Braces for a stock NA8

jlo8872 · Postby **jlo8872** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:28 pm

Hi All,

I'm seriously thinking about getting the IL Motorsports front strut brace for my NA8, with the adjustable brake master cylinder stopper.
I was also wondering about the rear strut brace as well; except the spare will have no place to live.
Also thinking about the Ultra Racing under car bracing; maybe that's going too far?

Does anyone have any advice? My car is stock as a rock and I just use it for getting around when I'm in the country.

J.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:32 pm

How about starting with a roll bar?

jlo8872 · Postby **jlo8872** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:50 pm

Dave,

It might sound odd but I don't want a roll bar; might consider style bars but probably not.

I have the OEM brace behind the seats.

I want to keep the look of the car as stock as possible; but reinforce it where I can.

J.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:38 pm

Don't bother with a style bar, they're for looks only and dangerous in a crash - they're not called "mouse traps" for nothing.

Consider the MX5 Plus twin hoop roll bar, it looks like a style bat but is a genuine roll bar and incorporates a torque box which really stiffens the car - has been my best chassis stiffening mod so far. This should be your #1 stiffening mod.

After this consider the front strut brace, frog arms and FM frame rails (these were the order I felt offered the most-to-least benefit stiffening in my car).

Forget about the rear strut brace. To quote Keith Tanner from FM:

"Rear shock tower braces make sense on a car with rear struts and a hatchback - there's almost no structure between the top of the struts, and they see cornering loads. They don't make any sense on a Miata." (see bottom of http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/index ... 29.15.html)

jlo8872 · Postby **jlo8872** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:52 pm

Great advice!

I want to avoid a roll bar if I can, what about the aftermarket braces for early NA's will they do a better job than the OEM unit?

J.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:04 pm

If REALLY, REALLY don't want a rollbar, this is what you want: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=4538&parentid=0&stocknumber=13-69920%20%201990-97

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:46 pm

I have added the FM rails (no butterfly brace yet) to my NA8. I have not dríven the car long enough to make a judgement on the difference as yet.

If you are keen on a front shock tower brace with adjustable brake master cylinder stopper then have a look at the link below

http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10668

If you scroll down the page you will find a list of MX-5 parts. including a 3 point brace.

The seller, Dan (aka Rupewrecht) is based in Melb.

J.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:31 pm

jlo8872 wrote:I'm seriously thinking about getting the IL Motorsports front strut brace for my NA8, with the adjustable brake master cylinder stopper.

The benefit from the brake master cylinder stopper is more noticeable than the benefit from the front tower brace. Not saying there's no benefit from the front tower brace, just that it's minimal.

wassup · Postby **wassup** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:59 pm

The front and rear lower braces are a very good starting point for bracing on an NA. Your NA8 will very likely have these but its worth confirming. If you have the OEM braces then there is no benefit to replacing these with equivelant aftermarket versions.

Following this the frog arms and frame rails and 3 point front tower braces seem to get the most positive responses.

jlo8872 · Postby **jlo8872** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:57 pm

I have the OEM undercar braces so I might just go for the front brace and possibly some bigger sway bars at some time.

J.

jlo8872 · Postby **jlo8872** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:59 pm

Paul,

Is there a product on the market that is just a BMC stopper?

J.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:01 pm

jlo8872 wrote:Paul,

Is there a product on the market that is just a BMC stopper?

J.

There is one made by Cusco, but they tend to sell for about the same price as a strut brace.

The strut brace with stopper is better value, even if the difference the brace makes is minimal.

jlo8872 · Postby **jlo8872** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:06 pm

Yeah the IL Motorsport brace is freakin gorgeous to boot.

J.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:13 pm

JLO, as Nic says there's a Cusco stopper, but if they're about the same price new as another brand combined brace, then you might as well get the combined.

However, if you can find a 2nd hand Cusco stopper you can usually pickup it up for around $70 - don't see too many for sale these days, although they have been advertised on the forum from time to time & one might not have sold.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:18 pm

The IL motorsport seems to be about $185 before shipping.

The Cusco Master Cylinder Brace is about $140
http://justjap.com/store/product.php?productid=19847

Or, if you prefer, there's a couple locally for sale:
http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10668

http://www.astinagt.com/forums/showpost ... count=1134
(the last 2 entries, the blue ones)

It really depends on IL's shipping price.
Well, and of course your own preferences. You may not like blue.