Cusco front under brace (56k warn)

[Zer0]

Well I just recieved my Cusco front lower control arm brace from Titanmotorsports in record time again. :thumbup:

First impressions are how light it is (like < 2lbs!) and how such a light weight aluminum bar can still be so rigid. This thing is tough! The bar is coated in a top notch sprikley cusco blue powder coat.
It comes with intructions (all of which are in japanese though) and a cusco sticker. The instructions are nearly worthless except for a good laugh when you read the only part in english:

"This product is designed for use in japan only. It must not be used in any other country."

No joke. I laughed pretty hard about it. :chuckles:

http://img115.exs.cx/img115/7483/phto00120cb.jpg
http://img115.exs.cx/img115/9665/phto00143wp.jpg

I will be installing it in the next couple of days and will post back then with installation pics and how it performs.

[Blue Bomber]

Nice! :D I was planning on picking up one of those soon, but the PowerFC is calling my name. ;) Can't wait for the review. I hear the bar tightens up steering a lot.

[evil eye]

I can't wait to install mine, but it's as pretty as yours since it was used. :D

That disclaimer is hilarious!

[Jesse IL]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber
Nice! :D I was planning on picking up one of those soon, but the PowerFC is calling my name. ;) Can't wait for the review. I hear the bar tightens up steering a lot.
I'll be running a GP on Cusco products soon. The front arm bar will be around $69 in the GP price. This should be for all Cusco products, including the LSD and front camber plates.

[*ndy]

Tanabe Under Tie Bar looks exactly the same, wieghs about the same, and is just as rigded. And it is 70 bucks compared to the 86 you spent.

Just paying for a name. It's all bling bling! But at least it's for performance!

Shop Around!

*ndy

[JohnnyWash1]

Exactly where does this bolt to?

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by JohnnyWash1
Exactly where does this bolt to? The front half of the front suspension crossmember. The crossmember basically splits into two arms halfway through to fit the engine and tranny between them, so this links them together to improve rigidity. Also the reason why it won't fit autos (the auto tranny is too big for it to fit around).

[slidr]

Do you have to unbolt a bunch of **** for the install like you have to do with the sway bar, or does it just bolt on kinda like the upper strut bar?

And I assume that it doesn't replace a stock part?

[pr0file]

Originally posted by Jesse IL
I'll be running a GP on Cusco products soon. The front arm bar will be around $69 in the GP price. This should be for all Cusco products, including the LSD and front camber plates.
Will the camber plates fit the Tein SS's? I need more than -2.3 up front! Bye bye tires! :(

[My Sixth Gear]

slidr: no just remove the underbody plastics and unbolt one bolt , and may need some muscle then replace bars and your done

[Zer0]

Originally posted by JohnnyWash1
Exactly where does this bolt to?
It goes in front of the two bolts that connnect the control arms to the undercarrage/skid plate. They are not very good pictures but...someone posted these pics on the other site:
http://img107.exs.cx/img107/8779/cuscobar2sized2ri.jpg

http://img107.exs.cx/img107/9895/cuscobar4sized2ou.jpg

Don't worry though.. I will take plenty of pictures... ;)

[JohnnyWash1]

This looks like a pretty effective mod.

[slidr]

Originally posted by My Sixth Gear
slidr: no just remove the underbody plastics and unbolt one bolt , and may need some muscle then replace bars and your done Gracias.



To anyone who has this mod...

Is it worth it?

[Zer0]

Well I've heard its not a huge difference but from what I have read it is supposed to increase the centering force of your steering a bit. I guess we will see.

[MicaCeli]

Steering is a bit tighter..... its not a HUGE difference but it does help.

[pfcnguyen]

Originally posted by *ndy
Tanabe Under Tie Bar looks exactly the same, wieghs about the same, and is just as rigded. And it is 70 bucks compared to the 86 you spent.

Just paying for a name. It's all bling bling! But at least it's for performance!

Shop Around!

*ndy

The tanabe one dosent do much to stiffen anything. The cusco bar is the only effective front lower tie bar. (different placement)This is one of the easiest install ive done on my car so far..well worth the money. Dose anyone know how the c-one bars hold up?? I think it was a 2 peice set that mounts to some part of the motor??

