Last Updated: 06/11/96

SPECIFICATIONS

• non-adjustable
• 6061 T6 aluminum construction
• hollow bar

Analysis
This is a very well made bar. Not only does it really brighten up the bland trunk area, it's strong design really improves the rear rigidity of the car.

INSTALLATION

You should first start off by tieing a string from the center of the shock towers to one another. This will give you an idea of where the brace will have to go through in the plastic. There is a distinct left and right bracket, so remember where it goes when you take the bracket off the bar.

Once you cut a hole big enough, the brackets ends will poke through a little bit. Of course, you've already removed the shock tower bolt mounts. Now loosely put all the nuts back on top of the brackets and attach the bar to the brackets. Slowly tighten each nut a little at a time, to get it well centered.

The bar goes through the plastic.

PERFORMANCE

Adding the rear bar improved the feel of the rear end considerably. The extra stiffness helps to better communicate what the rear of your car is doing. At a recent autocross event, the turns were very tight. There were quick transient maneuvers and hard constant turns. I noticeably felt the effects of the rear brace on the transient maneuvers and hard turns. Before, the rear of the car would tend to have a delayed effect during turn in. I would turn in and the rear wheels would be a little behind in responding to the turn. Now, with the rear brace in place, I can tell that the rear is much better connected. I can tell exactly where that rear end is because the bar allows the suspension to communicate to me it's position faster.

The design of the Z.Speed rear brace is very strong. It differs from most braces in that it does not rise up a couple of inches from the shock tower base and then turn 90 degrees to the bar. Braces with the right angle turn are inherently weaker than a design in which the bar attaches to its brackets at 180 degrees. However, the compromise in this design is that you will have to cut a hole in the plastic so that the bracket end can poke through.

Straight across design is very strong.

THE VERDICT

Hits

• extremely strong design
• excellent fit and finish
• easily removed
• improves rear stiffness considerably

Misses

• must cut a hole in the plastic to put brackets through
• will not see much of a difference unless you are at 8/10th's

The Decision

Beautiful looking brace that enhances handling feel in hard turns.

Copyright 2002, Temple of VTEC