[JPN] BA - Cusco Lower Control Arm Brace

[Rupewrecht]

Item: BA - Cusco front under brace

Link: http://page14.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/s58478178

Images:
http://www.cusco.co.jp/english/e_media3/e_lower.gif

Actual Brace:
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace1.jpg
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace2.jpg

Description: Cusco underbody front chassis brace. Will fit I4 and V6. Mounts to suspension arms.

More info here - http://www.cusco.co.jp/english/e_lower.html

Conditon: New!

Price: 6900yen - about AUD$75 (not inc shipping/charges etc).

Tis a dutch auction - the more that are bought, the less it'll be due to the combined shipping. About $220ish landed for one, a reasonable amount less for more.

[CHiMPY]

errr.. so is it just to stiffen up the chassis??
if there is enough people interested I might be convinced to buy one..

[Rupewrecht]

Read link!

[project.r.racing]

landed price please?

[Rupewrecht]

Landed price would be about $220, as stated above. Cheaper if there's a few others who purchase one.

[Rupewrecht]

Ok, i've got one interested party. If anyone wants to buy one, it'll bring the price of yours down to under AUD$200 landed.

[Rupewrecht]

Also available for BJI (might fit BJII, who knows with mazda)
http://page12.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p77594394

[Noble323]

Sorry this is a stupid question, but im having trouble to figure it out where it gos ?, maybe my eyes are playing up ? but is it at the bottom of the car or in the engine bay ? like i said sounds stupid but really asking a serious question :)

[Rupewrecht]

Under the engine, between the front suspension A arms, roughly.

[BigMal]

I am interested but need to see a picture to see if it will clear my 3" exhaust

[Rupewrecht]

No chance of an actual pic until i get one here in a few months, but i'm fairly sure it's the same design as one of the right (not that that helps you with clearance)

http://www.cusco.co.jp/english/e_media3/e_lower.gif

[BigMal]

Yeah let me know when you get one and how they bolt up. I had problems with
clearance with the crossmember been looking at making a custom one similar to this

http://corksport.com/store/large/l355/mx3-suspension_misc/SRD_Front_Crossmember_V6.html

but not as fancy to give me some extra space. I guess the rear cusco section fits in same as this rear tie down.

http://corksport.com/store/large/bd2b/mx3-suspension_misc/SRD_Polished_Rear_Tie_Bar.html

[andym323]

Any news on these beauties, I'd love a set for my car :D:D

[Ronin (Adam)]

Me too Andy, I actually got in touch with the UK supplier of Cusco but they don't have any for our cars :(

[Rupewrecht]

Well they're lying Adam...as i've got a couple here!

OK, actual pics:
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace1.jpg
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace2.jpg
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace3.jpg

As i thought, it's just the straight bace, not the H brace. Damn light too - 550g. And no, i cbf getting under my car to check clearance today :p

[Ronin (Adam)]

Looks Awesome! Where did you get it from Rupe?

I know they were lying, I bet they just couldn't be arsed to sort it out.

[Rupewrecht]

From the usual place - the auctions in Japan.

I can get plenty more if you're interested.

[andym323]

Hey, hey, nice one :D:D

Looks very similar to the underbrace Brad has on his Type R, said it caught speed ramps sometimes, but who cares :D:D When it looks that good :D:D

I take it it mounts on the front control arm mounting????

How much are they chap??? ;)

[Rupewrecht]

Depends how many i order at the same time.

Get me an order for 5 or more, and they could be as cheap as around AUD$150

[outbakoz]

Okay count me in for one then rupe

[G85]

would that fit the BHA?

[Ronin (Adam)]

Group buy for UK Andy? I'm sure lots of others will be interested...

[Rupewrecht]

Don't know of fitment for BHA - you'll have to see what the boys on iMazda say.

[Cosmo Dude]

I'd be in for one.
Gotta try and keep the steering tight as I have no plans to buy wheels bigger than 16"

[G85]

sorry for the OT post but what other stuff does cusco have to the CBA/BHA models? upper strut bar?

