Driving Impressions: Lower Stress Bar

[Franco]

Hi, Had some time today so i made a rear lower brace, thought I'd share it if anyone is interested.
Installed it in 10 minutes

[Franco]

Hi, Went for a ride last night and again this morning on some more twisty roads and let me just say that the rear end feels more precise and tight less twisty, worth the $10.00 .

This is a must do for any Boxster,

Thanks Insite, this mod does way more than you lead us to believe.

[2000SoCalBoxsterS]

That's incredible! How did you make your own lower stress bar?

[Franco]

Originally Posted by 2000SoCalBoxsterS

That's incredible! How did you make your own lower stress bar?

HI, I used a 3/4 x 24 inches long diameter aluminum bar, made 2 flats at each end about 2 inches in length, giving a total thickness of 9/16, then i measured the distance between the 2 bolts, drilled the bar at each end to clear a 3/8 bolt and that is all.

OH, the distance between the 2 existing bolt on my car was 22 1/4 center to center.

[2000SoCalBoxsterS]

Easy for you to say & do. What kind of tools or power equipment is needed to take a 3/4 piece of aluminum and flatten the ends and drill the holes, and finish it off so nicely. Do you have the tools at home or did you do this at work?

[Franco]

Originally Posted by 2000SoCalBoxsterS

Easy for you to say & do. What kind of tools or power equipment is needed to take a 3/4 piece of aluminum and flatten the ends and drill the holes, and finish it off so nicely. Do you have the tools at home or did you do this at work?

SORRY never came back to check this thread, never too late


To fabricate the bar is a joke, i used a 3/4 diameter aluminum bar, used a file to make 2 flats at each end to facilitate drilling 7/16 holes and so that the 3/8 X 2 inch screws and lock washers sit on a flat surface, then i removed the existing metric screws on the triangular plate and installed the bar over it.

With all materials on hand this is a 45 minute job max.
If you have any other questions I'd be glad to help.

Franco
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[Kirk]

Franco, thanks for the good feedback on how to DIY this mod. I followed your lead and made one of these bars. Just a couple notes on the basic mod:

1. I was able to fit in a 1" bar. Look for solid aluminum round stock. I had to go to a specialty metal supplier to get this as hardware stores and Home Depot won't have it.

2. I had to remove the metal plate and one anti-sway bar mount to get the 1" bar up in there.

3. I polished the aluminum first and then clear coated it. Sure you'll never see it, but at least I know it looks pretty...

After I got the basic lower stress bar in place I decided to take it the next step. I call these the Bristol Bars... :-P Basically I made two more bars out of 3/4" solid aluminum bar stock. At one end I threaded in some custom modified eye bolts to mount to the SAME bolt as the main lower stress bar. These eye bolts allowed for some adjustment when installing and also allowed me to slide into the slot in the support so that no permanent modifications were required. I then attached the Bristol bars at the rear-most mounting points of the metal plate. This further ties in the rear suspension to another support piece at the rear of the car. I think this kind of "triangulation" of the rear suspension will really help to stiffen it up. Basically it totally reinforces that flimsy metal plate that is otherwise supposed to tie everything together. Plus, with everything made out of aluminum there is a minimal weight penalty.

Here's a photo of my "assistant" showing off the pieces of the system, the Ernie Bar and two Bristol Bars, making up a complete lower stress bar system: