I saw a post about these over on Spyderchat and thought they might be of interest -
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0pva7A
A copy of the TRD door stabilizers for quite a few pennies less
I ordered a set a few days ago. I will compare them to the TRD to see if they are the same thing as far as not being an inferior copy. It's possible that these are the actual TRD.
If so you cant beat the price especially over other options.
Ditto. Have both Dev´s and the TRD but the cheapos are worth it even to just have the plastics in reserve!
Quote from: Petrus on November 3, 2022, 17:39Ditto. Have both Dev´s and the TRD but the cheapos are worth it even to just have the plastics in reserve!
If I find out they are the real thing I am going to order another set just for those plastics.
I am also going to experiment with glueing them or maybe use the very strong double sided tape I use for the door bushings to mount the shims so they never fall out. It might even be possible to get a tighter fit this way.
Do you actually feel any difference when these are fitted during normal motoring ?
Yes. Ask
@shnazzle ;D
And then agaín adding the TRDs to Devs.
The difference has been accurately méasured as well, unlike any other bracing.
I know nothing John Snow
Quote from: TheTigerUK on November 4, 2022, 13:03Do you actually feel any difference when these are fitted during normal motoring ?
Actually that is where it is most felt from my own observations and those of others. There is this almost indescribable feeling even when driving in a straight line at slower speeds. It is a bit crazy that something so small and controversial can be felt by all unlike other mods where some feel it and some don't.
Quote from: Dev on November 4, 2022, 14:33Actually that is where it is most felt from my own observations and those of others. There is this almost indescribable feeling even when driving in a straight line at slower speeds. It is a bit crazy that something so small and controversial can be felt by all unlike other mods where some feel it and some don't.
I've got
@shnazzle 's old car with the chunky blocks. Did you make them
@Dev ? Anyway, what I mean to say is that one of them was off when I got the car so stuck it back on and you can totally hear the car flexing against it. Makes the doors harder to open too.. but definitely makes a difference to driving, like the car is slightly better held together.
I wouldent have believed something so "minor" could make a difference.
Quote from: shnazzle on November 4, 2022, 14:30I know nothing John Snow
Am I having a senior moment?! I thought it was you some 4 years ago who was a bit confused by the car´s behaviour with the door thingies?!
Ah well, memory mist.... ::)
Quote from: TheTigerUK on November 4, 2022, 15:32I wouldent have believed something so "minor" could make a difference.
Can you imagine adding a neck loop to a strapless bra? Just a bit of twine but what a difference.
It may be a snall thing itself but it is adding a brace across the top of the door opening. I put a photo in Belle´s thread illustration the fundamental issue with traditional door cabrios ánd the two spacers.
Quote from: Petrus on November 4, 2022, 15:59Am I having a senior moment?! I thought it was you some 4 years ago who was a bit confused by the car´s behaviour with the door thingies?!
Ah well, memory mist.... ::)
No you're right, I'm just being facetious :)
Quote from: shnazzle on November 4, 2022, 16:02No you're right, I'm just being facetious :)
Phew ;D
Quote from: Petrus on November 4, 2022, 16:01Can you imagine adding a neck loop to a strapless bra? Just a bit of twine but what a difference.
It may be a snall thing itself but it is adding a brace across the top of the door opening. I put a photo in Belle´s thread illustration the fundamental issue with traditional door cabrios ánd the two spacers.
I always wear a sports bra :)
Quote from: MrChris on November 4, 2022, 15:19I've got @shnazzle 's old car with the chunky blocks. Did you make them @Dev ? Anyway, what I mean to say is that one of them was off when I got the car so stuck it back on and you can totally hear the car flexing against it. Makes the doors harder to open too.. but definitely makes a difference to driving, like the car is slightly better held together.
It it was shanzzles old car then yes you probably have the door bushings I made which were the first generation that are a little too tight and need be adjusted with sanding them down. It wasn't too long after I had them revised to be a better fit and then once more to be the best fit with no adjustments and not as interfering when you close the doors. I would suggest some adjustment by using a pad sander directly on the bushing with 230 grit and shave it down until the doors open and close well enough but before that happens use some Carnauba past wax as that will make the opening and closing much better. You only need to apply the paste wax once as it will last a very long time.
Now that the TRD type is now a very good option for the cost I will be discontinuing the door bushings and continue with my new prototype to complement the TRD sliders.
Mine were already in: 6 days to get them to a mountain villages in the heart of andalucia. No duties/customs.
Seem identical save for a minor difference in finish and lack of any docs.