[Rupewrecht]

sorry for the OT post but what other stuff does cusco have to the CBA/BHA models? upper strut bar?

Adustable camber strut tops and these braces i can get new via the auctions. They also make front and rear CBA strut tower braces, but they're very very rare.

[G85]

thanks for the info.

[Rupewrecht]

ok:

outbakoz
Cosmo Dude

UK monkeys?

anyone else?

[G85]

i want one too but i'll have to say 'i'll go with the next batch of buyers'. i'm also looking to see if there are others from the philippines who would be interested in a group buy.

[memphis22]

how much will it cost say we have 6-10 orders?

including shipment to Manila, Phils?

[Rupewrecht]

They would be AUD$158 each, including shipping to Manila, if you can get 10 orders.

Slightly less for for anyone in Aus (due to cheaper aus shipping, and less again for pickup), if i have a combined order for 10+

[G85]

how much will it cost say we have 6-10 orders?

including shipment to Manila, Phils?

dibs on one of them.:D :D :D

[memphis22]

to UK = $150.
to Phils = $158

Philippines is nearer to Japan, why the higher shipping cost?



Depends how many i order at the same time.

Get me an order for 5 or more, and they could be as cheap as around AUD$150

[Rupewrecht]

That price didn't include shipping, if you check the post before him.

Anyway, you'll be getting them cheaper than the UK, as postage to Manila is less.

[Ronin (Adam)]

How much do you think a set of 5 cusco lower bars to UK would be?

Should work out cheaper right?

[Rupewrecht]

In the end, it really depends how many i get at the one time. The more i can order at once, the cheaper they get

But it'll be cheaper to ship them all to one address in england, and stuff two in each box to save some postage cost (and weight) where possible.

[Ronin (Adam)]

That's what I thought, all to one address.

[Ronin (Adam)]

I think I may have actually found a UK supplier so I don't have to bug you on this anymore Dan :)

[Rupewrecht]

I would have been surprised if you hadn't :)

[Dogo]

Im interested but concerned with Mal's comment about clearance.

My car is a bit low y'know ;)

[Rupewrecht]

i'll try and remember to take a pic of it held in place on the weekend

[Dogo]

thanking you

[andym323]

You may have a point there mate, I know a guy over here has the whole Mazdaspeed brace kit on his Type R, and he reported the underbrace grounding over speed bumps :S

I still want one tho ;)

[Cosmo Dude]

Strange
From what I've seen the brace sits in the area between the front wheels. The wheels are forced up by the lazy policeman and the chassis normaly follows.

[G85]

You may have a point there mate, I know a guy over here has the whole Mazdaspeed brace kit on his Type R, and he reported the underbrace grounding over speed bumps :S

I still want one tho ;)

so there is a MS underbrace?:confused:

[Rupewrecht]

the whole Mazdaspeed brace kit on his Type R

Really? It's not listed in the A-spec brochure.

[boostedbatman]

Ive never heard of Mazdaspeed making or ever having made an underbody brace like this. But it 'could' only ground if you traverse the speed buimps at quite an angle.
Learn to put one wheel onto hump first then straighten car as you go over it
And you wont ground out

[Shaken]

Please do elaborate on the previously mentioned brace kit if possible? Anybody..? :confused:
Anything for the rear upper or lower? Are we just talking about the rear strut tower brace available on some Type-Rs?

[Rupewrecht]

Cusco make a rear strut brace, but afaik you can't get them new.

[Shaken]

RS*R makes a rear strut bar too. http://www.jtw.zaq.ne.jp/crowfield/NEO/modse/footworke/towerbarse.html

[Rupewrecht]

The ends look fairly similar to my Cusco one, but the brace is much better.

http://f10batchimg.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/5/9/2/8/net_recycle_shop-imgbatch_1178442622/600x450-2007050600019.jpg
http://f10batchimg.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/5/9/2/8/net_recycle_shop-imgbatch_1178442622/600x450-2007050600018.jpg

[Shaken]

Wow!! Very nice. let me know if you ever stumble upon one. That would be a perfect fit to my similarly coloured Neo. ;)

[Rupewrecht]

Well, if i don't end up installing that one (not sure if i have to/want to cut my car to make it fit!), it'll go up here for sale (once it arrrives) :)

[G85]

will that work with the bha?

