Anyone running this? Pros? Cons?

Will be driven mostly spirited street, 1 or 2 track days per year.

Any input will be appreciated!

 

Davisflyer
If you start around post #90 https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...updates-4.html their is a lot of information on the trapizoid brace. Mason Eng. makes this for several vendors. I find it to be a well kept secret. For the full effect get the trapizoid, mid, cabrio, and a good strut brace coupled with front camber plates. I believe that the sum of the parts all make each other work better.
Steve

 

I have the Mason on my car and the car just sticks to the ground. Front end seems more solid and stays planted on the the track. As Steve says, it one of the best kept secrets out there.

Great product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have the Mini Madness trapezoid brace (I believe made by Mason) and front camber plates. I had the camber plates first then added the lower brace. I like the improvement and highly recommend the addition. It is easy to install. I do not know of any cons other than the cost.

I do not have a upper strut brace, cabrio braces, or lower middle brace. I plan to add the cabrio braces and a middle brace. I do not think I will add the top strut brace.

 

Did you guys that installed it notice any increase in understeer?

 

Not on my car on the track.

 

No noticable increase in understeer on my car. I run -2.0 deg of front camber. I did notice less wander when braking hard on a straight downhill offramp that I take everyday.

I recall posts with people stating an increase in understeer and I wonder if an understeer change is more noticable with cars that have closer to zero front camber.

 

Larry
I'm not sure if you added the mid brace that you have to your car. I can tell you that it fit over my stock JCW exhaust without modification and, to my surprise, made as much of a difference as the trapizoid brace did. I would be curious to know if it fit over your header.
Steve

 

I tried it and found the TSW X brace to work much better. The Mason bar was just barely noticable if even at all.

 

I thought about the x-brace, but it's $200 more expensive, and some have said it increased NVH levels, which I am not interested in. I take my car to the track 1 or 2 times a year, so it may be overkill.

 

I have the OMP lower brace and it works very well. I bought mine for under $100 and so far so good. Been on the car for about two years and it has made a lasting impression.

 

Ok, pulled the trigger on the ME bar. Should get it next week and installed in time for VIR on May 17. I'll post impressions after then.

 

Installed it today and I can happily say my experience was much different than yours. I noticed first that the front end felt tighter. It tracks straighter over bumps in the road and on one of my particularly tight switchbacks near my house, seemed to lay the power down better through the transitions.

Feels like money well spent to me!

 

Glad you like the bar. I figured if you got it your opinion would be the same as people who have it on their car. It makes a nice difference. Nice explanation by the way of how your car feels. Enjoy........................

 

Morning all, thinking of pulling the trigger on a Mason lower bar.is there
a vast difference between the carbon steel or the aluminum bar other
then weight? what would one recommend for strickly a street application.

 

I went with steel due to the lower cost and I did not expect the weight difference to be very much. For the street, I would think steel is adequate.

 

As above I got the steel bar because of the weather in Western NY. I really don't think it matters for you being in CA. Call John Mason, he'll lead you in the right direction.

 

I went with the steel, it's only 7 lbs.

 

Good choice

 

Thanks guys, i'll give Mason a call.their right over the hill from me
in Simi Valley.

 

Good choice