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Turbine Tech GTX lower brace install

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    Turbine Tech GTX lower brace install

    I installed it this morning. Just had to hog out the front bolt holes on the brace because they were off about 3/8”, and hack saw off ¼” of the bracket on the drives side because it was up against the cradle. You will want to use longer bolts where it attaches to the rear A-arm bracket. OEM ones are too short with the added thickness of the brace.

    Because the front part of the brace is flat, I was able to install the RRE lower brace right on top of the TT brace. Many have asked if the brace works with the BPT. It does on mine. But my exhaust is designed to miss the RRE brace.

    I did this in 1.5 hours on the floor using jack stands. I encourage you to use a lift it you can.

    It’s a nice piece. Looks good and I think it should help with the floppy GTX chassis.

    Thanks TT for having this available for the GTX.





    Greg Downing
    Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
    Washington State USA
    gpd323@earthlink.net

    #2
    George, do you feel that the additional RRE brace contributes any value since the TT piece is in the same position? Also, what size (larger) bolts did you use for the rear of the a-arm bracket?

    Thanks,

    P.S. My TT brace is currently adding stiffness to my office floor. I think I feel a bit less creaking. Or, maybe it's just my imagination.
    Scott F. Williams
    Team Director
    Usually Sideways Rally Team
    www.usrallyteam.com
    856.456.3335

    Comment


      #3
      The RRE brace would add to the stiffness.. It certainly shouldn't hurt.. and his name is Greg.

      1988 White GTX - #1 parts
      1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
      1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
      1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
      1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Scott@USRT View Post
        George, do you feel that the additional RRE brace contributes any value since the TT piece is in the same position? Also, what size (larger) bolts did you use for the rear of the a-arm bracket?

        Thanks,

        P.S. My TT brace is currently adding stiffness to my office floor. I think I feel a bit less creaking. Or, maybe it's just my imagination.

        I used 1/2" longer bolts in the back. Same 14mm head and same threads, just longer. I have a whole box full of Mazda bolts of differing sizes that I can sort through.

        RRE and the TT together, can't see any disadvantage.
        Greg Downing
        Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
        Washington State USA
        gpd323@earthlink.net

        Comment


          #5
          LOL! I was on the phone with my buddy George when I wrote that. Sorry... GREG DOWNING (who I'm very familiar with/have met personally). As for the additional stiffness, 808, why do you figure that any additional stiffness would be added when the two bars operate in the same plane? Do you have some specific reason to suspect that the BF chassis is flexible enough to bend the TT brace? My mechanical intuition says that the RRE part is made redundant in this case.
          Scott F. Williams
          Team Director
          Usually Sideways Rally Team
          www.usrallyteam.com
          856.456.3335

          Comment


            #6
            I imagine using the REE and TT brace together are most likely redundant as you say, but its a part made for the GTX and it "has" to be used!!!
            Greg Downing
            Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
            Washington State USA
            gpd323@earthlink.net

            Comment


              #7
              It shouldn't be flexy enough for that... but the added strength of the redundancy will only hurt weight. The RRE unit looks like it has a bigger diameter.. given I can't tell wall thickness from these pictures. Maybe I'll borrow the girlfriends car and come up to the Winter meet and look at the brace. I'm curious.. Greg, do you think that a skid plate would interfere with that brace?

              I figured it was a honest mistake, Scott... I was just flipping you crap.

              1988 White GTX - #1 parts
              1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
              1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
              1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
              1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

              Comment


                #8
                The TT brace does sit lower than the RRE one. If you added a skid plate I think you would loose ground clearance for sure. I am already low and if I am not careful the RRE brace in the past likes to hit stuff in the road if I forget to dodge (or don't see) items in the roadway.
                Greg Downing
                Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
                Washington State USA
                gpd323@earthlink.net

                Comment


                  #9
                  Yeah.. I'm building a rally car out of the new shell, so I'll be sitting about stock height or so. That's the only reason I didn't get in on the 1st group buy. I'd rather have flex than no skid plate and less ground clearance.

                  1988 White GTX - #1 parts
                  1988 Black GTX - #2 reliably broken touge monstar (294,000 miles no rebuilds) - dead
                  1988 Blue GTX - #3 in progress (view here)
                  1988 Blue GTX - #4 BPT swapped weekend warrior.
                  1988 White GTX - #5 Rally car

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Took it out for a test drive. No issues. Man, I love my GTX!!!!
                    Greg Downing
                    Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
                    Washington State USA
                    gpd323@earthlink.net

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Oooh ooh, so how does it feel compared to the RRE bar by itself? For that matter, can you remember what the RRE part felt like when you first installed it?
                      Scott F. Williams
                      Team Director
                      Usually Sideways Rally Team
                      www.usrallyteam.com
                      856.456.3335

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Scott@USRT View Post
                        Oooh ooh, so how does it feel compared to the RRE bar by itself? For that matter, can you remember what the RRE part felt like when you first installed it?
                        I recall that the steering was better when I installed the lower RRE brace. I also recall that the steering improved again with the upper strut tower brace. Less turning (rotation) of the steering wheel for a given corner.

                        Since I have both RRE and TT installed, I cannot give you an answer to that.

                        But, anyone with a GTX that installs either an upper or the TT lower brace should definitely notice a difference.
                        Greg Downing
                        Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
                        Washington State USA
                        gpd323@earthlink.net

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by gpd323 View Post
                          Since I have both RRE and TT installed, I cannot give you an answer to that.
                          I'm asking how much/if the TT brace brace added to the RRE piece changed the feel compared to having the RRE part on there alone.

                          Or, asked another way... You put the TT brace on there along with the RRE part. What do you feel today compared to just before the installation?
                          Scott F. Williams
                          Team Director
                          Usually Sideways Rally Team
                          www.usrallyteam.com
                          856.456.3335

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Scott@USRT View Post
                            I'm asking how much/if the TT brace brace added to the RRE piece changed the feel compared to having the RRE part on there alone.

                            Or, asked another way... You put the TT brace on there along with the RRE part. What do you feel today compared to just before the installation?
                            Hard to say since I really don't drive it daily. Only way to tell is get one and feel the change.
                            Greg Downing
                            Beautiful Downtown Spanaway
                            Washington State USA
                            gpd323@earthlink.net

                            Comment


                              #15
                              i got mine a few weeks ago and unfourtnatly i decided not to put it on right now. my car stits very low already and i am kinda scared of the brace hitting or catching on something. i held it up where it goes and it seems to only be a few inches off the ground. it dosent hang much lower then anything else but it would be the lowest part of the car
                              "See that car, in the 80's that car was deadly." Random man to his son while passing the GTX in a parking lot

                              Originally posted by neuspeedescort
                              the proper spelling would be "Launchabilitiness" i do believe.
                              -88' Mazda 323 GTX, 1.8t, Modified Magazine May 2012
                              -88' Mazda 323 GTX, caged and ready for dirt
                              -93' Mazda Miata, half caged
                              -09' Mercedes C63 AMG
                              -87' Toyota Land Cruiser, 33's with slight lift, safari style!

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