Wanted Rear strut braces

[Davyhoogy]

Hi all

Soon I will be getting some diff mount and chassis welding/repairs done.
If quite like to install a front and rear strut brace just to give a bit of extra strength and rigidity to the car.
I have a '98 2.8.
I think I recall a few years ago someone had rear upper braces made to go inside the car on the top mounts, are these still around?

I know I can get front ones anywhere but it is the rear that I am really after. Goes on the top mounts and still allows the roof to fully retract.

TIA
Davey

 

[5harp3y]

they were made by Bertini, but not sure if they are still available.

https://zroadster.org/threads/rear-...z3m-roadster-with-reinforced-top-mounts.7842/

there are some good looking braces on eBay at the moment for £80 ish (front)

 

[Ianmc]

just to give a bit of extra strength and rigidity to the car.

IMO these are just "bling". If that's what you are after, great.

 

[windym]

IMO these are just "bling". If that's what you are after, great.

You need to try a brace to appreciate the difference they make. Although a brace will not cover worn suspension, they certainly enhance the ride and handling when used with new or good springs, shocks and bushes.

Andy

 

[roadvoyager1]

Remener reading that the rear brace reduces clearance under car (it sticks out downwards). With yours already being seriously lowered check before you buy. Get the wrong one and your wheels won't be touching the road.

 

[windym]

Remener reading that the rear brace reduces clearance under car (it sticks out downwards). With yours already being seriously lowered check before you buy. Get the wrong one and your wheels won't be touching the road.

The op is talking tower braces not under body braces.

Andy

 

[Davyhoogy]

Thanks, it doesn't look like that thread has been active for a good few years. But that is what I'm after!

 

[Sean d]

IMO these are just "bling". If that's what you are after, great.

No, the front without doubt makes a difference, the car feels a lot flatter when cornering

 

[t-tony]

Although a brace will not cover worn suspension,

I think @GazHyde will state the exact opposite here Andy. My Z3 had K&W coil overs when I bought it which were great, fitting my strut brace added to the rigid feel I have to say.

Tony.

 

[Ianmc]

enhance the ride and handling when used with new or good springs, shocks and bushes.

IMO, the priority is to ensure the bushes and other suspension components are in good condition. When so, my experience of fitting a strut brace made no difference whatsoever. Other opinions are clearly available.

 

[Davyhoogy]

IMO, the priority is to ensure the bushes and other suspension components are in good condition. When so, my experience of fitting a strut brace made no difference whatsoever. Other opinions are clearly available.

Other components have/will be replaced. Im after a rear one just to give me a bit more strength on the rear and stop it flexing as much in the hopes it will prevent any more tears/cracks in and around the diff mount and the surrounding metal as that's an issue I'm currently dealing with.
The front one us just because I may as well haha

 

[Stevo7682]

After reading this thread so far I have came to the conclusion that there's definitely 2 different opinions on this

 

[elky]

I am not sure where to describe my experience, but for anyone searching for a rear strut brace for their Z3, the E36 rear strut brace from IRP fits perfectly, besides cutting two windows in the fabric above the shock towers.

 

[Delk]

Opinions on the braces vary a lot. The Z is not known as the most ridged platform so I don’t think anything could hurt.

I feel its more noticeable if you have modified suspension. My car sits on lowered stiff coilovers and 18 inch wheels. The front brace has been in and out a number of times while I have been doing engine work and its noticeable. Most of the roads were I lived were paved by Fred Flinstone himself and that doesn’t help.

 

[elky]

Opinions on the braces vary a lot. The Z is not known as the most ridged platform so I don’t think anything could hurt.

I feel its more noticeable if you have modified suspension. My car sits on lowered stiff coilovers and 18 inch wheels. The front brace has been in and out a number of times while I have been doing engine work and its noticeable. Most of the roads were I lived were paved by Fred Flinstone himself and that doesn’t help.

Totally agree, and that is why I did, because down the roadmap I'll be fitting coilovers which need the small reinforcement plates. So instead of the standalone plates, I thought I'd try a rear strut brace, which essentially performs two tasks

 

[deano1712]

The front strut brace is an excellent modification and improves steering response greatly on the z3 and many cars. The front strut tower has low lateral stiffness and the strut brace helps by sharing the load through both sides effectively doubling lateral stiffness at top of the strut. I never understood how rear braces can help on the z3. Top shock mounts are closely connected via the rear firewall. Trailing arms are closely connected via the subframe. The problem at the rear is the soft bushes at the front of the subframe so it flexes relative to the chassis which make the rear end a bit loose and also causes rear wheel steer. Solid bushes is the answer and I would recommend this over a rear brace. Rear braces don't do anything except add weight and in some cases reduce ground clearance.

 

[elky]

The front strut brace is an excellent modification and improves steering response greatly on the z3 and many cars. The front strut tower has low lateral stiffness and the strut brace helps by sharing the load through both sides effectively doubling lateral stiffness at top of the strut. I never understood how rear braces can help on the z3. Top shock mounts are closely connected via the rear firewall. Trailing arms are closely connected via the subframe. The problem at the rear is the soft bushes at the front of the subframe so it flexes relative to the chassis which make the rear end a bit loose and also causes rear wheel steer. Solid bushes is the answer and I would recommend this over a rear brace. Rear braces don't do anything except add weight and in some cases reduce ground clearance.

I haven't yet taken my Z to track and check if I can feel any difference and I totally agree that solid bushes are a better performance upgrade.
That being said I've seen up-close firewall sheet metal (which is typically cut in E36/E46 race applications) and I don't think it provides any rigidity. Moreover, in those application they deploy again an upper rear strut brace to add rigidity which is typically connected with the subframe bolts in an X-brace but that is another level.
Finally, since it's a good idea to install reinforcement plates on the rear towers to help cope with harder suspension, it makes sense for those reinforcement plates to be connected with each other. So to me it's a win-win situation adding an upper rear brace for anyone planning to add reinforcement plates.

Note regarding the weight, you could argue that adding weight for the front strut brace you have to balance it with something on the rear to help with that 50/50 distribution.