I was in Tokyo only for three days (!) but I managed to pick something up. OMP in the UK makes one but this one is aluminum. I bought one for my car and RECOOP's car. Photos are RECOOP's. (Sorry for the crappy dig pics.) I have the "under wing" as well and thought it might interfere but it went on perfectly. I will take more pics once I get the digital camera repaired. I haven't had a chance to really drive the car yet. I will post the impression once I hit the canyon sometime this week....

 

Very interesting! How much was it in USD and how much lower does it hang down?

 

l00ks sweeet....

& what MSFITOY said above ^^

 

It doesn't hang out at all. the rubber flip thingy in the front of the bar will hide most of the bar if you look from the front. Bar is about 2cm off the frame.

 

Here is a pic from the front.

 

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What is the likelyhood that this might find it's way to the USA?

 

PFUNK

Is that an OMP bar or is it a different MFG. Do you know if it mounts the same. I'm just wondering if it will hold up compared to the steel model. Thanks for the info.

 

This is not an OMP bar. As far as I know it's only out in Japan. I think it does mount the same way though.

 

It looks like a much higher level of material and finish than the OMP. I purchased an OMP lower brace from RallyNuts in the UK: http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/The_..._Mini_1817.asp. It was only $70 total including shipping from the UK! They even sent it express mail and the USPS tried to deliver on Sunday (I wasn't home). It will be installed in the coming week.

 

Yesterday <pfunk> installed the new lower strut tower bar (? LSTB) on my Mini. Total time, including a break for some 50 year old saki, was about 25 minutes. After the bolts were properly torqued, and the saki had metabolized, I headed home (about 50 mile drive).

My car was already fairly solid/stiff (H-Sport competition rear sway bar, front sway bar and upper strut tower brace, Autopower roll bar, and one of the new Japanese engine dampers), but the ride home gave me the impression that the car was even stiffer with the LSTB. This morning I was driving fairly fast (pedal-to-the-metal until redline in the first three gears), and I felt there was much less torque-steer than had previously been present. These impressions are just that, and, of course, quite subjective. I do hope to take the car on some canyon drives, and will be participating in the Phil Wicks MINI/Mini event at Laguna Seca on December 14th. That should provide the opportunity for assessing handling in the curves.

 

BTW, the workmanship and finish on this LSTB are quite nice ---

 

LSTB it is then Bob. I have not had a chance to push my car around yet but yes the car feels really solid. I am a bar ***** though. Now I have front upper and lower strut tower and sway bar. I have rear upper strut tower and rear sway. I think I need the rear frame brace to complete my quest for the ultimate stiffness...

 

Not if you drink too much saki... [Sorry, but I couldn't resist]

 

Speak for yourself Bob. Alcohol never had any effect on me.....

 

pfunk

What is the rear frame brace you are talking about. Do you have pictures. Also is there a way for someone here in the US can get this lower frt brace you purchased. Thanks

 

Wow..never heard of this before.

Any driving difference? Its a very interesting part.

 

i'd like to know if there's any difference in handling too. i don't even use a front strut bar....or really felt the need for one so... :smile:

 

are u talkin' about the rear brace the convertibles use on their cars ??

 

OK, my first impression....

I don't think I will have a chance to take my car out to the canyon until after Thanksgiving but I drove around town and found few things.

First, the car feels really solid going straight. Did few fast lane change on a freeway. My car is set firm anyway but no roll at all now and really feels "sharp".

More importantly, I have noticed that it has reduced the torque steer quite dramatically. I did few red lining acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear. I could actually take my hands off during the take off! Can someone explain this?

Over all, I am really pleased so far. I can't wait to take her out to the mountains.

 

Well, I don't get any torque steer after having my car completely aligned. It was really outta whack before- dancing around on hard braking and such. Now, no torque steer at all on take off or braking. You might want to have your alignment checked out, even if this piece lessened it.

 

As posted above, I also found less torque steer with the LSTB, and my car is perfectly aligned. I also know that "pfunk's" alignment is spot-on. Neither of our cars were "outta whack", as you described for your car. Anyway, thank you for your suggestion....

 

It wasn't for you, Bob. It was for pfunk. I certainly meant no offense to anyone, much less you. . Anyways, I can only speak from personal experience, and after a summer's worth of track days and some creative driving techniques , my car was a little annoying on the highway, to say the least. It had also progressively picked up torque steer, which it hadn't had from the factory. And, sure enough, having the car aligned with 160 pounds of weights at the driver's seat and everything set perfectly [a 2 hour ordeal, mind you] made my car better than new. It is FLAWLESS, whereas I once had torque steer and some enthusiastic tires under braking. So, again, _from experience_, that's the best advice I have. Maybe the bar is masking an alignment issue [i cannot exactly see where it is attached- maybe it holds the suspension members to less articulation]. BUT, if there is one, especially with toe out or sketchy camber, it can easily burn through one's tires. I nearly lost a set of tires to this, myself. I would hate to see that happen to ya. So, I suggested.... Hope this clarifies.

 

Pfunk
Can you please tell us about the rear braces you spoke of. Thanks
Are these something from Japan????

 

Alignment on my car is fine also. Just when you go up to 7200rpm on 1st and 2nd you know the car dances around a bit.... which has been reduced.

This is what I was looking at. It is more of a "center brace" I guess...