I got mine today, they are very interesting and I had a lot of fun with the examination. If you were not looking closely you could not spot the difference except for the finish and the TRD engraving as Petrus noted. However if you look closely they are very good copies. I initially thought they are coming from the Chinese factory that makes them for TRD with the same tooling or someone has taken the molds from one factory and reproduced them elsewhere for a cheap price but they are not.
Here is the copy.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-wswMpSN/0/1d633535/O/1B4I8348.jpg)
Here is the TRD
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-7Www63V/0/ecdc091b/O/1B4I8347.jpg)
You can see that the TRD has satin finish and the copy has some kind of chrome finish but it isn't applied very well. Also the casting from the metal is rougher than the TRD which seems better machined and polished.
Here is the wight of the copy
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-kTqLb5q/0/5c9de43c/O/1B4I8337.jpg)
Here is the weight of the original TRD in ounces
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-w7rSWw6/0/fb385d7a/O/1B4I8336.jpg)
Here is the weight of one of the bolts for reference on the material difference.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-PtbVPkW/0/6d3164ca/O/1B4I8338.jpg)
I was not expecting a difference. I weighed the other side and it was also 4.4 ounces.
There is clearly something very different in how they are made.
I became aware they are not identical after seeing this gap between the two.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-d9WTPgM/0/b9e5a9b3/O/1B4I8343.jpg)
The TRD on the left has less of a gap than the copy on the right by about 1.1mm. The copy has play in it and moves as you press on it and when you move the slider the play is still present. The TRD has a lot less play and when you slide it forwards there is no play.
I do not know if this makes any difference only that it's an observation on the tolerance.
Here are the plastic shims. The TRD is on the left and the copy on the right.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-9ZhJZD3/0/e5c09562/O/1B4I8346.jpg)
They appear to be molded slightly different. I was able to fit one on my car but it was a little harder and that might be a good thing because it held tighter than the original TRD shims so maybe they will hold better. Also interesting to note that the TRD plastic shim weighs a little more but not significant.
Here is the back side. TRD on the left and the copy on the right.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Featured/Homepagegallery/i-9kbzvkD/0/838b45ea/O/1B4I8350.jpg)
I was able to take a caliper and measure the distance between the holes and other dimensions and they are slightly different by about .25mm to .5 mm. The thickness of plate on the copy in the a good spot for measuring showed it to be 4.43mm where as the original was 4.95mm. The TRD part appears to be a little thicker.
All of this is probably not so significant if it works as it is a simple concept to connect the doors however they are copies made from scratch from the original but not identical.
I am sure it will work fine especially for the low cost.
After a lot of consideration I came to my own conclusion that I would pay the maximum of $150 for the TRD part but not the price they are asking. Not because of the logo but because I feel that the part is more refined. If I never seen the TRD part I would buy the cheap Chinese copy and think the difference is not worth it.
I found the reason for this and that is because the TRD part is made by Aisin Seki and was manufactured in Japan with better tooling and that is why the tolerances probably could not be duplicated. Since the part is very expensive they did not cheap out on the plating and who knows what else that went into it so they dont cut corners. I can say it is a higher quality part but it's not worth the asking price.
It is interesting that it won a design award in 2012 and it is patented.
Quote from: Dev on November 10, 2022, 14:13After a lot of consideration I came to my own conclusion that I would pay the maximum of $150 for the TRD part
Phew, I am good then :))
Quote from: Petrus on November 10, 2022, 14:34Phew, I am good then :))
Im glad I didn't sell you mine when I had the chance. Losing those plastic shims saved me.
You can still buy geniune TRD set for less than $150.00
My son is coming home for a lightning visit. Will ask him to have a look at the things if he can reproduce them.
Indeed
@J88TEO as did I incl. shipping. Not counting the duties/VAT on those though. The El Cheapo copies carried none. So still think those are a good deal. Even just for the übercool high tech looks.
Quote from: J88TEO on November 10, 2022, 15:01You can still buy geniune TRD set for less than $150.00
I just checked and you are right. I paid more for mine over five years ago.
It's a hard sell when the copy is so much cheaper but I think it's worth the extra cost for Japanese manufacturing especially if you like original parts and not knock offs.
Quote from: Petrus on November 10, 2022, 15:05My son is coming home for a lightning visit. Will ask him to have a look at the things if he can reproduce them.
Indeed @J88TEO as did I incl. shipping. Not counting the duties/VAT on those though. The El Cheapo copies carried none. So still think those are a good deal. Even just for the übercool high tech looks.
I think it might not be possible. It needs to be injection molded but if he is able to make them I will certainly like a set.
