Ultra Racing chassis brace review

Just installed the first of three Ultra Racing chassis braces.
First is the middle lower bar, something like the brace that Plac reviewed from UNIbrace but open in the middle for us guys that have resonators in our downpipes. Part # ML4-1193





Install was super easy. Remove old two braces and install this one. Took longer to put the car on blocks than to install the brace!




You can see that the plastic air deflectors on the two sides stick lower than the brace.

It clears my Ultimate Racing resonator no problem!



Thought's on first drive? Well, much like Plac wrote on his, it deffinately makes the car stiffer! I have a steep driveway and the car always creaks when I hit it at an angle. No more!
High speed corners the car almost feels like it now pivots from the center vs the front taking a set,,,, followed by the rear. Much better improvement!

Car just feels much more solid!

They cost $189 from a couple of dealers but I'm trying to work something out for a deal.
Beware of eBay knock off's! There are some on eBay much cheaper and they are not the same! (thinner, poor welds, ect)

The brackets are made of 4mm to 5mm steel plates, while the hollow steel tubes and oval tubes are of 1.2mm to 1.6mm thickness.
ASTM A 500 Grade A (American Standard) steel.

Negatives?

It took a LONG time to finally receive them!!!
Hopefully I will get a dealer in the States to stock them! I'll post a link later to them.
Paint,,,,, thought they were powder coated, they are but it's not high quality so I may undercoat them for better protection. Wondering how they will look after a Wisconsin winter!

Installed no problem! Feels tight! Only drove it to work so I will do a pic and better review in the morning.





The front brace definitely hangs lower than anything else but it is centered with the wheels so that will help with speed bumps I'm guessing.
I really didn't think this one would help with anything but it feels stronger. Tighter.
Did it do as much as the mid brace? No. But it feels better!
Hard run in the hills this weekend!!

Rear brace would not fit with the big Billy Boat resonator. Not even close.
Pic later.





Maybe it fits with the stock resonator. Definitely not with my Billy Boat resonator.
Brace is against the resonator and I still have a good 1 1/2" to go to attach the bolt. Rear was hand bolted it.

I'll see if it fits Halvie's APR cat back.

That is aweome! Where did you order yours from?!

no offense, but I don't think this brace really does anything

I get tons of creaking when I enter steep inclined parking lots and my own driveway every single day. Besides any performance gains, I'd get this or a similar solution simply to get rid of the creaking. I'm glad you noted that improvement in your review...worth the money JUST to rid myself of that wooded floorboard noise daily.

I could only imagine them having an effect as a complete system. But for the price for all 3, I think I'd rather purchase Unibraces.

Dave! said:

no offense, but I don't think this brace really does anything

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Your first fast corner you wont think that!
Chassis flex is one thing, body flex is another. Stiffen up the body and the chassis just works better!

Sirius said:

I could only imagine them having an effect as a complete system. But for the price for all 3, I think I'd rather purchase Unibraces.

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You don't need all three, and yes, UNIbrace is awesome also. I plan on installing their XB brace.
The mid lower brace is the same as UNIbrace's UB brace.
The other two are just icing on the cake, but,,, we will see after I install them and take measurements/tests!

91gl said:

That is aweome! Where did you order yours from?!

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Group buy being set up now. Info soon.

I had my Mazda3 buttoned up with GTSpec bracing, that car needed it and it made a huge difference. On the GTI, I don't experience the creaking and body flex like I have on older cars.

Maybe if I had a better suspension, tires and wanted to complete the handling package then I'd swing these two.

How is the clearance? I sometimes scrape my belly as is.

davesxx01 said:

You don't need all three, and yes, UNIbrace is awesome also. I plan on installing their XB brace.
The mid lower brace is the same as UNIbrace's UB brace.
The other two are just icing on the cake, but,,, we will see after I install them and take measurements/tests!

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Just FYI; but that bold part is a little unclear. This UR brace is in the same place as the Unibrace UB, true; but this one is just a box rather than a fully braced unit. The UB works so well because it blocks flex from all angles. While this UR brace will certainly be better than stock, and will fit for people with larger resonators; it will not be capable of limiting flex as well as a UB does.

Not knocking on this product or anything, I am sure it improved nicely on the stock braces and it fits with your resonator where the UB would not... I just wanted to clarify that bit :thumbsup:

VR6Growl said:

This UR brace is in the same place as the Unibrace UB, true; but this one is just a box rather than a fully braced unit. The UB works so well because it blocks flex from all angles. While this UR brace will certainly be better than stock, and will fit for people with larger resonators; it will not be capable of limiting flex as well as a UB does.

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I understand what your saying, sadly, I don't have both to do a comparison side by side. I will say though that you will NOT twist this box. It's oval, tubular steel. Not easily twisted.

hehehe, I have nothing to do with Unibrace bud; just clarifying on a point you wrote is all.

And if you apply the proper force, you'll twist it :thumbsup:

VR6Growl said:

hehehe, I have nothing to do with Unibrace bud; just clarifying on a point you wrote is all.

And if you apply the proper force, you'll twist it :thumbsup:

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I know, that why I edited. Thanks!

And true, but I don't have the proper jig to test flex so I'll just take measurements at the bottom of my driveway with my car at an angle.