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Just ordered my second one of these. I had to sell the first one due to the gussets interfering with my swaybar. Looking forward to reinstalling along with a strut bar. 30% for a few days guys!
I've got one on my convertible now, I consider it a must have as it definitely reduces the scuttle/cowl shake around 50-60mph. That said, I am at stock height, so ground clearance is not a factor that I really have to consider.
reelizmpro: I will always be an e30 guy.. I still do all of my own labor TrentW: There's just something so right about a well-built M20 in an E30 e30m3s54turbo: I save my money for tuner parts.
Looking at your front on shot there, I'd be concerned with how low the x-brace hangs. The e30 sump is already vulnerable in lowered cars, and it looks a good inch lower than the sump?
I bought one of these and when I saw this during installation I didn't even bother finishing putting it on. My car already bottoms out enough as it is.
Bryan - 1989 325i S50 swapped /1990 Audi Coupe Quattro
If your used to driving lowered cars it isn't horrible, but be cautious of high spots on pavement. If you see a high spot on the road just drive around it, don't try and be a hero by centering your car perfectly thinking you won't feel anything cause you will when your oil pan or X brace strikes the debris on street. That's how you break oil pans. It's always in the back of my mind while driving, I'm running Ground Control coilovers.
Edit; Few pics. Here's a iPhone 7 on it's side and a pic of my ride height. The X Brace is somewhat parallel with your front wheels, so in other words when your moving slowly over a speed bump, as soon as the front wheels start to travel up/over the speed bump, your X Brace also travels upward and away from the bump. The issue is when you don't go over the bump with your front wheels and try and center the car so the front/rear wheels avoid the bump completely. The brace hang's low enough to which you might scrape. Hope you guys get what I'm saying.
Lastly, I'm not using the spacers pictured on page 2, second pic "Haystack" posted. They're optional and if removed bring the X Brace up about half a inch. I also used all the factory hardware cause mine wasn't included with any.
If your used to driving lowered cars it isn't horrible, but be cautious of high spots on pavement. If you see a high spot on the road just drive around it, don't try and be a hero by centering your car perfectly thinking you won't feel anything cause you will when your oil pan or X brace strikes the debris on street. That's how you break oil pans. It's always in the back of my mind while driving, I'm running Ground Control coilovers.
Edit; Few pics. Here's a iPhone 7 on it's side and a pic of my ride height. The X Brace is somewhat parallel with your front wheels, so in other words when your moving slowly over a speed bump, as soon as the front wheels start to travel up/over the speed bump, your X Brace also travels upward and away from the bump. The issue is when you don't go over the bump with your front wheels and try and center the car so the front/rear wheels avoid the bump completely. The brace hang's low enough to which you might scrape. Hope you guys get what I'm saying.
Lastly, I'm not using the spacers pictured on page 2, second pic "Haystack" posted. They're optional and if removed bring the X Brace up about half a inch. I also used all the factory hardware cause mine wasn't included with any.
Here's my review of the recent brace purchase. I ordered during their sale a monthish ago and I guess they got a ton of orders because I didn't get my brace for just shy of a month. They did answer questions quickly and professionally though. :up:
Came well packaged and none of the powdercoat was damaged. Seems like a VERY quality piece.
Installation, as others noted, can be a little fiddly. All the mounting points are slotted, but they are TIGHT. I had to use a jack at a couple points to get the bolt holes to line up enough to tighten with fingers at least 2 or 3 full turns. I've stripped out CAB lollipop mount holes before and while helicoiling is an option... I would like to avoid if possible. I did not use any of the included hardware. I re-used the factory stuff with no issues. The included hardware just seemed way too long, especially since I did not use the spacers.
This should give you an idea of clearance. It sits low, but I've only hit it once on a speed bump. Mostly because I am still getting used to it being there. Gone over many speed bumps but the only problem children are the tall and short variety. And even those clear if I go slow enough to not compress the springs on the other side. The longer/wider ones seem to have no problem clearing.
They clear my cheap ebay long tube headers easily so I have no negatives to report really. Extremely pleased with the purchase and really helped with the chassis flex of the vert. As mentioned, much quieter now in terms of chassis movement and twist. I am running on H&R sports with billy HD's and couldn't be happier. Will be purchasing their strut tower bar... and further in the future their reinforced subframe and maybe front sway bar.
"A good memory for quotes combined with a poor memory for attribution can lead to a false sense of originality."
-----------------------------------------
91 318is Turbo Sold
87 325 Daily driver Sold
06 4.8is X5
06 Mtec X3
05 4.4i X5 Sold
92 325ic Sold & Re-purchased
90 325i Sold
97 328is Sold
01 323ci Sold
92 325i Sold
83 528e Totaled
98 328i Sold
93 325i Sold
I have a question about these. Are the x brace hardware bolts long enough to go through the e36 rack spacers and bolt on the other end? Also... Since you have to take off the FCAB lollipops, dont you need to get an alignment after installing this? I would hate to do an alignment again after installing this - it costs 300+ for alignment on this eccectric bolt GC coilovered e30.
^I'm not sure why you would have to. The FCAB lollipops are not adjustable and the alignment sleeves on the chassis pretty much lock them into place. I did not get mine realigned.
"A good memory for quotes combined with a poor memory for attribution can lead to a false sense of originality."
-----------------------------------------
91 318is Turbo Sold
87 325 Daily driver Sold
06 4.8is X5
06 Mtec X3
05 4.4i X5 Sold
92 325ic Sold & Re-purchased
90 325i Sold
97 328is Sold
01 323ci Sold
92 325i Sold
83 528e Totaled
98 328i Sold
93 325i Sold
I have a question about these. Are the x brace hardware bolts long enough to go through the e36 rack spacers and bolt on the other end? Also... Since you have to take off the FCAB lollipops, dont you need to get an alignment after installing this? I would hate to do an alignment again after installing this - it costs 300+ for alignment on this eccectric bolt GC coilovered e30.
Yes the bolts will be long enough. No because the front control arm bushings/ brackets are keyed, they only fit one way.
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