Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 For a tii, is there any consensus feeling about the strut brace from Ireland Engineering compared to the Top End Performance strut/engine torque brace? I realize this is very subjective. From searching archives it looks like the Ireland unit is well respected while opinions vary widely on the Top End Performance brace from the best available to junk. The car is otherwise running HD Bilsteins, H&R springs, and uprated sway bars. Are there other strut braces that should be considered? Thanks, Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 The top end brace is by far a more robust and better engineered product for a 30 year old unibody like a 2002 but their productions is pretty weak especially for the value that is why I made my own based on their design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 The TEP unit is a great design, but their execution is not consistently good. Mine is functional and fit fine, but isn't the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I've heard that some have had fitment problems, but this could be due to twisted unibodies as much as to poor quality control on the brace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 URL: http://www.bmw2002faq.com/02s_online/links.html its in the FAQ links page somehwere.... $90 for a nice steel brace!! FORGET an aluminum brace as they are simply too flexible to really to any good as anything other than engine-room trim. -Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 hey Gary, I like the ireland unit. but you really should have an engine brace as well. the tep unit worked fine for a street car and was triangulated and had the engine brace. but if you dont mind machining a bracket for the engine brace on the ireland bar id go for that. cheaper too. Cory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 (nt) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 that's what i've heard. talking to quite a few guys you'll feel it much more and it'll be a bigger bang for the buck. Personally i dunno how much 'fun' getting into the engine bay w/the strut bar like irelands in the way... unless of course you droped the m3 engine in there or are getting mad horsepower and the body of the car's twisting around like a rubber band... -dave 21mm swaybar up front and hopefully by the end of the weekend 19mm in the back...=) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Thanks Dave. Already have the beefier sway bars like you are adding. Plus I even already have the M3 (78K original miles) but wouldn't dream of taking the engine out of the well-balanced chassis it already is in. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Open up the hood of a 2002 chances are it is showing some cracking or at least signs of impending cracks where the nose joins the inner fender, only one things causes that body flex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 The 02 is by no means a solid platform for increased sway bar sizes. The 02 chassis bends and twists like nobody's business. The larger sway bar you put in, the more chassis flex you will have. Assuming you have no front stress bar try this: Park the car on level concrete and measure the distance between the inner most strut top mount bolts (side to side across the engine bay). Remember that measurement. Now jack up the car from the middle of the sub frame and measure again. You will see anything from .25"-.5" more distance than first measurement. And, consider that this is only one axis of movement, the whole car twists when cornering. If you really want to shock yourself, measure from the left rear corner to the right front corner while on level grond. Then jack one of the corners of the car up and take that same measurement. When you lift the car by one corner you can almost see the roof buckle! Also, try opening one of the doors while the car is jacked up on one corner. The best way to eliminate chassis flex is a full roll cage. Sans cage, the best way to brace the front end would be through means of an X-brace. I'm working on a design right now. I'll see what it does and let you all know. Ethan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 I run one on my car. Very happy with it's clean and simple look. I have a standard '02 and not a Tii steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 (nt) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 and i think either BMP or Bav. Autosport catalogues show a 2002tii specific brace too. Interesting observation about old BMWs w/o strut braces: friend who raced a 1972 Bavaria in One Lap of America race this year , and who did not use a strut brace, noted he could see the fender/hood gap changing due to flex. He is definately adding a strut brace to the car for its next adventure. I felt a positive difference when i had my brace made for my Sahara ( before I knew I could buy a brace that cleared OEM air cleaner- previous engine). My A4 came with a strong brace of unknown origin (shown - it has angle up to clear airbox)./// Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 22, 2003 Share Posted May 22, 2003 It is made from what feels like electrical conduit. That thing has very very little strength. Also, I think that engine brace thing is pretty junky as well. I have one and strenghened it by welding on more steel. Get Ireland's strut brace and their urethane engine mounts. Those engine mounts are the thing to have. Only thing I've known to control the engine shakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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