1st Prototype: New Rear Brace System.

[DCColegrove]

Looks like a nice aftermarket part that many people will be wanting!!! Awesome!

Can I ask a question? I'm sure it's something you thought of. But with a trailing arm rear suspension, and the shocks that "float" more or less in the x-y plane, all the real loads are forces x-y into the sub frame. So....

The rear shock "tower" mounts do not carry any "side to side" or even "front to back" forces at all. The only force it receives is in the "up and down direction" or zed.

I only ask cause it seems like a lot of metal just to re enforce a part of the car that doesn't affect the suspension under load.

The sub frame is attached to the uni-body the rear brace does not direcly affect the suspension load but addresses the loads transmitted to the uni-body by the suspension... (did that make sense?)

The trunk pan brace is to mitigate the "oil can lid" effect produced by the loads produced by the rear diff mount when the diff on sub-frame wraps up around the torque of the axles.

[z31maniac]

Looks great.

Now you need to develop a solution for bump steer and the plane of the control arm for non-M E30's.

[DCColegrove]

Looks great.

Now you need to develop a solution for bump steer and the plane of the control arm for non-M E30's.

Actually...We were talking about it yesterday...Unfortunately there is no "Safe" inexpensive solution...

[gearheadE30]

Looks cool. It would be even better if there was a way to tie it in to rear sway bar bracket reinforcements like the ones larger IE bars have. This may not do a whole lot as far as suspension goes, but it seems like that plate covers the area where the reinforcements bolt through the trunk floor.

[Jand3rson]

Looks amazing! I can't wait to see a final polished version.

[dinanm3atl]

Pretty cool!

[Bimmerman325i]

Actually...We were talking about it yesterday...Unfortunately there is no "Safe" inexpensive solution...

I'm probably an idiot for missing it, but what about a "Safe" not-so-inexpensive solution for the bump steer and control arm issue?

[e30rcr]

Does this tie the floor where the diff mounts? Perhaps for $250 it should come with some kind of attachment for the rear sway bar mounts as well. $250 is a LOT of money for a bar that can esentially just be a welded bar from roll cage tubing....

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey Dave, if there was a subwoofer already on place, could it still be installed? I mean is there stuff bolted down that would be under a box?

If so, shoot me a measurement of the space between the front of your trunk cage and the firewall.

I bet the new single 10 box I have been thinking of will be able to fit, and at only 35 pounds (target weight) for box, sub and amp, we might have some mutual customers.

Looks freeking awesome, BTW.

Luke

[ethree]

Does this tie the floor where the diff mounts? Perhaps for $250 it should come with some kind of attachment for the rear sway bar mounts as well. $250 is a LOT of money for a bar that can esentially just be a welded bar from roll cage tubing....

If you can do it, do it! Don't sit around here and bitch about $250, get to your garage and build that shit!

[StereoInstaller1]

$250 is a LOT of money for a bar that can esentially just be a welded bar from roll cage tubing....

I could not do that for $250

[Jesse30]

Does this tie the floor where the diff mounts? Perhaps for $250 it should come with some kind of attachment for the rear sway bar mounts as well. $250 is a LOT of money for a bar that can esentially just be a welded bar from roll cage tubing....

LOL, try it. its MUCH harder than it looks.

nice piece old guy. :D

[Stephen]

Does this tie the floor where the diff mounts? Perhaps for $250 it should come with some kind of attachment for the rear sway bar mounts as well. $250 is a LOT of money for a bar that can esentially just be a welded bar from roll cage tubing....

But i guarantee you it isn't.


He knows his stuff.

Trust me.

[Aptyp]

Finally a rear bar that isn't pointless. Any way you could connect that bar to wither diff mount, or upper spring perches. or both?

[z31maniac]

I'm probably an idiot for missing it, but what about a "Safe" not-so-inexpensive solution for the bump steer and control arm issue?

+1

With the E30 M3, its a tie rod spacer correct? I know most people aren't going to do a modified steering knuckle.

I on the other hand would.