[Rupewrecht]

Not sure! It should though.

[memphis22]

buy it my friend! ;) it's going to be an all cusco item in your bha.

will that work with the bha?

[Shaken]

I feel a bidding war coming on! :) Me want.

[G85]

I feel a bidding war coming on! :) Me want.

bidding war? nah, i don't think i'll be able to afford it right now. but having all the braces made by cusco would be awesome.;)

[Rupewrecht]

I haven't even said it's for sale yet :p

[G85]

LOL!:o :D

[Rupewrecht]

ok, under car clearance. is close the the oilpan, but

If you really wanted to, you could install one on the front of the A-arms, as well as the back.

Front of suspension arms
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace_car2.jpg

About 2cm between my (non-standard) 2.5" exhaust and the brace. 3cm from the corner of the oilpan.


Back of suspension arms
http://rupewrecht.com/forsale/jpn_astina_frcuscobrace_car1.jpg

No issues here, but you'll be more likely to scrape it when mounted there as it's not between the wheels.

How low it sits depends how low your car it. No pics of that as i don't fit under my car when it's on the ground :p Probably 2-3cm lower than your oilpan...but i didn't really pay attention to how much lower thean the chassis it sits - just exhaust clearance.

[boostedbatman]

Off topic but,........
Just for the record Mr Dan I dont reckommend making a habit of sitting your stands on the rails like that
They bend
I have a driver side floor that now sits 20mm higher than standard
Nice mod though if you want to feel like youre actually sitting lower in the car when you drive

[Rupewrecht]

Off topic but,........
Just for the record Mr Dan I dont reckommend making a habit of sitting your stands on the rails like that
They bend
I have a driver side floor that now sits 20mm higher than standard
Nice mod though if you want to feel like youre actually sitting lower in the car when you drive

They're bent anyway ;)

But interesting to know! :o

[chicaboo]

Meh, bent or abrased... Mine are ground down from the hectic drive to Doraygo...

Gav.

[Dogo]

did u take it for a test drive ? how's it feel ? any different ?

[Rupewrecht]

Nah, didn't install it.

[G85]

so essentially, you could install two of these.

hmmm...the pics are upside down right?:D

[Rupewrecht]

so essentially, you could install two of these.

hmmm...the pics are upside down right?:D

Yeah, you could.

And nah, i turned my car upside down ;)

[Dogo]

And nah, i turned my car upside down ;)

ROTFLMAO

[Dogo]

bump - any update ? tried it yet ?

[Rupewrecht]

Once i get used to the JICs and have given them a good thrash, i'll be putting it on. It took longer to put them in that i planned, so it's all been delayed.

And i didn't want to do it at the same time, as i wouldn't be able to tell what difference it made.

But soon, my precious sssssssooooon.

[boostedbatman]

Hehe Mr Dan its a bigger job than it should be hey :p

[Rupewrecht]

Overseas interest dried up for these, so the bulk buy never went ahead.

But i do have a new-in-box one collecting dust if anyone wants it.

[BigMal]

how much ???

[Rupewrecht]

$225 posted

[Rupewrecht]

$225 posted

nyeh, $205 posted, as it's just sitting around taking up space!

[Ronin (Adam)]

If you really wanted to, you could install one on the front of the A-arms, as well as the back.


You could do, but some of the UK guys have found that it snaps because of suspension flexing or something... Definately supposed to be fitted to the front. (I organised a group buy for 13 of us :))

[Smikey]

Can you feel the benefits of it more than a front sway bar? Similar area of stiffness no? promotes a little bit more understeer.

From my limited understanding of what they do (feel free to correct me) they come after you've got strut braces, sway bars etc then come the under braces when you run out of things to connect shiny metal bar between and want a brick of a chassis?

[Clean_Cookie]

hey sorry to dig up an old thread but they contain awesome info that some people havent seen yet. todays question is if installed, do these make a percievable difference to handling and if so, in what way?

cheers guys,
ryan