Home-made 850 chassis brace

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 28 Oct 2013, 20:59

I saw they were selling these on Viva for about $120, So I said no way, and made my own.

It took me about an hour and a half to measure, cut, weld, install.

Probably the best bang for the buck, the frame already feels so much more stiff(er?).. anyways, Just thought I would share since I am proud of my work!

Post by **Ben850** » 01 Nov 2013, 12:03

Nice.
Could you get some shots of the outer bolt/nut mounting points?
Oh, and lend me your welder?

tightmopedman9 · Post by **tightmopedman9** » 01 Nov 2013, 23:05

The stress placed on that part of the body is not compression, it is torsional. For a bar in that location to have any affect on the torsional stress it would need to be inches thick.

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 02 Nov 2013, 07:03

Ben850 wrote:Nice.
Could you get some shots of the outer bolt/nut mounting points?
Oh, and lend me your welder?

The bolting positions are just where the third row seatbelts used to bolt to the frame, not sure if cars that didn't have 3rd row seats have these.

tightmopedman9 wrote:The stress placed on that part of the body is not compression, it is torsional. For a bar in that location to have any affect on the torsional stress it would need to be inches thick.

I'm not sure if you're talking from experience, but I beg to differ, as my rear end feels much more stiff...

xjflexer · Post by **xjflexer** » 11 Jan 2014, 12:33

I have been considering purchasing the Viva brace (actually, several of their braces). Does this one in particular really make that big of a difference in a wagon?

Jush · Post by **Jush** » 22 Jan 2014, 10:30

xjflexer wrote:I have been considering purchasing the Viva brace (actually, several of their braces). Does this one in particular really make that big of a difference in a wagon?

I've been driving with it for quite some time, and I would say that it does really make the rear end feel more stiff, I think I'll remove it to see what it feels like to drive without it versus with it. I kind of forget what it feels like without it, although I do remember after I installed it I was surprised with the results. I couldn't justify spending 100+ dollars on something that I could easily make myself.

faster4tec · Post by **faster4tec** » 29 Mar 2014, 16:54

I guess the acid test would be thus;....

with the brace fitted does it reduce or eliminate all that rear end trim from ratting about?

dairyqueen814 · Post by **dairyqueen814** » 02 Apr 2014, 10:29

Do you remember any of the measurements? I know this is an old post but my friend and I are looking to fab our own front and rear chassis braces/strut tower braces. How has it held up?