The Barbarian front and centre braces are finally back in stock at Barbarian racing, so I'm wanting to fit a set. For fitting the centre brace to facelift cars apparently the chassis needs to be drilled and fitted with a couple of rivnuts?
Has anyone fitted the centre brace to a facelift car and can throw a bit more light on this?
Strange also that buying the braces separately is £10 cheaper than buying the combined package.
TIA
Unless its for looks , not sure i would be happy with a brace being held om with rivnuts...
@Hawko This gives information / loadings for various "Rivnuts"
https://therivetcompany.co.uk/rivnuts/
See PDF data sheets.
The "saved" £10 will help toward the cost of the Rivnut and importantly the necessary setting tool.
Thanks, already considered checking the loadings.
The Barbarian has 6 bolts on the centre brace as opposed to 4 on the OEM facelift brace.
It's the additional fixings that need rivnuts that I'm trying to determine the size and position of.
Surely the supplier/ manufacturer can provide that information.
By "position" I guess you are referring to the position the drill/ fixing will enter the interior of the car.
Just maybe a bolt will be possible.
I don't no if i misunderstand your question.
I have fit the centre brace on my FL, and did not have to use any rivnuts, just the exciting mounting points
Quote from: Hawko on August 20, 2026, 08:41Thanks, already considered checking the loadings.
The Barbarian has 6 bolts on the centre brace as opposed to 4 on the OEM facelift brace.
It's the additional fixings that need rivnuts that I'm trying to determine the size and position of.
Are you talking about the front lower brace rather than a mid brace? The facelift has an oem front lower brace but didn't come with a mid/centre brace.
Quote from: steveash on August 20, 2026, 20:29Are you talking about the front lower brace rather than a mid brace? The facelift has an oem front lower brace but didn't come with a mid/centre brace.
Yes, I think I'm getting confused between a front and centre brace. Seems the Barbarian front brace is a direct fit for the facelift front brace.
Quote from: MRSwede on August 20, 2026, 17:28I don't no if i misunderstand your question.
I have fit the centre brace on my FL, and did not have to use any rivnuts, just the exciting mounting points
Ok thanks for the info. The Barbarian website says minor modification required for facelift. When I asked they said requires drilling the chassis and fitting rivnuts at one position, but couldn't say where.
Think I'll just go for it anyway
Ok so I have the centre brace now, I have had a look at fitting now the rain has finally stopped.
There are existing fixing bolts at the four rear brace mounting positions, however the outer pair in the chassis rails are only M6. The inner pair holding the existing flimsy cross brace are M8.
I'm thinking the outer pair at M6 aren't man enough, the holes sizes in the brace across all 4 rear mountings are consistent.
I have emailed Barbarian to clarify if they were suggesting increasing the outer mountings to M8, so see what they come back with.
Interested if anybody can confirm if their mountings are the same.
Been at the the front top strut brace.
Does anyone know if the frunk still opens fine? Looks like it's in the way in pictures.
Quote from: Ozzy on August 28, 2026, 16:03Been at the the front top strut brace.
Does anyone know if the frunk still opens fine? Looks like it's in the way in pictures.
For any decent front strut brace, the frunk lid has to be cut.