H brace installed for little money

[f14fighter]

I must inform all of the monitarily challenged people as myself that installing the H Brace and the two lower tie bar braces are actually impressive considering the trash spoken about them. I have had little money to dump into my new baby now so I went with a few small steps. Tai at corsport is fantastic to deal with. The customer service is excellent. Not far from my house there is a curving and winding road that posts a speed limit of 20 Mph. I have a 91 Prelude that I can take all corners at roughly 60. With my bone stock Civic SI sedan, I can take them at 45-50 (when I first got it- 40 - 45). I can also inform you all of these speed recommendations of being accurate. My old 96 Jeep can get on two wheels taking these turns at 35-40. My opinion, two thumbs up. I will be giving my input on my mods as they come. By the way, I also have the short shift kit with the shifter bushings...Greatly recommend.

[jonesthewine]

Originally Posted by f14fighter

I must inform all of the monitarily challenged people as myself that installing the H Brace and the two lower tie bar braces are actually impressive considering the trash spoken about them. I have had little money to dump into my new baby now so I went with a few small steps. Tai at corsport is fantastic to deal with. The customer service is excellent. Not far from my house there is a curving and winding road that posts a speed limit of 20 Mph. I have a 91 Prelude that I can take all corners at roughly 60. With my bone stock Civic SI sedan, I can take them at 45-50 (when I first got it- 40 - 45). I can also inform you all of these speed recommendations of being accurate. My old 96 Jeep can get on two wheels taking these turns at 35-40. My opinion, two thumbs up. I will be giving my input on my mods as they come. By the way, I also have the short shift kit with the shifter bushings...Greatly recommend.

I'm trying to figure out what you're saying here...which car did you install the H brace on...and did it improve the speed at which you can safely take the turns? What are the befor and after speeds through the turns?

[Si4Life]

Originally Posted by jonesthewine

I'm trying to figure out what you're saying here...which car did you install the H brace on...and did it improve the speed at which you can safely take the turns? What are the befor and after speeds through the turns?

there are a lot of people that make no sense on this forum. we need to magically know what they are talking about.

[f14fighter]

Well to all of those challenged by the fact that this is website dedicated to 8th gen. civics. One would only guess that I am talking about installing the braces on my 07 civic SI...wow, I didn't realize I had to spell it out, just figured people here may have common sense and put two and two together. I must have been wrong, I apologize for giving credit where it is not due.

[f14fighter]

Originally Posted by jonesthewine

I'm trying to figure out what you're saying here...which car did you install the H brace on...and did it improve the speed at which you can safely take the turns? What are the befor and after speeds through the turns?

If you can read there are speeds quoted in the original post. Not much of a gain, but a minimal one somewhat noticeable.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by jonesthewine

I'm trying to figure out what you're saying here...which car did you install the H brace on...and did it improve the speed at which you can safely take the turns? What are the befor and after speeds through the turns?

You have to forgive him he is a Hoosier and he speaks in tongues

[Cr8tive_leo]

I understood what he was talking about!

[Cookstar]

I'm just wondering how much of the increased speed is due to sort of a placebo effect by having some new braces under the car. You have more items that are supposed to improve handling so it makes you more confident to push your car harder though no measurable gains are present.

I don't know if this is true. I'm just throwing that possibility out there.

[jonesthewine]

Originally Posted by f14fighter

If you can read there are speeds quoted in the original post. Not much of a gain, but a minimal one somewhat noticeable.

you said "With my bone stock Civic SI sedan, I can take them at 45-50"

Bone Stock implies no mods therefore no H Brace.

In any event, I've been considering installing one as well.

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by jonesthewine

you said "With my bone stock Civic SI sedan, I can take them at 45-50"

Bone Stock implies no mods therefore no H Brace.

In any event, I've been considering installing one as well.

I am sure it can't hurt. Anything to make the car more ridged will decrease flex and should in theory improve handling somewhat.

