Question about FM butterfly brace and road worthiness

[MattR]

Get the simple things checked first before spendinng your money.

The pedders check at $28 is good value, or take it to one of the MX5 specialists in Melbourne, check out the forum sponsors to help you choose who to see.

I reckon it will be somethonng pretty simple, could even be as simple as tyre pressures, as the 5 seems fairly sensitive to pressures. After that just work through simple things that can be checked by visual inspection, such as tyres, bushes, do the shocks leak, any damage to mounts,bent arms and so on and then move onto the harder things to check like alignment.

[de Bounce]

This sounds like a good idea. Also, I'm keen to meet other MX5 enthusiast. Where can I meet you ppl?
I live at West Footscray.

The Garage Cafe is at 221 Berkeley St. Carlton, we meet every Thursday from about 6:30 till Robin kicks us out.
There is a thread on here http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=17056

[jamsbong]

Dec 2012 Vicroads Roadworthiness Requirements VSI - see page 8:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonl ... 12_WEB.pdf

Oct 2011 Vicroads modification guide - see page 2, para 4 & page 4, para 9:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonl ... hicles.pdf

Superseded versions of the above VSIs are near the bottom of this page & might provide more detail as Vicroads appear to be streamlining some newer VSIs:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Saf ... mation.htm

Thanks for this info, I finally had a read on them.
Based on the new guide. as long as the mod do not have an adverse effect on the car, I do not need a certificate to install the mod. I will ask one of those road worthy testing ppl for confirmation.
Will keep you all updated.

[jamsbong]

OK, I've finally got it figured out.
I've rang a road worthy tester and ask him about installing this brace. He said I need a VASS report. VASS - VEHICLE ASSESSMENT SIGNATORY SCHEME
So I got in touch with one of those companies that has engineer who can provide this report. Emailed Laurie Spark (the engineer who can get me the VASS report).
After he understood what I wanted, he can install the parts, get the VASS and inform the insurance company (I think) for the price of $600.

Ouch! That's more than the price of the FM butterfly brace!!

[sailaholic]

WhAt if all he does is the vass and you do the rest. Install wouldn't be cheap.

[93_Clubman]

It's also worth getting other quotes, just as it's also worth getting other opinions, as price quotes to get mods engineered vary wildly.

In terms of other opinions, you appear to still only have the opinion of a RWC provider - another RWC provider may have a different opinion.

If you haven't already, have you called Vicroads engineering, as they may be able to advise on the necessity or otherwise of getting the mod engineered.

[outbreakmonkey]

I suggest you do a lot more research before pulling the trigger. The butterfly brace is the sort of mod you do on a track car after you've already done coilovers, sway bars, roll bar etc. Even then few people on the US forums rate it highly. It's a 1% mod at best.