I bought a set of these on a whim and installed them today, then went out for a decent drive.
There is definitely a noticeable increase in how much you feel of bumps and things in the road - even the black tar lines where there are sensors/induction loops in the road around junctions, traffic lights, etc were more noticeable. The car in general does seem stiffer, and the few (admittedly minor) squeaks and rattles that I would previously have got over bumps also seem to be mostly eliminated.
I wouldn't say it's a massive difference, but there is definitely a difference.
Not bad for under thirty quid - it's difficult to imagine what the extra £90+ for the TRD ones would give you that these don't
Thank you for the feedback Bobbe!
Probably not a whole lot of difference but these are cheap for a reason apart from the better plating and machining on the original part. We are all part of the same hypocrisy even more so if patent infringement, slave labor and environmental/ safety regulations are a concern which is where a majority of the savings are.
I fitted a set of the aliexpress version today too. Only took 9 days from order to arrival in the UK.
I didn't have time for too extensive a drive after but I think there was a clear difference. No excuse now, not to chase down a few more more of those little rattles.
I was curious enough to pay the price for these, not in the market for the original.
I have just bought these on the strength of the reviews you guys have given from the MR2 owners page on facebook.
Haven driven mine a little more I am now beginning to understand what you guys mean about bracing (I think) and I think some under bracing may also be in order some time.
(https://i.imgur.com/rWPP2BH.jpg)
Again, just have a look; it is very simple, basic really; no structural rigidity other than in the floor pan unless you sólidly shut the doors which are standard floating in the door rubbers:
(https://i.ibb.co/ykC3HWc/Deurdingetje5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ykC3HWc)
Quote from: Petrus on November 23, 2022, 17:09Again, just have a look; it is very simple, basic really; no structural rigidity other than in the floor pan unless you sólidly shut the doors which are standard floating in the door rubbers:
(https://i.ibb.co/ykC3HWc/Deurdingetje5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ykC3HWc)
For guys who just use them for track days etc would it be worth welding or bolting the doors to the chassis and just stepping over the door into the car ?
Quote from: TheTigerUK on November 23, 2022, 17:22For guys who just use them for track days etc would it be worth welding or bolting the doors to the chassis and just stepping over the door into the car ?
There was a 80s TV show based on that concept. It was called the Dukes of Hazard.
Apparently race cars have their doors welded but it's probably for safety.
Quote from: Dev on November 23, 2022, 18:33There was a 80s TV show based on that concept. It was called the Dukes of Hazard.
Apparently race cars have their doors welded but it's probably for safety.
General Lee speaking that is so!
Quote from: TheTigerUK on November 23, 2022, 17:22For guys who just use them for track days etc would it be worth welding or bolting the doors to the chassis and just stepping over the door into the car ?
Yes, or weld an X brace in the door frame.
The TRD and Dev door things are a practical approximation.
I fitted the door braces today and I noticed a really big difference when closing the doors, I had to be a lot firmer when closing them and they shut with a dull thud !!
Went for a drive and I really could tell the difference, amazing.
I have Carolyns front brace, now these so I think I will have to fit a underneath one when one comes along.
(https://i.imgur.com/2i4XM31.jpg)
Quote from: TheTigerUK on November 30, 2022, 17:45so I think I will have to fit a underneath one when one comes along.
Well, depends.
Apart from the above, Imo the FL only needs the one that connects the two footwells.
The PFL benefits noticeably from the front and rear lower member braces. The FL has that OEM.
Imo the large belly frame adds more weight than benefit. An additionally líterally downside for mé is the ground clearance.
Quote from: Petrus on November 30, 2022, 18:01Well, depends.
Apart from the above, Imo the FL only needs the one that connects the two footwells.
The PFL benefits noticeably from the front and rear lower member braces. The FL has that OEM.
Imo the large belly frame adds more weight than benefit. An additionally líterally downside for mé is the ground clearance.
Mine is PFL.
Quote from: TheTigerUK on November 30, 2022, 18:23Mine is PFL.
Boris ´Snelbaard´ has the footwell brace and the lower front member brace. I have both and think them good vfm. Don´t know about the rear lower control arms: I have the TRD ones.
All illustrated in Belle´s thread.
Since fitting these I have shut the doors a couple of times when going for a drive only to be notified by the light on instrument panel that the door wasent shut, it shows they are a nice tighter fit.
Son has printed the first proto. Just a bit of tweeking.
Today paid him the correct material in black. Not cheap but he will keep it apart for my stuff.
Will make them availeble for shipping cost and anything you wish to donate (or not) to the club.