R55 Clubman with TSW lower chassis brace ?
#1
#2
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
I've had mine on for a few weeks....in combination with a CravenSpeed SARS up top (installed several months ago), Megan coilovers (installed a couple of years ago), and a 20mm Whiteline rear sway bar (installed several years ago). The TSW lower brace had more effect than the SARS....the difference with the TSW was definitely noticeable, but not a night and day difference. I notice it most when I'm going over rough roads (the front end feels very solid - hard to describe, but zero shaking...not that it was bad before) and when I'm on an on-ramp (fewer small correcting steering inputs). My goal was to make the car more fun to drive, and it definitely delivered on that. I would make the investment again - a "no-brainer" for me.
#4
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Yes, the brace is on my Clubman - sorry I wasn't clear about that.
Also, I have to add that my Clubman is lowered (coilovers) there isn't much wheel gap, so it's not slammed. I have had the brace rub a couple of times...not on every speed bump though. I don't have to go into/out of any irregular driveways. I'll probably take it off over the winter though.
Also, I have to add that my Clubman is lowered (coilovers) there isn't much wheel gap, so it's not slammed. I have had the brace rub a couple of times...not on every speed bump though. I don't have to go into/out of any irregular driveways. I'll probably take it off over the winter though.
#5
Vendor
iTrader: (10)
Yes the X brace becomes the lowest thing on your MINI, but still will clear most things you drive over. But the bigger thing is it really works to reduce body flex.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-xb...6-r55-r57.html
https://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-xb...6-r55-r57.html
#7
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#8
Update: Got the brace by WMW and installed this morning. Took about 20 mins install. The chassis feels tight and solid in a great way. The brace seem to isolate the suspension so it can do its job. Turn in and steering inputs seems quicker and more direct. I would hear the car creaking when turning in and out of driveways... no more creaking!
The best way I can described this mod is like the engine torque arm bushing mod that's for the chassis. Solid investment in terms of improved overall handling. I like the way the car rides now more than any other suspension mod aside from the Koni FSD's.
The best way I can described this mod is like the engine torque arm bushing mod that's for the chassis. Solid investment in terms of improved overall handling. I like the way the car rides now more than any other suspension mod aside from the Koni FSD's.
#9
^^^i think the comparison to a torque arm bushing is pretty spot on. I have the MARS two piece set up on my clubman and its a pretty noiticeable difference over stock. It made more of a difference than the upper strut tower brace also. Im happy with the set up and i should have done it sooner...
#10
Yes the X brace becomes the lowest thing on your MINI, but still will clear most things you drive over. But the bigger thing is it really works to reduce body flex.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-xb...6-r55-r57.html
https://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-xb...6-r55-r57.html
That’s 99 more than I need.
#12
They are on back order indefinitely.
I ordered this instead:
Takes several weeks to get here from
Germany to ECS Tuning but should have
it to my door by the end of this month.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-wiechers...el/063001~wei/
I ordered this instead:
Takes several weeks to get here from
Germany to ECS Tuning but should have
it to my door by the end of this month.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-wiechers...el/063001~wei/
The following users liked this post:
ECSTuning (07-09-2019)
#13
#14
We got your email and sending some info back. Hold tight.
__________________
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#15
Found this on the interwebs:
http://www.auto-ksport.cz/cz3006--rozpery-vyztuhy.html
Looks like it only mounts to the front subframe, not the mid-chassis like the Way Motors brace...
#16
ECS tuning just sent that exact pic to me a few minutes ago.
That looks like where I figured the mounting points have to be, but the ends at the back of the brace
(top of the picture) look different than the part I have. Mine just has the flat end with a hole like
the front has, and a bolt and washer as shown here, but a flanged sleeve part above the brace
(a cylinder about 15 mm in diameter and 14 mm long with a flange about 24 mm x 3 mm like a
top hat with a threaded hole down the center for the bolt). The area on the subframe just above
this has a smooth 10.5 mm hole, bigger than the bolt and much smaller than the 15 mm sleeve.
Even if I drilled the hole out to 15 mm and had someone tack weld the sleeve in, the main
acheivement of the brace would be to stiffen the connection of the subframe to the front bumper
instead of reinforcing the locating points of the control arms on the body like the Way TSW brace does.
