i have read some about different chassi braces used to help reduce flex in the mini and improve handling

i feel my first gen cab has a fair amount of flex and wonder if a reinforcing brace would to help
reduce this flex, not so much for handling improvements, but to reduce squeaks, rattles and vibrations

thanks

 

There is a underbody front installed x-type brace but IMO it is not going to help the squeaks and rattles of the vert. I think that the manner that the windshield pillars are not supported off the back causes allot of the rattles. I did find that putting some rubber strips on top of the x brace and the bottom of the gas tank helped. Can also install some o-rings where the front frame bolts to the uni-body but that causes more flex.

 

The best improvement for handling is a heavier adjustable RSB, 19 or 22 MM. You will also be very happy with the ride that KONI FSD struts provide.

 

With a convertible under body brace will make even a bigger difference than on a hardtop. We use and recommend the TSW X brace. There are several braces out there, but the X brace is the only one that actually crosses the open area of the chassis to actually stiffen the car up. The others follow the shape of the subframe and therefore don't do much if any as the subframe isn't where it needs to be stiffened.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-xbrace.html

 

thanks for the reply(s)
i have read about people using the TSW brace and one R52 owner did a test with three different braces. He felt they all helped stiffen the car some but that the TSW also transferd some vibration to the floor boards he didn't like,

have others had this experience?

in my case am more concerned with reducing mirror shake, dash squeaks, other noises than improving handling

 

For this remedy IMO one must buy a Gen3, something that is not going to happen on my part.

 

I had the M7 Tuning ( M7 Speed) under strut system on my R52 since about 2007 ish. I noticed a difference in the shaking and ride. The R52's like the rattle a lot with the top up and the under strut helped reduce it. But the car being the way it is will not turn into a R57 or F57 ride. Those are much smoother.

 

thanks

not want to improve handling just rude a few squeaks and rattles

with this in mind any suggestions for best system to use

 

There shouldn't be any extra vibration unless you have something rattling against it like a header as we see that with shot engine mounts, or if someone drives over something.

 

thanks for the information

so is there then a general consensus that the X brace wont add extra noise in the cab?

 

Normally with a vibration, stiffening the structure around the vibration increases the transfer but it would logical to assume that since the underbody brace is utilizing existing attachment points the vibration is not impacted but rather the torsional quality of the components that are fastened to the brace.