Fitting Matt Performance Brace

[Bodgeroo]

I am about to fit one of these and have just offered this up to the underside of the car. I intend to replace some of the smaller bolts at the back as these look a little rusted.

Question is - the part of the performance brace at the front of the car that uses the front underbrace brace's bolts doesn't seem to easily slide under. Do I need to adjust the front under brace side to side member to allow enough clearance to slide the Matt performance brace under the front brace bracket and then bolt through both to the car?

Phew - hope that makes sense!

[jonbill]

does your front brace look like mine?


if so, all 4 bolt holes are slotted, so I would slacken off the front 2 - the brace should fit between the front 2 mounts on the mid brace and the holes line up nicely. (nicely might include a few judicious taps with a hammer though)

[Topdownman]

Cant help with your question as Matt fitted mine to the car for me but he always recommended heating the rear 2 bolts before trying to undo to stop them shearing.

[Carolyn]

Yes a little fettling is needed.
As the car is a 2004, it will have the facelift front brace, which may well need a little grinding of the surfaces that bolt to the chassis rails.  There's plenty of meat on them so as not to weaken it significantly.

[Bodgeroo]

My front brace doesn't look the same as Jonbill's. It's not aftermarket more tubular. I have got all the bolts out now and did heat them before removal.

I take it the Matt brace goes against the chassis rails first and then the front brace on top? This seems like the best way.

[Carolyn]

You've got it right.  You definitely have the standard Facelift brace.
You might have to grind a little of the faces that go over the Mattbrace.
yer cool!
All under control.

[mr9]

Reviving this old thread.

Juts bought a mid brac in eBay. I have a facelift.

Plan is:

• looseb up all bolts with plusgas and wd40 at home
• remove front fl brace
• drive to collect brace with a jack and tools
• fix brace on roadside
• Drive back, and redo to fit the from FL brace on and see if I need to cut away anything

I'm an hour's drive away so if it all goes wrong I can go back another day with a hire van but will obviously be wasted time and money.

Any obvious problems with this plan?

[Carolyn]

I reckon you can get it in the car, behind the seats, with the roof down. (Probably)  Worth trying before doing a 'roadside' job?

[tricky1138]

I reckon you can get it in the car, behind the seats, with the roof down. (Probably)  Worth trying before doing a 'roadside' job?

I fit my Matt brace behind the seats so if its that, then it will fit there.

[mr9]

I reckon you can get it in the car, behind the seats, with the roof down. (Probably)  Worth trying before doing a 'roadside' job?

I fit my Matt brace behind the seats so if its that, then it will fit there.

Fantastic, thanks.

[Ardent]

Not 100% sure which brace is being transported. But if talking the matt brace. Then no problem behind the seats.

[1979scotte]

As above Matt TTE brace has been put behind the seats many times.