I'm trying to sent the part back, but ECS says I should wait at least until Monday when the MINI part specialist
may have time to respond to my concerns. It might be time to get a scraped up used TSW one instead or
wait a long time and see if new R55-59 TSW ones become available again or just fuggetaboutit altogether.
That looks like where I figured the mounting points have to be, but the ends at the back of the brace
(top of the picture) look different than the part I have. Mine just has the flat end with a hole like
the front has, and a bolt and washer as shown here, but a flanged sleeve part above the brace
(a cylinder about 15 mm in diameter and 14 mm long with a flange about 24 mm x 3 mm like a
top hat with a threaded hole down the center for the bolt). The area on the subframe just above
this has a smooth 10.5 mm hole, bigger than the bolt and much smaller than the 15 mm sleeve.
Even if I drilled the hole out to 15 mm and had someone tack weld the sleeve in, the main
acheivement of the brace would be to stiffen the connection of the subframe to the front bumper
instead of reinforcing the locating points of the control arms on the body like the Way TSW brace does.
I'm trying to sent the part back, but ECS says I should wait at least until Monday when the MINI part specialist
may have time to respond to my concerns. It might be time to get a scraped up used TSW one instead or
wait a long time and see if new R55-59 TSW ones become available again or just fuggetaboutit altogether.
#17
#18
#19
Sorry about that, when we get it back we will check it out and work with wiecher to get this thing sorted for the future.
Hole must be drilled out to 15mm and Nut inserts must be tack welded into place for the 2 rear(front just bolts in), after that the nut insert can be painted. I guess they changed the design after the last.
These are the same guys that make F1 and racing series foll cages for germany so their must have been a change.
Hole must be drilled out to 15mm and Nut inserts must be tack welded into place for the 2 rear(front just bolts in), after that the nut insert can be painted. I guess they changed the design after the last.
These are the same guys that make F1 and racing series foll cages for germany so their must have been a change.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
Last edited by ECSTuning; 08-15-2019 at 02:00 PM.
#21
There are a bunch of chassis braces available from Ultra Racing that look interesting, especially the 6-point front lower brace (1648).
ECS has them with $125 shipping for one or several pieces, or $38 for that piece from CA to PA from https://ultraracing-usa.com/product/...-r55-2008-2014 .
ECS page for my MINI here: https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-...h/ultra_racing
Both places take a couple to several weeks to ship.
ECS has them with $125 shipping for one or several pieces, or $38 for that piece from CA to PA from https://ultraracing-usa.com/product/...-r55-2008-2014 .
ECS page for my MINI here: https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-...h/ultra_racing
Both places take a couple to several weeks to ship.
#22
There are a bunch of chassis braces available from Ultra Racing that look interesting, especially the 6-point front lower brace (1648).
ECS has them with $125 shipping for one or several pieces, or $38 for that piece from CA to PA from https://ultraracing-usa.com/product/...-r55-2008-2014 .
ECS page for my MINI here: https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-...h/ultra_racing
Both places take a couple to several weeks to ship.
ECS has them with $125 shipping for one or several pieces, or $38 for that piece from CA to PA from https://ultraracing-usa.com/product/...-r55-2008-2014 .
ECS page for my MINI here: https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-...h/ultra_racing
Both places take a couple to several weeks to ship.
#23
Ordered the 1648 and 1649 from https://ultraracing-usa.com . Shipping for both was only $42.
The laws of the universe dictate that this order will result in the TSW XBrace becoming available again soon.
At least it looks like they will fit and function much better than the Wiechers Sport lower brace, which I ordered a couple months ago and promptly returned.
The laws of the universe dictate that this order will result in the TSW XBrace becoming available again soon.
At least it looks like they will fit and function much better than the Wiechers Sport lower brace, which I ordered a couple months ago and promptly returned.
The following users liked this post:
thekevlarkid (12-24-2019)
#24
Ordered the 1648 and 1649 from https://ultraracing-usa.com . Shipping for both was only $42.
The laws of the universe dictate that this order will result in the TSW XBrace becoming available again soon.
At least it looks like they will fit and function much better than the Wiechers Sport lower brace, which I ordered a couple months ago and promptly returned.
The laws of the universe dictate that this order will result in the TSW XBrace becoming available again soon.
At least it looks like they will fit and function much better than the Wiechers Sport lower brace, which I ordered a couple months ago and promptly returned.
The following users liked this post:
thekevlarkid (12-24-2019)
#25