FR-S now with added stiffness

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
02/26/2014 at 17:06 • Filed to: None

Added some chassis stiffening beams and solid aluminum steering rack bushings. Steering has absolutely NO dead-zone anymore, it was kind of disconcerting at first to have the steering response so immediate. Now that I've gotten used to it though, it's perfect.

Sorry for the pictures they were taken under the car with a potato and poor lighting

Two things I noticed while doing the work this weekend

1. It's really nice to work on a car with new (not rusted) bolts

2. The motor mount plates (engine side) are made of plastic... PLASTIC!!! Actually they look identical to the terrible ones subaru put of the 2006 STI (that were known for breaking easily)

DISCUSSION (23)

Formula4speed > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 17:14

Ooh, I like those. Look like nice parts, good job on a clean install. I think this, sticky tires, weight reduction, and stiffer suspension would be a cool way for scion to offer a "high performance" fr-s without adding power, should they ever choose to do so.

Decay buys too many beaters > Formula4speed
02/26/2014 at 17:20

I agree, and all the work is already done for Scion/Toyota, if they chose to go that route. TRD Japan makes all of the necessary components (besides tires).

DocWalt > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 17:23

Plastic? Interesting. Maybe since it has so much less power it will hold up. I've not really heard of any breaking yet.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 17:27

it's giving me an added stiffness ;)

Decay buys too many beaters > DocWalt
02/26/2014 at 17:36

Nor have I, but the rubber bushing material is actually ridiculously pliable (it feels like bubble gum) so they will deflect quite a bit and soften any forces the mounting plates experience. I expect they will live a long life for most users under normal driving conditions.

I'll be changing them out for slightly stiffer poly mounts (similar stiffness to Group N WRX mounts) in the near future that come with milled aluminum mounting plates. I haven't heard anyone else complain about it yet, but the whole drive line feels really soft to me. My next round of under car shenanigans will address this by installing stiffer engine trans and diff mounts.

Casper > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 17:37

I have been looking at starting to do this to the wife's BRZ. The steering is amazing compared to most power steering cars, but it has a funny dead spot that bugs me and a little flex in the chassis I really don't like.

Have you don't anything else?

YSI-what can brown do for you > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 17:47

Any additional vibrations?

Decay buys too many beaters > Casper
02/26/2014 at 17:48

The steering is especially amazing considering that it is an electrically assisted power steering system.

I have done quite a bit so far, mostly driveability modifications

Brakes:

Project Mu HC+800 Pads

DBA T3 Rotors (I warped the OEM ones on the track)

MAW brake master cylinder brace (highly recommended for better braking feel)

Transmission:

Kartboy Short shifter kit (amazing)

Rear shifter bushing

Kartboy Transmission mount insert (feels great but does add in some NVH)

Mtec transmission springs

Weight Savings (in track day/autocross trim it's around 110lbs under stock weight)

RPF1 wheels in 17x7.5

Ballistic EVO2 Battery

HKS Hipower Spec L catback exhaust

Washer fluid kept really low (it's a HUGE tank)

Decay buys too many beaters > YSI-what can brown do for you
02/26/2014 at 17:52

No, only change (besides the scary telepathic steering) is a much more noticeable clunk if you hit full lock.

Casper > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 17:52

I really want to do the brakes, and you are now the third person to recommend the master cylinder brace to me. I think that would help a lot. Are the new pads noisy?

The only things we did to her car so far are a Greddy SPL Elite cat back and tint. I told her as soon as the shit Prius tires were worn out I was doing wheels, tires, and brakes all in one shot.... but that was before my car build doubled in scope. I think I'll do them in pieces.

Decay buys too many beaters > Casper
02/26/2014 at 17:58

The HC+800 pads definitely do squeal, but they have amazing initial bite (cold or hot) and seem to be immune to fading.

If noise is an issue, I've heard good things about the Project Mu HC400 pads, much less aggressive, but they supposed to be quieter and produce less dust.

Casper > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 18:31

Yeah, the wife's car isn't allowed to go the route of mine which as basically road driven track toys.... but at the same time they need to be good enough at going, stopping, turning, and feel that I will drive them.

Decay buys too many beaters > Casper
02/26/2014 at 18:42

Well the best feel modification I've done is the short shifter.

I'm not usually one who cares about having long vs short throws, but the way a slightly shorter throw (and stiffer bushings) tighten up the whole transmission is quite eye opening. Most people who I have let row through the gears on mine have either went out right away and bought it, or put it on their short term "to do" list.

Casper > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 19:17

Yeah, the transmission on my Z is extremely tight because with the short shifter I also went with a solid shifter bushing replacement. The wife's car will always be more squishy just because that's what she likes, but I will get it as close to something as I like as I can.

DocWalt > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 20:47

I've definitely noticed the squishy engine mounts. It's nearly as soft as my GTI and that has a completely exploded front mount, heh.

I think I'll go for trans mounts and then the Group N style mounts as well, my plans eventually include a supercharger and I'd like to not make it even worse.

Decay buys too many beaters > Casper
02/26/2014 at 20:56

If she likes squishy, she'll love the stock motor mounts. I gave the stock mounts a few good pokes with a screwdriver this weekend (my shade-tree mechanic standard for measuring bushing durometer) and they honestly have about as much stiffness as bubble gum, I'll be taking care of that next month when a new exhaust manifold goes in.

Decay buys too many beaters > DocWalt
02/26/2014 at 21:07

I'm going with Perrin mounts, a jdm STI trans mount (with a forcedfab stiffening insert), and the Whiteline diff insert bushings.

Be careful just doing the trans mount stiffening without any other driveline stiffening. I've run about 3k miles on mine with stock motor mounts, kartboy trans insert, and stock diff mount (mildly hard miles with a few track days and autocrosses) and the rubber still on the trans mount is starting to show some wear. I think this is because the engine is still able to move via the OEM motor mounts but since the trans mount is now more constrained than the motor mounts, lots of force gets redirected to the trans mount.

Casper > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 22:22

Ooo I look forward to seeing how much that improves things. I hate how much movement the engine has right now... but then again I'm use to hard poly mounts.

DocWalt > Decay buys too many beaters
02/26/2014 at 22:30

Hmm. That's definitely something to think about. Might be worth doing all of them at once just because it'll be in the air anyway. Thanks for the advice!

Decay buys too many beaters > Casper
02/26/2014 at 23:20

Yeah me too, it's incredible how much drivetrain slop these cars have from the factory.

Jonathon Klein > Decay buys too many beaters
02/27/2014 at 12:59

What is the manufacturer for the braces and steering rack?

Decay buys too many beaters > Jonathon Klein
02/27/2014 at 13:09

Manufacturer for the brace kit is TRD Japan, steering rack bushings are made by Turn In Concepts.

Jonathon Klein > Decay buys too many beaters
02/27/2014 at 13:25

Awesome thanks! How did you order them? I can't figure it out?