I'm curious if anyone has any familiarity with using any of the products offered by this company??

I am interested in getting the one seen here: http://ultraracingeurope.com/product...wer-brace.html

Would adding something like this help with overall handling even if I am already utilizing Craven Speed's big pair??

 

I got 3 braces from them:
– Ultra Racing Strut Tower Bar - https://myredmini.com/ultra-racing/
– Ultra Racing Front Member Brace - https://myredmini.com/front-member-brace-install/
– Ultra Racing Middle Member Brace - no writeup

I'm incredibly impressed with them. Their fitment is 100% dead-on accurate.

The one thing that I loved about the front strut brace was that it was all one piece. If the purpose of that brace is to provide rigidity and support, it made no sense to me to have a multi-piece design line NM, JCW, etc..

All those pieces will flex under load. Ultra Racing is one piece so if it does provide anything, there are fewer pieces to flex.

I did all of the installs in negative temps so I was pleased they fit so well because I didnt want to freeze to death. I have one more brace to get

 

Does the Ultra Racing Strut Tower Bar limit access to the negative battery terminal?

 

You would have to remove it to get to it. There are a lot of pieces to get to that terminal.

Im pretty sure most tower bars would need to be removed though

 

Thanks for the input Mini_Vinnie. I am wondering what's your take on how these pieces are constructed, specifically for the undercarriage? Are we talking a solid design through and through? Hollowed? I imagine fabrication out of steel?

Also, how easy was the install for you??

 

Mybe you can use them as well, as fitment points for underfloor channels ? Can you remove them in the wet chop chop ?

As a matter of interest can somebody approve handling surplus ?

 

Glad to help!

Like I mentioned, I was extremely impressed with all the braces. I took a leap of faith and bought these and dont regret it one bit. For the price, you cant beat it.

Install was extremely easy. I did it in my garage in a -3 Minneapolis winter so I was very happy that it was an easy install.

The welds really add strength to these pieces. They are hollow with drain holes but the welding will eliminate any flex. They are very solid welds.

 

Being new to the Mini world, posts like this are invaluable. Thanks!

 

Glad to help buddy!! Let me know if you have any questions! I try to document everything I do. If it helps one person, mission accomplished!

 

for what it's worth...i had a full set of their braces on a volvo polestar. very good stuff, well built. they provided a subtle but perceptible improvement to chassis flex on that old ford shell.

 

I am also in MN hope you're enjoying the lovely weather this week!

Where did you order them from? Or do you have to order them directly from them and import in?

 

Nice! Im in Minneapolis ........ Im getting pretty sick of this weather!!!!

I got all of mine off of ebay. There are a bunch of Ultra Racing accounts but they are all the same people. Its actually pretty funny.

They all ship from Malaysia and take about 7-10 to get here. All of mine have been FedEx and they are great at giving tracking numbers.

 

Vinnie, how much difference did you notice in chassis stiffness? I wonder which one gives the biggest benefit... I wouldn't go so far as to do all of them, but the big square one looks like the center of it all...

 

Yeah, Id go for the center one if I just had to pick one. It covers 4 points, 2 on the control arms and 2 on the frame.

Im in a catch 22 with them because its still winter here so I have my squishy winter tires on so Its really hard to get an idea of the stiffness. Hopefully, in a month I can get my summers on and really tell!

The car does feel really solid if that means anything. On the days where the roads were dry and I could go into the corners a little hard, I could tell a lot of the roll was reduced/eliminated.

I really need to get out of this state

 

@Mini_Vinnie or anyone else, anything to add? Interested to hear if there was a noticeable increase in rigidity. Thanks!

 

I feel it helped reduce body roll. Now granted, I did a decent amount of suspension work and these braces helped add to the rigidity.

 

I have the same braces and agree that they did make a difference. Also Ultra racing was great to work with. For coming over seas I had the items in only 3 business days BUT you have to be able to sign for the packages because they are international.

 

Cool, which ones did you get?

Any issues scraping on speed bumps etc? Need to remove for any work that requires removing the under-tray?

 

I got all three front ones and have the cravenspeed big pair in the back. I have not had any issues with scraping since they are still not the lowest point under the car. You could get the under-tray off you just have to slide it out. Just takes an extra couple minuets.

 

Gonna try to install the iSweep brace this weekend. Although sliding under a car, flat on my back, on concrete is no longer fun.

 

get some PB Blaster. I had a bear with some of my bolts

 

Check out the iSeep, hits the catalytic converter.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4495999