I dont live in USA so i manufactured my own transmission brace. It works great for me. minimal if any vibration gain but a lot of whining sound like on FIA GT cars but i like it. i would not mind it even if FD was my daily driver. Before, i had problems with gearbox jumping and hitting the floor when spining tyres and strange whining sound coming out of the gearbox area during acceleration in left hand corners. My PPF was not cracked, all bolts were tight but I guess gearbox still was not sitting tight, touching the driveshaft. Now its all gone and LSD kicks in perfectly as well. so if you have similar problems, getting wheelhops etc, this brace is a cure.

 

The part that worries me is that this brace is solid to the chassis. the entire drve train is supported bushings. the diff has bushings, the brace from that transmission to the diff doesn't bolt the the chassis at all. the engine has mounts. directly bolting the transmission to the frame does not mesh at all with the existing design.

perhaps if there was some sort of dampening factor built in to prevent a hard tension point?

 

This works in much the same way as the Diff Brace. In fact I've seen Rotary Specialists here in the UK make a tranny brace which is very similar in design to Banzai Racing's Diff brace. The solid mount WILL transmit more noise into the cabin, however it still works like a charm.

The only reason I would take my brace off is if I were to replace it with one which mounted on both sides of the frame. I approve of this brace. ^_^

 

you're missing my point entirely.

with a diff brace: you have a flax point in the drivetrain via the driveshaft's u joints.

the engine wills till move under load, and thus the transmission will want to move... since it is bolted to the engine. bracing one end of the transmission while the other end is mounted via flexible engine mounts is going to create an issue somewhere.

Even Garfinkles engine brace has rubber bushings to allow for movement. there is such a thing as too rigid.

 

Yes Rice Rocket I REALLY do want to help those who want to fab their own stuff, and have for over 10 years before you ever joined this forum - but look at how you asked. You imply that...just maybe I don't huh.

The plate to make them out of is 3/16" steel x 4.5" wide x 9.5" long. Punch 4 holes in it and bend it twice and presto - you have a brace ready to paint. Very simple RiceRocket. Now if you REALLY wanted to make one - now show me your brace. Impress me !

Later

 

my bad, missed it.

I know...sarcasm... it a weakness.

I just replicated the Garfinkle brace so this'll be smooth sailing. I did want to share some advice on the NVH issue. When I made my garfinkle brace, I used a tube of neoprene rubber bushing material for the bushings. Maybe if I slice this tube into bushing washers, it'll reduce the noise transfer.

 

No worry, Tom did too...

 

i have solid diff mounts now do you think i will benifit from this? by the way have you thought about putting some rubber or urathane washers in to dampen the vibration transfer?
Great job on the DIY, very cool.

 

WOOT! tom, i finally got some down time for the car and got the brace on two days ago. Drove her hard the past two days and it's awesome. way more solid of a feel, second to fifth shifts are no longer, and it feels like it shifts smoother throughout too.

so far, this is the only brace on my car. next will (hopefully) be a GTB and maybe a diff brace or go solid motor mounts.

and in regards to the noise issue; personally, i'm not considering it an issue at all. this is mainly due to the fact that my car is mildly modded and loud as **** already. there's a bit more noise at low rpm driving, but between the turbo, exhaust, worn out bushings clunking, and road noise, it really doesn't make that much of a difference.

after all, aren't they SUPPOSED to sound like chainsaws on steriods?

 

A little, yes. Good motormounts help too.

 

And I gave you the demensions about 2.5 months ago....! I don't have anything other than what I've told you. The plate is 4.5" wide, 9.5" long, 3/16" thick, 4 holes and bent to fit. I made one and use it for a template. I don't have any PDF or anything else to offer on the denemsions. If you cannot make one from that, then you are not into fabrication.



Now here is what it done today.

 

That's a very unfair thing to say. I am into fabricating parts I need, thick steel plate doesn't happen to be one of them. I have a friend who is a fabricator and he can make one for me if I supply him with the exact dimensions (i.e. hole diameters, bend angles, location of holes) and he would need more info than what you provided.

 

I hate to say it, but this is starting to sound a lot like whining. A more mature response would have been...

"Thanks for the reply. I can fabricate some parts, but not steel plate. I do have a friend that can fabricate it for me if I give him the exact specs (i.e. hole diameters, bend angles, location of holes). I was just hoping you had those. Thanks anyway and good luck with the braces you're making. I'll think about adding my name to the list since the brace looks great."

The above is polite, respectful, and yet still conveys the information you wanted to. As it is, you make it sound like it is his problem you can't make them rather than your problem.

Just a thought....

 

My thoughts too dave. I have no pity for a whinner. A true fabricator will take a look at a device, a problem or a symptom and come up with an idea then go to measurements, tests, etc etc. So many people these days want it handed to them in a written plan. Well this is nice if it can be done. This device came from thoughts others were doing for strenghtening their drivelines. I used cardboard and a permanent marker and made a template. Then bought some plate and made three braces for my FDs. I just wanted to share what I did and hoped others would pick up on the idea and make their own. I am here to help out the FD enthuisiast and provides some solutions.

But I don't want to bicker. So if anyone wants to make their own and can fab or knows someone that can, then look at the deminsions I gave and look at the "S" bend and then crawl under your car and make a cardboard template, cut it out of 3/16" plate, drill some hole and WALLLAAA - you have one to be proud of.

Now take care....more to come later on other pieces deep from within the Garage !



Later

 

Nope, no whining here. I would save my breath and just say go to hell before I whine .