Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 +
Rear subframe brace with 4-point mounting. Attaches to the lower sway bar mounting points and the rear lower A-arm bolts.
I've had this installed on my '91 since 1998. The brace helped significantly for chassis rigidity, and keeps vibrations to a minimum. My car is driven into the city daily, and the brace does a nice job of helping to settle the car after a hard bump. Steering response was also slightly improved. Definitely a "must have" for the early M1's. Not sure how noticable it will be on the stiffer M2's (where applicable).
This is a very sturdy piece that appears to have been CNC machined from a 1/4" thick piece of sheet aluminum. It comes powdercoated black. Overall quality A+. Installation is pretty straightforward, but make sure to spray the mounting bolts prior to removal. This unit has a removable section on the top portion, so there's no need to remove the exhaust. You may want to use some anti-seize compound on the 4 bolts that hold in the removable section just for future maintenance to the exhaust. The downside is that whenever you need to remove the brace (for maintenance, new sway bars, etc.), you have to disturb the lower A-arm bolts, which can throw off your alignment, so make sure you mark their positions before moving them.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to '90 - '97 '99 +
Ties the rear subframe together with four mounting points. Applicable to '90-'91 and '99+
This is a nicely engineered product with a seperation that allows installation without removal of the exhaust system. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow. As I have '90 that's been winter driven, before installation, I spayed the bolts to be removed with liberal amounts of WD40 a couple days in a row. Even with the extra care I took to brush the rust off the threads, and easing off the bolts to prevent breakage, the whole procedure can be done in less than 2 hours. However, when I was tightening the last sway bar bolt using my torque wrench, the damn bolt snapped on me.. so 2 hours of dremel'ing and drilling out the stud later everything was done.
Things feel a little tighter with brace, but I haven't taken it on the highway yet, so that may yield a greater effect. I have a front brace on order that should further firm things up.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Rear chassis brace for older Miatas (pre 94?)
I installed the cannon brace along with replacing the sway bar bushings. It took a couple of hours so you don't have to worry about any significant Miata downtime. The instructions that came with it was very clear and easy to follow. The only part not specified specifically that should be is the direction of the 4 bolts that encloses the brace around the tailpipe. I can't remember which way they face so email me and I'll check under the car prior to replying. They helped a little with ride quality but not as noticeable a improvement than the improvements by installing the front chassis and rear bulkhead brace. I don't know what I'd say if the braces were installed in reverse.
If you own an pre 94 miata without braces, GO OUT AND GET SOME! For a few hours work, you will love driving your Miata even more. I'd wish someone can come up with a brace that ties the control arm forks together. The newer Miatas have them because they rotated the control arm bolts 90 degrees. Someone at the magazine should write a comprehensive chassis comparison that clears the fog once and for all..
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
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