Banzai Racing Transmission brace review
#1
Banzai Racing Transmission brace review
Finally pulled the trigger on one of Banzai’s transmission braces and installed it over the winter. With spring finally arriving I had a chance to put a few miles on it and thought I’d share….
Very happy. I’m not making huge power, maybe 300 at the wheels. And I’m running Noltecs for engine mounts which reduced the “spoon in a bowl of jello” movement but never really eliminated it. That always bugged me a little. Well, this brace pretty much eliminated what was left. Plus, I really haven’t noticed any increase in nvh so far….and I think I’m pretty sensitive to that.
Installation was pretty intuitive and smooth, although I did read thru Banzai’s instructions. I think the big thing is to leave all the fasteners loose until everything is installed before tightening.The only other issue was one bolt hole not lining up quite enough to start a bolt. I put it on the drill press and increased the hole dia. about 2 mm. Spritz’s some black paint in hole and all was well.
Maybe 30 minutes total for the install, but that was on the lift.
Seems like every so often someone posts on an issue with what ends up to be a warped or twisted PPF from some PO doing stupid things. If you’re making anything significant over stock power, maybe with fatter, stickier tires, you might want to consider one of these. Track or auto crossers for sure.
http://www.banzai-racing.com/store/F...040.1680038096
Very happy. I’m not making huge power, maybe 300 at the wheels. And I’m running Noltecs for engine mounts which reduced the “spoon in a bowl of jello” movement but never really eliminated it. That always bugged me a little. Well, this brace pretty much eliminated what was left. Plus, I really haven’t noticed any increase in nvh so far….and I think I’m pretty sensitive to that.
Installation was pretty intuitive and smooth, although I did read thru Banzai’s instructions. I think the big thing is to leave all the fasteners loose until everything is installed before tightening.The only other issue was one bolt hole not lining up quite enough to start a bolt. I put it on the drill press and increased the hole dia. about 2 mm. Spritz’s some black paint in hole and all was well.
Maybe 30 minutes total for the install, but that was on the lift.
Seems like every so often someone posts on an issue with what ends up to be a warped or twisted PPF from some PO doing stupid things. If you’re making anything significant over stock power, maybe with fatter, stickier tires, you might want to consider one of these. Track or auto crossers for sure.
http://www.banzai-racing.com/store/F...040.1680038096
Last edited by Sgtblue; 04-11-23 at 07:05 AM.
#3
Rotorhead for life
iTrader: (4)
Thanks for the review! This is one of those upgrades that is on my "to do" list that is just waiting for time and a little bit of disposable income; glad to hear it works as advertised and was an easy install. I'm guessing on that one hole you had to bore out a little bit that the issue was too thick of a powder coating applied on the hole's inside diameter that needed to go, as opposed to the hole being too small or misaligned to begin with?
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Sgtblue (04-11-23)
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Sgtblue (04-11-23)
#5
Originally Posted by Banzai-Racing;[url=tel:12556332
12556332[/url]]I have noticed that my powder coater seems to have changed to a thicker material, might be the reason why you had to open up the hole, but I don't know which one you are referring to.
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#8
Rotor or no motor
iTrader: (24)
I still chew up my 5th gear synchros with it but nonetheless it is a great product.
and yes mazda should have installed a transmission mount like most cars with a transmission mount
my only issue while it has nothing to do with the brace itself, i managed to strip the threads that it mounts on after many years of abuse. Nothing a set of helicoils cant fix
and yes mazda should have installed a transmission mount like most cars with a transmission mount
my only issue while it has nothing to do with the brace itself, i managed to strip the threads that it mounts on after many years of abuse. Nothing a set of helicoils cant fix
#10
It was probably a mistake even at stock power levels.
Last edited by Sgtblue; 04-12-23 at 05:35 AM.
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gdub29e (04-12-23)
#11
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
Yeah really. Right up there with liquid filled diff mounts. I wouldn’t be as bold to call his mount a Band-Aid, but I understand your analogy. Everything is a trade-off, we all can’t reinvent the wheel. As you know, sometimes you have to work with what you got. Either way, it’s a super nice piece from a reputable company.
~ GW
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R-R-Rx7 (04-12-23)
#13
Rotor or no motor
iTrader: (24)
i consider my fd a very normal fd. it behaves like a slightly modded street car but it can slingshot you when you want it to.
the extra power is what stripped the threaded inserts but the fact is that the synchro design from mazda is poor. good thing is, its a relatively easy job to replace it
Last edited by R-R-Rx7; 04-12-23 at 09:18 AM.
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