Getting a bit stiffer...

BlackBMWs

BlackBMWs

Check twice, fix once...
Supporter
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Points
60
Location
Sacramento, California
Model of Z
Z3 1.9L, 2.3L
ACA97078-9E6C-4776-B201-863A21273841.webp
Greetings all from Sunny California again!

Just sharing a recent mod to try out overall.

In an effort to get my Z to handle as well or better than my Track TI (Compact), I decided to try out the Butt Strut and Body Brace from Strong Strut in Arizona.

Figured I’d post in case anyone had interest in the mod itself and the resulting effect.
 

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A 1997 Z3 1.9 with a top rear brace, the lower Butt Strut and Body Brace and a Turner front strut brace and the stock front Xbrace. Newer stock struts, shocks and springs.

Pros: Corners flatter, more stable on rough roads/railroad tracks. Feels more planted. Some protection for undercarriage.

Cons: Reduced clearance over taller speed bumps. Cost. In my case, some modification to one of the body braces to clear the fuel tank.

Summary: I very much like the ridigity, I less like the reduced ground clearance overall, particularly as I don’t have any Suspension lowering as of yet (for AutoX/Track). Koni adjustables and RD sway bars going in next. I have AutoX starting later in April.

Cheers!
 
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Hi, I can't view the attachment ?

Tony.
 
Hi, can now see it in the attachment on the first post. We removed one of these from @Grumps car at the Zedshed (Midlands) last year. A heavy piece of kit!

Tony.
 
Remember when @swamper's Butt Strut got nicked off his car while staying at a hotel after a cruise.

Edit: Think it was after a Santa Pod raceway event.
 
This brace has had 2 owners since we removed it. If I'm correct it is now on a track use 2.8 Z3, probably where it should be?

Tony.
 
hard top said:
Remember when @swamper's Butt Strut got nicked off his car while staying at a hotel after a cruise.
Click to expand...

Yes, but that was a different thing Mike as far as I'm aware. Not the complete body strut, but easy to remove all the same. Wasn't that at the Santa Pod meet a couple of years ago?

Tony.
 
BlackBMWs said:
Haha! Someone thought there was some value in the bracing...
Click to expand...

Back then scrap steel was a better value !!=))=)). It was removed overnight in a hotel car park;)

Tony.
 
I’d love this underbody brace but do not have any clearance- car is not very low but the speed humps I need to traverse to get to a road are the issue, it just clears them with mm to spare.
Need to move....to a racetrack :)
 
B interesting to hear how you find the 2 car handle - i’d have thought the ti is more hot hatch like and tips into the corner and lifts the rear wheel, a bit like RWD Golf GTI
 
I also have the butt strut and body braces, plus an ASC front brace and recently fitted all round complete new stock suspension. There is the slight issue with rear ground clearance very occasionally, but I have no intention of lowering it anyway.
Like you I had a slight clearance problem under the fuel tank, so had to hacksaw a very small piece off the body brace on that side.
Very pleased with the better ride and handling!

:drinks:

Bonzo.
 
Dino D said:
B interesting to hear how you find the 2 car handle - i’d have thought the ti is more hot hatch like and tips into the corner and lifts the rear wheel, a bit like RWD Golf GTI
Click to expand...

I have Mason front and rear strut brace and a stiff rear sway bar on the TI. I can stay pretty planted but still break the back loose if I want to throttle steer a bit. I was lifting the front wheels actually on hard turns on track days.

For the Z, I only have braces at this point to control body twist. It feels very solid and planted just now. I look forward to get the struts and shocks in as well as the sway bars... When ai get the balance and weight balance sorted, I have a pair of Downings in the garage. I may be inspired to throw one in...
 
Bonzeau said:
I also have the butt strut and body braces, plus an ASC front brace and recently fitted all round complete new stock suspension. There is the slight issue with rear ground clearance very occasionally, but I have no intention of lowering it anyway.
Like you I had a slight clearance problem under the fuel tank, so had to hacksaw a very small piece off the body brace on that side.
Very pleased with the better ride and handling!

:drinks:

Bonzo.[/QUOT
Click to expand...
lucky jim said:
nice & clean under there is it not used or nice California weather ?
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Oh, it gets used a lot... I just make it a point to run through each car I own when I acquire them to clean the areas I have to service as I look for any leaks or damage. Plus if I have to crawl under, I don’t end up emerging as a grease ball.

90 minutes or so well spent for me.

Funny, the bottoms of my cars are typically cleaner than topside...
 
I'm not convinced this brace is very effective for the weight. Bracing should resist a rectangle from turning into a parallelogram. I don't see how this brace resists bending other than by the strength of the steel. To be fair, it's easy to improve 5.5tons/degree, so any brace will make a significant improvement.

A cross-brace using the same mounting points would make more sense. Ground clearance around the exhaust would be the problem (as with all underbody bracing).

I see a project for Pingu :).
 
Looking forward to your results. While I am not thrilled about the reduced ground clearance, my butt meter feels that the car is more solid and planted as I spiritedly zip around twisties and stays a bit flatter without a sway bar upgrade yet.

Yes, the setup has some heft to it and I’d benefit by a bit more displacement or install a Downing.

My near term action is to be diligent for larger bumps in the road...
 
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