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by pfcnguyen
The tanabe one dosent do much to stiffen anything. The cusco bar is the only effective front lower tie bar. (different placement):werd:

The Tanabe bar attaches to the rear of the front crossmember, where it's one solid piece, and directly below the firewall. Nothing should be flexing back there that could be controlled by a brace in that position. Tanabe's front and rear bar are just for show. :thumbdownOriginally posted by pfcnguyen
Dose anyone know how the c-one bars hold up?? I think it was a 2 peice set that mounts to some part of the motor?? They appear to connect from the exact same part of the front crossmember the Cusco bar attaches to, to the part underneath the radiator. Probably helps reduce side to side flexing of the front half of the chassis. Here are a couple pics:

http://www.c-one.co.jp/aero-zoom_image/pefrbar-08_ce.jpg

http://www.c-one.co.jp/parts_jpeg/parts_parformance_celica.jpg

And info (ZZT231

[MicaCeli]

Too bad the C-one ones aren't legal in Auto-X :sadpace:

[evil eye]

Originally posted by MicaCeli
Too bad the C-one ones aren't legal in Auto-X :sadpace:

Why is that?



Since they mount in the same place as Cusco's, does that mean they can't be used together? I'm guessing not.

[MicaCeli]

Suspension braces can only go horizontal and not vertical.......or something like that.

[Jesse IL]

Originally posted by pr0file
Will the camber plates fit the Tein SS's? I need more than -2.3 up front! Bye bye tires! :(
There's no reason why not. The Tein SS's use the stock upper mounts and the Cusco camber plates just replace those. If you have -2.3 camber up front with no adjustment, you have something bent in your suspension. The Tein's ehemselves should not change the camber.

[evil eye]

Originally posted by MicaCeli
Suspension braces can only go horizontal and not vertical.......or something like that.

That blows. I wonder how well the C-One's perform.

[Zer0]

Just finished installing the bar. Haven't had a chance to test it out yet but I made up the install guide as promised. pfcnguyen was right, the install is incredibly easy. The bolts were on pretty tight but gave under a little force. Any first time modder should have no problems.

Link to install guide: (Its my first)
http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=160091

[Zer0]

Ok. Well, just went for a test drive.

Through town I could not really give it any "proper" testing and at first I didn't know if it was doing all that much. I wiggled the wheel back and forth a bit and noted that the front of my car felt more solid but at that point I wasn't sure if that was all it was going to do for the car. In town it felt like the bump up from adding a upper strut brace to a stock car. Small but notable.

Once I got out into the country I was able to push it a little harder. (It was kinda foggy tonight so I wasn't going to be stupid about it.) I must say though that steering response defenately improved. There was the usual dead zone (where u can turn your wheel a little one way or the other and it would not make your car turn)but the dead zone seemed to make more sharp tranistions. Meaning... If the car was going straight you feel like you could let go of the wheel and it would just keep going straight forever. However, if you turned the wheel a bit out side of the dead zone it would turn a little sharper then before. Also while cornering, the car seemed to stay more level and tires remained better planted.

Again, i wasn't going to push it too hard because of the fog. It was definately a noticable improvement though and tightened up the steering nicely! I would say is worth the money. :thumbup:

Check out my install guide in my post above for pics!

Note: To all that are afraid of this lowering their ride height - take a look at the last pic in the install guide. The bar does not hang any lower then the under plastics themselves. :)

[RookieGTS]

damn! thats clean! i didnt think these braces helped...

[QWKsilvr808]

Originally posted by evil eye
Since they mount in the same place as Cusco's, does that mean they can't be used together? I'm guessing not.

I am using both the Cusco and C-ONE bars together. The C-ONE front underbrace bar made a noticeable difference combined with the Cusco bar, which I had been using for quite some time before installing the bars from C-ONE.

[pfcnguyen]

i didnt know you could used them at the same time..i would have gotten the c-ones anyone know who i should go to to get these??

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by pfcnguyen
anyone know who i should go to to get these?? I think we can rule out KOZZ TUNING. :chuckles:

[pfcnguyen]

eee.. :rolleyes: its one of those moments when you type without thinking. :gap:

[many]

nice bar but you need to pass the vacum on that rug.....:gap:

[evil eye]

Originally posted by QWKsilvr808
I am using both the Cusco and C-ONE bars together. The C-ONE front underbrace bar made a noticeable difference combined with the Cusco bar, which I had been using for quite some time before installing the bars from C-ONE.

Awesome info Clint! Thanks. :)

One more Q, probally a stupid question, but can I still use the stock underplastics with the C-One and cusco bars?

[evil eye]

Originally posted by pfcnguyen
i didnt know you could used them at the same time..i would have gotten the c-ones anyone know who i should go to to get these??

Rey_Vibora. He has a group buy right now that is ending in 7 days. I believe he's charging $215 shipped. I would get them if I weren't so broke.