Bracing Recommendations?

Started by chrismscotland, October 21, 2018, 23:24

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chrismscotland

Folks, based on reading a lot here I realise that bracing is one of the biggest recommended upgrades.
I was keen on the Megillian Motorsport under-brace (their larger one that goes under most of the car) however their lead times are quite lengthy.
I've spotted the Ultra Racing Braces which are all in stock but wondered what folks experience of them was?

jvanzyl

I have the UR front strut brace. It's excellent.

Carolyn

Quote from: chrismscotland on October 21, 2018, 23:24
Folks, based on reading a lot here I realise that bracing is one of the biggest recommended upgrades.
I was keen on the Megillian Motorsport under-brace (their larger one that goes under most of the car) however their lead times are quite lengthy.
I've spotted the Ultra Racing Braces which are all in stock but wondered what folks experience of them was?

Even with the lead time it's still probably your best option.  I have a Mattbrace, (which is ok but no longer available) but looking at the Megillian one, I'd say it should be quite an improvement on the Matt model.

Might be worth trying to organise a group buy for, say, five units, just to make it worthwhile to produce some?
Perry Byrnes Memorial Award 2016, 2018.  Love this club. 
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shnazzle

Quote from: Carolyn on October 22, 2018, 10:27
Quote from: chrismscotland on October 21, 2018, 23:24
Folks, based on reading a lot here I realise that bracing is one of the biggest recommended upgrades.
I was keen on the Megillian Motorsport under-brace (their larger one that goes under most of the car) however their lead times are quite lengthy.
I've spotted the Ultra Racing Braces which are all in stock but wondered what folks experience of them was?

Even with the lead time it's still probably your best option.  I have a Mattbrace, (which is ok but no longer available) but looking at the Megillian one, I'd say it should be quite an improvement on the Matt model.

Might be worth trying to organise a group buy for, say, five units, just to make it worthwhile to produce some?
Might be tough going as Steve's priorities have shifted away from producing kit. Worth a try of course

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moredun

I got the Megillian front strut brace, what a difference it made, and last week I ordered a mid brace, can't wait to get that installed  ;D
Winner of the Numb bum award 2019

Carolyn

Quote from: moredun on October 23, 2018, 00:33
I got the Megillian front strut brace, what a difference it made, and last week I ordered a mid brace, can't wait to get that installed  ;D

Hope you don't mind me asking.  How much is one of these?
Perry Byrnes Memorial Award 2016, 2018.  Love this club. 
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=63866.0

moredun

Quote from: Carolyn on October 23, 2018, 09:47
Quote from: moredun on October 23, 2018, 00:33
I got the Megillian front strut brace, what a difference it made, and last week I ordered a mid brace, can't wait to get that installed  ;D

Hope you don't mind me asking.  How much is one of these?

https://www.megillianmotorsport.com/shop-online/vue4hqbaude5jmitb8az3v045kusri
Winner of the Numb bum award 2019

Beachbum957

I think a lot of bracing produces a placebo effect, and often the improvement isn't that great for a single brace or change. 

Having said that, we have a 2002 with a lot of bracing, most of which isn't available anymore.  We have a Tom's front member brace, a TRD strut brace, a Corky's breastplate, a Carbing steel rear member brace, and an Autopower roll bar. The rollbar was primarily for chassis stiffness, not protection.   The bracing was added mainly because we went with stiffer springs (Tein-S) and flex was evident on rougher roads

The braces with the most noticeable differences were the breastplate and the rollbar. The others, not so much

The Toms' did stiffen the front and reduced cowl shake, while a friend has a cheap TRD front lower brace replica and claims it did nothing.  The TRD strut bar, which is probably the stiffest available, made a small change on really rough roads, but not a lot.  The Carbing rear lower brace really didn't do much if anything at all

Each brace was installed one at a time, which made the effect of each easier to evaluate.   They all work well together, but we also have a stock 2003 that only has a breastplate, which made a significant difference and seems to be enough with stock springs.  While Corky is no longer making braces, anything that replicates that would be a worthwhile addition.

james_ly

Quote from: Beachbum957 on October 23, 2018, 13:09
I think a lot of bracing produces a placebo effect, and often the improvement isn't that great for a single brace or change. 

we also have a stock 2003 that only has a breastplate, which made a significant difference and seems to be enough with stock springs.  While Corky is no longer making braces, anything that replicates that would be a worthwhile addition.

Interesting. For me it's quite a lot of money to commit to spending on all the braces, they pretty much add up to the cost of coilovers.... For me also as mine is mainly a track car, smooth tarmac is the main environment, so as long as it is ok on that I'm happy. Plus mine is 2003, maybe I don't need braces for my application?
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chrismscotland

I've managed to procure a mid brace from Megillian (the largest one) and the other lower front brace so will start with that and see how I go, will probably look to add the Rear and Front Strut ones too - Coilovers next and aside from a few minor bits and pieces I want to do just so their "done" (Timing Chain Tensioner and Lower UJ) the car will be pretty much "done" mechanically (fingers crossed!)

1979scotte

@james_ly

Mid brace and front strut brace before coilovers good quality track orientated tyres before either.

