difference is my best lap was 1.2 seconds better than last spring on this track configuration, same car, same tires, same driver.
I'm not saying all that time was due to the x-brace, some guys came out in june to compete in time trials and just running against them improved my driving.
that is why I qualified with 'maybe even substantial' rather than substantial.
worth the money? for me yes, I have no idea for others. I wouldn't bother buying one for my street car but I did bother buying a perfect power strut brace for my street car.
I've got a message out to my cousin from the torsion bar brace project--I think he still has the data. Gist is that it was on my '73S, a car I traded off holding lap records with Hank Watts (should still be a known name) in the GGR Time Trial series from '98-'01.
My own data, in the early days of acquistion, on the stock class RS America club racer was with a DL1. Have the files on the old laptop I can go find. Held the lap records out here from '01-'03, albeit with minimal competition. But I could run ahead of the quickest of the Spec911s of the day on equal tires (would barely be top 10 now, with that arms race).
10-01-2014, 10:07 AM
#36
Race Director
10-01-2014, 02:03 PM
#37
Oliver the car is pretty well modded for street and light track..but you're right, the cost and for the amount of driving I actually put in it makes zero sense at this time. I don't mind a tight suspension, already used to the semi/hard setup and intrigued with idea of extra rigid front end. I think engine/trans mounts are next.
