We finished fitting up the prototype brace on Sunday - fits like a champ and provides adequate clearance for the exhaust. However, we did note that the prototype doesn't quite match our drawings, so we'll likely be looking at making another prototype. On the R56, it's much trickier to provide clearance for the exhaust while maximizing ground clearance - as such, we're going back for some minor revisions.

We should have the production versions ready for our January sale...

As far as designs go, the X design provides markedly better torsional rigidity than any other design. Our brace also mounts differently, reinforcing what we feel are the weak points in the subframe-to-unibody mounting system. That's just our $0.02, though.

 

I am curious... How would ur brace fair with popular r56 aftermrket turboback like Alta's 3" exhaust...

 

Based on what we saw and plan on keeping, there's 3/4" to 1" of clearance for the front hoop and for the X gussets (which is right about where the cat is)... I'd say that we shouldn't have a problem, but once the next prototype is done we'll try and locate a local car with that setup - or, we'll ship the prototype to someone to test fit on a car with that setup before we pull the trigger on the order.

The R50/R52/R53 brace provides ample clearance for any header setup (including Stahl and the RMW race and street headers), so we are definitely aiming to provide enough clearance for any R56 aftermarket setup, too.

 

Jeff,

How are you coming along on the X-Brace? Haven't heard much lately about it, and stupid me forgot to ask you on the phone today?

Paul

 

TSW did test fit one and have made a few adjustments and hope to test fit the final beta unit this month.

 

I'm assuming this won't fit on the Clubman because of increased body length?

 

Not sure, I know TSW is working with a local Clubman owner and I'm sure it's on the list of things to check. I'll email them to make sure it is.

 

did you guys try twisting the car with and without the brace?

I only ask because i worked for a company before that did tests of all these subframe braces, tie bars, strut bars... and just about EVERY modern car had zero benefits from such a bar.

the underbody braces just dont go the way of the twisting forces..

the tie bars and strut bars dont do anything because they aren't capping any parts of the "system".. (system = area between the firewall until the C-pillar if a sedan, perpendicular plane where the struts are if hatch.)

we did however find success in putting an X-style brace where the rear struts are... then again, we also had a bare chassis to weld and twist, and had equipment to measure deflection.

 

Good Read, can also be found at http://www.autoxcooper.com/tsw_suspension.html

 

AutoXCooper: Did you find out if the system works for Clubmans?

 

They have not tested it on a Clubman yet. They will soon. If I can find a local Clubman to get under I'll take a look and let you know if I think the R56 XB coming out soon will fit.

 

im sorry if im taking a dump on your posts, but i really only mean well... but even back in the 1990-2006 era when import tuning was considered at an all time high, there were countless magazines that wrote about strut bars and how they affected the car's handling.. then came the internet, when people started becoming more educated, and sharing experiences about their product purchases. in the end, people were torn on whether products like these actually worked or not... having people debate on the topic alone on their own butt dynos is enough cause to start marketing this type of product a different way, assuming you want to break away from the mold and actually have a product that WORKS. I dont think an article from a magazine is really going to cut it as "truth" anymore.

the best way to do this is to twist a car.. you can even create a crude jig to do it to a production vehicle. just

*replace all struts with a solid bar so the suspension is solid
*take all 4 wheels off
*create a jig that puts the rear hubs solid to the ground
*create a pivot point at the front chin of the car
*create an extra long bar that connects both front wheel hubs
*put a weight at one end of the bar (this twists the front end

Without the weight, measure the distance between the ground and the side sill of the car which the weight is on, in 3 inch increments along the whole side of the car

Then add the weight to the bar, now measure the distance again.

This will be the change of deflection, and the true test to see if you really are improving "torsional rigidity". The neat part is, although quite a crude model, is you can hopefully see where the car is getting improvement (between which pillars).

 

Hello dunce11r,

I like your input and your insight is good. TSW like many of the companies on NAM focused on MINI mods is small and without the $10,000 of dollars it takes to "test" products. They do however build product based on years of racing and real world driving. Having worked with them on one product they take care to make sure they are giving us something that works.

Is everything they, like any company, 100% out of the box? Nope, that's why you see many TSW parts in 2nd and 3rd Gen to make each one better and better based on customer feed back and tens of thousands of miles.

The brace debate is as old as NAM and dare I say as old as the 1st guy to put a stick between two wheels.

We know from customers that push their 1st Gen MINI, R53/52/50, MINI's to the limit that most have gained improved performance and would buy the product again. I trust that our R56 friends will find the same.

We may never have the "tests" to "prove" what our customers enjoy, other then the X-Brace being the hardest of TSW parts to keep in stock.

 

it'll also save your undercarriage if say....a wheel were to shear off

 

Any updates?

 

Will the X-Brace fit on a 2009 factory JCW using the stock exhaust?
Ronnie948

 

eager to hear any updates on this product! i enjoyed the MC2 article...and I have a 09 JCW inbound for mid-March. would like to see

 

Now shipping... we've shipped all that we received already and more are coming in today!

 

True - all you have to do is put one on and you'll know the difference right away... We've had testers running the R56 brace already that have refused to take it off to send out for powdercoating!

 

Will this fit with an Alta turbo back exhaust? Thanks.

 

It should. We designed the brace with enough clearance to allow for aftermarket exhaust systems. The "joggle" in the front brace is specifically designed for that.

 

mmmmm alta turboback... *drool*

 

I am in for this as soon as my CC turns over to next month!!

 

I heard that the brace transmits NHV into the cabin. True??

 

I ordered mine!! WOOT!