All bracing makes some difference more so when power is added or suspension stiffened especially on earlier cars.
I have fitted mid brace front strut brace meister r coilovers and Yoko AD08R to both the roadsters I've had and would do the same to any I owned in the future.
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roadsta

Anyone got a number for Steve at Megillian?
His website hasnt got one. I seem to be in the common position of chasing an order and he hasnt replied to emails, s'funny cos communication was always immediate when it came to paying, but they are now 2 weeks overdue and I cant get a response. Really dont want to have to drive to Hull to find out why. Cheers

Call the midlife!

Quote from: roadsta on December 12, 2018, 23:38
Anyone got a number for Steve at Megillian?
His website hasnt got one. I seem to be in the common position of chasing an order and he hasnt replied to emails, s'funny cos communication was always immediate when it came to paying, but they are now 2 weeks overdue and I cant get a response. Really dont want to have to drive to Hull to find out why. Cheers
Have you tried him on Facebook messenger?


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BahnStormer

Quote from: Call the midlife! on December 13, 2018, 07:57
Have you tried him on Facebook messenger?


He's active on FB messenger now! Apparently they're busy churning through a large batch for a US group buy, so I've arranged for him to put an extra set on the end of that order and I'll do Cash on Collection + install when I collect them in January... so in plenty of time for the track tyres going back on in March/April :)

Exciting times - this is the last mod I had promised myself before I turbo it - although I will still be considering a roll-cage if I go full track-toy :)
Black 2006: AC & heated leather: 4x Megillian braces, Koni/Tein custom suspension, MTEC+YS+braided brakes, Toyosports manifold, TTE exhaust, Conti PremiumContact2(summer)/ Conti TS860S(winter) / YokoAD08RS (track/summer), Pioneer MVH-390BT + TS-E171ci, FBSW, Robbins mohair hood.

DropLinked

Quote from: roadsta on December 12, 2018, 23:38
Anyone got a number for Steve at Megillian?
His website hasnt got one. I seem to be in the common position of chasing an order and he hasnt replied to emails, s'funny cos communication was always immediate when it came to paying, but they are now 2 weeks overdue and I cant get a response. Really dont want to have to drive to Hull to find out why. Cheers

Did you manage to get in touch and get your order in the end?

I'm in a similar position, with an overdue order, and no reply to my emails or FB messages.

Nvy

Quote from: DropLinked on March 11, 2019, 15:33
Quote from: roadsta on December 12, 2018, 23:38
Anyone got a number for Steve at Megillian?
His website hasnt got one. I seem to be in the common position of chasing an order and he hasnt replied to emails, s'funny cos communication was always immediate when it came to paying, but they are now 2 weeks overdue and I cant get a response. Really dont want to have to drive to Hull to find out why. Cheers

Did you manage to get in touch and get your order in the end?

I'm in a similar position, with an overdue order, and no reply to my emails or FB messages.

I ordered one and they said 2 weeks lead time but i guess thats 2 months lead time. They will eventually ship it but when thats gonna happen is another story. Pay with paypal and you can request your money back for up to 6 months.

JerryL

1st time I have had to cancel an order because of bad customer support.
Waited 2 months before I contacted them, emails ignored, finally got them on facebook and got more waffle about delivery time.
Cancelled order and was told my brace would be passed to next person in queue, so they didn't give a crap.

On the flip side I ordered an Ultra racing front brace from the other side of the world and it was delivered and fitted in less than 2 weeks.

DropLinked

I got told approximately 6 weeks lead time for a 2zz exhaust and it's now been 11 weeks.

I appreciate he's a busy chap whose service are in demand, but the lack of contact / updates is frustrating.

I've finished every other job on my swap now, so now just waiting for the final piece of the jigsaw.

Gaz2405

This thread doesn't fill me with hope, I've just ordered 3 braces from Megillian (I say just, 7 days ago)..Only ordered them as they said they were in stock on the website, hopefully they turn up soon.  :(
1zz turbo. Home built and home mapped.

Now 2zz turbo. Home built and home mapped

Build thread https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=67004.0

Gaz mr-s

Producing stuff for MR2's is not his day job, & when he is on the day-job it's usually abroad.
He has a history of giving people supply dates & not fulfilling. And some people believed they were getting bullsh1t excuses. He was an Affiliate on here & dropped-out of that.

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=63129.msg774439#msg774439

If I was to want something from him in the future I wouldn't pay until it was made & ready to be shipped.
That assumes getting accurate info.....

He is a really nice, skilled guy, pity about the hassles.

Gaz2405

Anyone else had any luck with their braces being delivered, I'm sick of chasing now.

Going to order some more from elsewhere and just sell the others when they eventually turn up!
1zz turbo. Home built and home mapped.

Now 2zz turbo. Home built and home mapped

Build thread https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=67004.0

jvanzyl

I've heard good things about barbarian bracing... Plus it's aluminium.

Go for their front and mid under braces.
Then put an ultra racing front strut brace on (only get the back if you've got cash to burn?

And then to top it all off get a corky breastplate copy... Sorted.

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Petrus

Utra Racing front strut brace
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=67389.0
Dev´s door thingies

Should cover it.

Beachbum957


Petrus

#24
Quote from: Beachbum957 on June  6, 2019, 13:08

This is one sturdy brace

Rather overkill at the price of ground clearance, weight and $$$.

Oh, and it is stiffer than the bolts/ bolt holes...

I am mounting the alloy Snelbaard as a véry neat ready made one. Otherwise would have strung two tensioned steel cables cross bracing the OEM braces.

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