Q: Are ALL 3 bars needed to achieve the desired result ? Did you test with 1, 2, then 3 ? Or 3, 2, then 1 ?

Just curious if ALL 3 are needed ...Front big brace seems functional, back brace ?

 

The confusion there is all do to a timing crunch let me explain. As we were installing and doing the " manual " we were also having the first run shipped. During the install we found that two of the included washers did not fit in the recessed holes. The washers were really unnecessary in the first place but we like to over rather than under engineer a product. They were simple flat washers not locking . If you like you can certainly use a slightly smaller washer but it is not necessary. Had we not had our shipper already sending them out we would have most likely just removed them from the package for this first round of units.

As for a convertible owner's impression of the system the car in the pictures is a convertible and our first production piece install. Perhaps he can post his thoughts on the results.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

We only tested it with all three. The chassis engineer designed this to work together as a system not ala cart .There is no way I am going to second guess him as he has forgotten more than I will ever know in this dept. The back plate is the easiest of all 3 to install so why not go for it ?

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Just wondering ...and Learning Chasis Engineer? ...Sounds good

Do you suggest I align, corner balance first, then do this install last, before track time?

 

Good question. The system does not alter your alignment in any way and the production piece is now under 7 lbs. so I do not think there would be any balance issues either. As a rule I have always done my balance and final set up adjustments after all parts have been installed but in this case I do not see it being a problem either way.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I like to thank M7 for an awesome product, the fit is impeccable
with an awesome black anodized finish.
I installed the system in about an hour and that after never seen the product
other then in pictures.

My car is an 05 MCS Convertible, with a Bilstein PSS9 suspension, H-sport comp bars
front and rear, RDR camber plates, racing Dynamics STB and finally the H-sport rear control arms.

And I almost forgot, 255/35-18" wheels with Toyo T1R tires. All this rubber is possible as
I custom fitted some fiberglass flares to my Aero Kit.

The car as it sat before the M7 USS was a handful, the car went from understeer to oversteer
with an unsettling unbalanced feel. This made the car very hard to drive fast without white knuckle
inducing antics.

After I installed the system I took the car out to the "Loop" my favorite neighborhood
test track.... It's pretty amazing how the car will now dive in to the corners with more stability
and poise, no shimmy or sudden wobbles that was all to obvious before the under strut system.

I hope this answered some of your questions regarding the USS and the convertible
application.

Johnny

 

Thanks for the review, Johnny - I've always felt the convertible to be a bit skittlish, especially after adding the larger sway bars. From what you observed first-hand, it seems that the USS would be particularly beneficial.

I'll be waiting for the M7 gang to release the new strut brace with SRP-like plates so I can put a package together. Hopefully it won't be too long!

 

I don't want to be a post ***** or anything and I realize the two cars are not closely related but... I installed Sub-Frame Connectors (Which I feel these are) on my Camaro Convertible and the handling difference was night and day. The body flex almost disappeared and the handing became neutral with the addition of a strut brace and larger rear swaybars... was worth every penny.

Tho I have a Hardtop my wife just ordered a cabrio so this will be one of our first mods

 

Johnny thank you for taking the time to post your feelings. Hopefully there will be more of the same shortly as the first batch of units sold are hitting their various destinations as we speak.

Thank you,

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Ehhhh SRP like plates......????

peter
Team M7

 

Sorry for not being clear - I'm referring to the new strut bar that would be attached to the strut towers using a different design than the current bar. Randy hinted at it in this thread.

 

Mr. Latte....

We are not making another plain STB to replace and or add to the product line. What Randy propably refered to was the possibillity of a black version
of our current unit IE. M7 STB-B

peter
Team M7

 

Well, slap me silly and colour me sheepish.

Thank you for the clarification, sir.

 

Peter,

I received my M7 USS today and there is a serious problem with it ... it's too darn nice to put under the car! It's a piece of art So, what am I supposed to do????

Steve

 

buy another 3, and send 2 to me.

 

I had the same problem

 

We can offer framing service on a purple background (crushed velvet)

peter
Team M7

 

Hey Peter are you going to offer your strut tower brace in the same finish? If so, sign me up

 

Peter - I was on the fence until the skid plate issue was resolved and recently put my order in. Do you have a general ETA on when the next batch will ship?

 

Mine arrived a bit ago. Will install this Sat. along with M7-splitter.

 

We are expecting the next shippment in about two weeks, and we will keep the price at $329 untill we get that shipment in.

The last couple of days has proven what a bunch of great customer we have here at M7. As we released the USS we found some small issues that in a global perspective are fairly insignificant.......but we had to solve them.
Number one is the Nut-insert on the passenger side, the insert seems to want to pull out while torquing down the insert, the answer may be a thinner washer allowing the nut to penetrate deeper thus give more grip.
It is very important not to over torque the insert......
Please call me for more info.....

The other strange issue is the front passengerside Bolt for the main brace.
It seems that some cars have a bolt coming in from the back side some not so the solution is simple, add some extra washers, cut 3 treads of the
bolt or sell the MINI and buy a Skoda

Again my friends, call me if there's a question.

peter
Team M7

 

Thanks for the update Peter!

 

Had the m7 USS installed today on my 2002 MCS and got a chance to try it out on one of my favorite canyon carving runs on the way back home.

How does it work??? EXCELLENT!!

It makes the car feel more "settled" in high speed sweepers after your turn-in. If you hit a bump in the middle of a turn, the car does not "jump" like before.

I could not feel too much of a difference in low speed twisties - but I need more testing - Monday is a holiday!!

 

Well I just came back from the track and have to say the uss is the final touch on any suspension. I had a few instructors drive my car and have made many comments to me such as, "this car is set up amazing". All I can say is WOW. It was the final touch made the car straight and true. I'm so tired right now, that I cannot think too straight. Anyone who thinks they know how to drive their car should buy one and realize how much they suck without it :D.