[OMGWTFBBQIMDEREK]

I've read somewhere that the H braces and the rear lower tie bars.. don't really affect handling that greatly.. the increased "sense" of better handling is simply a mental thing and that with these upgrades.. the drivers "feel" more confident in their car.. rather than driving ability.. and that the car.. in reality.. does not handle that much better.. it's simply believing that the upgrades actually do something.. I could be wrong though. A double x-brace.. however.. is a different story.. and has yet to be made for the fg's.. but for the ep3's (I think.. or was it the dc5's.. oh wells).. apparently they work wonders.

Edit: Pretty much read Cookstar's post if you want a sparknotes version of what I just said.

[brthorner]

Chassis bracing typically benefits those with aftermarket suspension components more than those with the stock setup, as you're able to push the car beyond stock limits and take advantage of the additional stiffness.

[f14fighter]

For all who cannot seem to grasp the English language. Here it is. I noticed I could push the car about 5 Mph faster with the braces than without. There is no speed increase since there is no engine or exhaust work that would create more ponies. Just the handling of the car. There is noticeably less body roll.

[Highrev1]

You were just driving the car harder. that would have NO effect on body roll. You just thought you could go faster with that new brace so you just pushed a little harder.

"You can brace the chassis all you want but the car is still going to compress and rebound on it's suspension. However bracing the chassis is important in allowing you to fine tune the cars handling... as in get that last 10th out of it. "

[RWatters]

A brace on a stock vehicle isn't going to do jack shit, especially on a car with a chassis as stiff as the Si.

Sorry, but it's true. You took the corner faster because you thought that, with the brace, you could. Also, the speed in which you can take a corner on various days is a terrible way to see if your modification worked. Road conditions can change just as much as the weather can.

You want to see results? Get a Progress rear sway-bar. Those are results. It's cheap at $160, as well, so it's in your alley of affordable modification.

[freekaingjon]

f14fighter... it's hard to understand your first post cause u talked about other cars... i dont no WHAT the **** for. mayb im stupid... but it didnt make sense at ALL. anyways... u guys are all wrong i think. i have the tie bars and the h brace. when i installed it i thought... what the ****? how is this shit goign to improve my handling?!? well... i drove it around at my usually speed... not goign any faster on turns... and i noticed that i didnt feel it as much. i NOTICED not thought i didnt. i mean... it's not a BIG difference... but i noticed it. i KNOW it's not all mental because ppl told me u can feel a difference if i got a CAI. well i got that and i really dont notice any HP gain at all.

[RWatters]

I've had more than one brace on my car, and I've had them off my car. I've driven another Si without the braces as well. The only difference that thing makes is in your wallet.

[Highrev1]

The ONLY time you may realize it is against a clock to gain that last 10th of a second. And even then ONLY if you are at the cars max, which you will NEVER get on the street.

[pure2.0]

I have to say, I don't have an H-brace on my Si yet, but I had one on my WRX and the front was much flatter in turns and the front end wanted to turn in quicker. It was actually a replica of part that comes stock on the one of the older Japanese STi Spec C models. That was just my experience with one particular vehicle, and all are different. Eventually, I am going to put one on the Si and see for myself if it results in any performance/feel improvement in this car. The simple fact is, if you feel there is an improvement, it makes the car "feel" better to you, then it is worth it and does something. There is plenty of evidence out there that states a stiffer car wil always have higher performance limits. Every little bit helps, even if some things are not going to have very noticeable effects for the general public....My $.02

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by RWatters

You want to see results? Get a Progress rear sway-bar. Those are results. It's cheap at $160, as well, so it's in your alley of affordable modification.

+1 The Progress Rear Sway bar did improve handeling where you can actually feel the difference. Less understear and more confident in the corners. Then after I installed the HFP springs on my Si it was like a totally different car. It has a lot less body roll and hugs the corners a lot better than it did. I was going to invest in an H-Brace to further enhance my mods but everyone thinks it's not going to matter so I probably hold off and save my money and get some Koni FSD when they come out in June or July