Driving Impressions: Lower Stress Bar

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Bobiam

Good work Kirk........

They look pricy, but very well made. The "Porsche" of stress bars!!!! Will be interested to see the pricing when available.

You should sell they to Porsche!

Bob

Pricing is now up in the Classified section of this website:

Lower Stress Bar Group Buy

They may look pricey, but they're not. I don't believe that just because it's a "Porsche" that you should get raped on the cost! Quality and strength though are way overkill for the application, so they're not "cheap" even though low cost.

[Bobiam]

Kirk... That pricing is VERY fair for a well developed and adjustible product. Quite substantial compared to the original design.

[roadracer311]

I just wanted to chime in and give my feedback on this subject now that I've had my Technobrace (from Pedro) installed for about a week.

It solved both of the problems that I was hoping it would solve. Ever since I bought my 2003 Boxster S, I've loved the handling, but have been bothered by the feeling that it would suddenly oversteer when cornering over bumps. I mostly noticed this on concrete-slab-type off ramps. The other thing that my car used to do was shudder a lot when going over bumps. I'm happy to report that both of these problems are now solved.

One side effect is that it feels like there is more feedback coming through from everywhere. It feels like I added 5 lbs more pressure to the tires. The good news is that I've been running them a little high anyway, so now I'm planning to take the pressures down closer to the recommended pressures to see if it smoothes the ride out a little.

My background: I have a fairly sesitive seat of the pants reaction to things. I raced motorcycles for 5.5 years. I also have a degree in physics, for what that's worth.

[Topless]

Originally Posted by roadracer311

I just wanted to chime in and give my feedback on this subject now that I've had my Technobrace (from Pedro) installed for about a week.

It solved both of the problems that I was hoping it would solve. Ever since I bought my 2003 Boxster S, I've loved the handling, but have been bothered by the feeling that it would suddenly oversteer when cornering over bumps. I mostly noticed this on concrete-slab-type off ramps. The other thing that my car used to do was shudder a lot when going over bumps. I'm happy to report that both of these problems are now solved.

One side effect is that it feels like there is more feedback coming through from everywhere. It feels like I added 5 lbs more pressure to the tires. The good news is that I've been running them a little high anyway, so now I'm planning to take the pressures down closer to the recommended pressures to see if it smoothes the ride out a little.

My background: I have a fairly sesitive seat of the pants reaction to things. I raced motorcycles for 5.5 years. I also have a degree in physics, for what that's worth.

Good to know roadracer311,

Snap oversteer during cornering on uneven road surfaces is a problem that has resulted in a few spins for me in the early laps at the track while still testing my limits. I had blamed this problem on old rear tires and driver error. Those reasons may still apply but it sounds like the lower stress bar should help a lot. I have put in my order for one.

Of all the performance mods available for this car this one offers proven results with no down side and no hocus-pocus. It will cost me 2 points in my class though.

[geoff]

I didn't see this mentioned anywhere, so I'll ask. How much does the stress bar weigh? Both Kirk's and Pedro's. Are these things small enough that the weight is insignificant?

[edevlin]

Sounds great, thanks for the R&D, I put my order in for a full kit,

Ed

[Franco]

Originally Posted by geoff

I didn't see this mentioned anywhere, so I'll ask. How much does the stress bar weigh? Both Kirk's and Pedro's. Are these things small enough that the weight is insignificant?

Hi, I'd say a cup of coffee

[geoff]

Originally Posted by Franco

Hi, I'd say a cup of coffee

Would that be a tall or grande?

So the stress bar weighs less than a pound (or half kilogram for those outside the US)?

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by geoff

I didn't see this mentioned anywhere, so I'll ask. How much does the stress bar weigh? Both Kirk's and Pedro's. Are these things small enough that the weight is insignificant?

If this is a gotta know question I can take them off my car and measure them. I was a bit anxious when the latest iteration came in and installed them right away, so I didn't get a chance to weigh them first.

I did weigh the 2nd iteration bars though and they were really light - less than half a pound each, but those were smaller diameter aluminum bars. The latest iteration that is the subject of the group buy has a steel main bar and larger aluminum side bars, so it's definitely heavier, but still under three pounds. In my book that would count as insignificant.

Kirk

[geoff]

Originally Posted by Kirk

If this is a gotta know question I can take them off my car and measure them. I was a bit anxious when the latest iteration came in and installed them right away, so I didn't get a chance to weigh them first.

I did weigh the 2nd iteration bars though and they were really light - less than half a pound each, but those were smaller diameter aluminum bars. The latest iteration that is the subject of the group buy has a steel main bar and larger aluminum side bars, so it's definitely heavier, but still under three pounds. In my book that would count as insignificant.

Kirk

Thanks Kirk (and Franco) - insignificant is certainly a fair answer. I was just trying to get a feel for whether there's any weight impact or not.