e36 Lower strut bar

[M3speedM50B25]

Hi i have a 93 e36 and i noticed i am able to put two lower strut bars on. Would this beneifit my handling performance or hinder it? i currently have both on atm and i haven't really tested it out yet.

[Zodiacbw]

An x-brace? I'm confused.

Adding the cabrio/m3 x-brace is common, it ties the front subframe to the rest of the car. I'm told it's a noticeable improvement in chassis stiffness.

[MatthewH]

Adding a secord bar down there is mainly just adding weight. X-brace attaches to the first set.

[M3speedM50B25]

what im talking about is there is the strut bar and right above that/bellow (either or) there is another spot where another one can be installed it seems to handle pretty well an as for extra weight its only like maybe a lbs so if it does help awesome.

[Luda]

Pics?

[M3speedM50B25]

508831

[FastFabM3]

I don't think adding a second cross bar there is going to help much. You need to tie in the front cross member to the main chassis to actually stiffen things up.

I made this for mine:

http://swb-photography.smugmug.com/photos/i-k8ZxTqj/0/M/i-k8ZxTqj-M.jpg (http://swb-photography.smugmug.com/Other/M3-Photos/38428385_G5dhXQ#!i=3341946850&k=k8ZxTqj&lb=1&s=A)

The factory also had a version that came on convertibles and as a performance option.

http://www.understeer.com/xbrace.shtml

[Genes1s]

I don't think adding a second cross bar there is going to help much. You need to tie in the front cross member to the main chassis to actually stiffen things up.

I made this for mine:

http://swb-photography.smugmug.com/photos/i-k8ZxTqj/0/M/i-k8ZxTqj-M.jpg (http://swb-photography.smugmug.com/Other/M3-Photos/38428385_G5dhXQ#!i=3341946850&k=k8ZxTqj&lb=1&s=A)

The factory also had a version that came on convertibles and as a performance option.

http://www.understeer.com/xbrace.shtml

Man, I'd like to see this in person if you are in Portland area. So, looking at the pic, does it tie to the tranny mount somewhere?

[FastFabM3]

Man, I'd like to see this in person if you are in Portland area. So, looking at the pic, does it tie to the tranny mount somewhere?

Yes, it has tabs that go between the transmission mount cross member and the car, so it's sandwiched in-between.

http://swb-photography.smugmug.com/photos/i-SBdM9wp/0/M/i-SBdM9wp-M.jpg (http://swb-photography.smugmug.com/Other/M3-Photos/38428385_G5dhXQ#!i=3341946558&k=SBdM9wp&lb=1&s=A)

My boss and I are thinking about marketing these and selling them, but I don't know if there is really enough interest.

[M3speedM50B25]

i see what your saying and very nice man! i need to fab me something such as that.. wanna give me the blueprints? lol I promise not to try and market it.. haha

[FastFabM3]

You could use one of your stock cross bars and then make some tabs that mount to the front cross member, weld some tubes between the two and there you go! I made the transmission mount tabs by tracing the profile of the stock transmission mount over a piece of 1/8" steel, drilling holes and cutting it out. Not too hard, but time consuming.

Really though, I think the stock X-brace is available from junk yards for not a lot of money.

Genes1s: I'm in southern Oregon, so not near Portland, but there are more photos in my build thread.

[Genes1s]

You could use one of your stock cross bars and then make some tabs that mount to the front cross member, weld some tubes between the two and there you go! I made the transmission mount tabs by tracing the profile of the stock transmission mount over a piece of 1/8" steel, drilling holes and cutting it out. Not too hard, but time consuming.

Really though, I think the stock X-brace is available from junk yards for not a lot of money.

Genes1s: I'm in southern Oregon, so not near Portland, but there are more photos in my build thread.

That's too bad,

I probably will do similar setup using exisiting chassis brace like u said. I did tons of Chassis bracing for my maxima and it was a load of fun doing it.