Bell Raceworks Diff Brace Install

cv129 · 05-25-2019, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Talked to Spencer about this brace at ZDayZ this month. He told me to send him an e-mail detailing the issues with the brace. So, I included this thread. Hoping this helps to improve it. The brace is a great idea, but just had poor follow through.

Bull chit......acting like this was never brought to Z1’s attention. You got him in person, face to face, he got nowhere to run but to appear as if it’s breaking news...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

This is the review that I'm posting again.

If you have exhaust like FI that are close to the diff. This brace won't fit unless you trim about 1 3/8" on the corner of the brace. The other problem is that the upper mounting hole does not line up with the hole in the sub-frame. It's off by a bolt hole diameter. They say to loosen the diff bolting up to the diff so that you can move the diff around and get the holes to line up. Problem is if you have a solid bushing like SPL. When tightening the diff bolting back down. This will put stress on the bolting that you don't need. If you have the stock rubber bushing. you might get away with it.

The other thing that I noticed. There is weld beads on both sides of the bends of the brace. It looks like when bending the metal to shape. The metal cracked at the bends. So they welded over the cracks to hide them.

Rusty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Just seen this on the Z1 website.

"Thank you for your review. It has been submitted to the store owner for approval and should appear shortly."

Rusty · 05-25-2019, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

Bull chit......acting like this was never brought to Z1’s attention. You got him in person, face to face, he got nowhere to run but to appear as if it’s breaking news...

Someone at Z1 read my review and buried it. I hoping some good will come out of my e-mail. He now knows about this thread. So, let's see what comes out of it. I'll up-date this thread when I get a reply.

bunk · 05-26-2019, 06:36 AM

Rusty, do you notice any difference with the diff brace?

Rusty · 05-26-2019, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunk

Rusty, do you notice any difference with the diff brace?

Well......the whole azz of the Z is locked down. So for me to notice will be hard.

bunk · 05-27-2019, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Well......the whole azz of the Z is locked down. So for me to notice will be hard.

Ill have to look into this... if anything to give me more piece of mind about my stud on that bushing...lol

fechavez · 06-24-2019, 12:31 AM

Can’t speak to the performance of the brace as I just put it on today but I don’t understand why there’s any hate for it. The install was super simple and I had literally 0 issues and didn’t have to cut or trim any fins. I have the Z1 diff cover btw.

NorthStyle · 06-24-2019, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fechavez

...I don’t understand why there’s any hate for it.

The "hate" for the part is that it doesn't fit arguably the most popular exhaust made for the Z34 as well as a host of others without extreme modification as JLarson said above and Rusty covered with pictures a few pages back (it looks like it was made to be used with a single or OEM-style exhaust). However, even after being notified, neither Bell nor Z1 has made note of it on the product page... I think that'd be really useful information for a consumer to have as I had planned to purchase it and I have a Fast Intentions exhaust as well

The other part of the reason is from when Rusty posted his review (not so positive, but a customer review nonetheless). Instead of being upfront and honest, Z1 instead chose to disregard it as if it was never written. That's shady...

JARblue · 06-24-2019, 06:36 AM

What exhaust are you running?

fechavez · 06-24-2019, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

What exhaust are you running?

Previous owner had a shop do a muffler delete

JLarson · 06-24-2019, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fechavez

Previous owner had a shop do a muffler delete

That's why you're not having a problem. Several aftermarket mufflers, including Fast Intentions, require modification of the z1 cover to fit back on the car.

SS_Firehawk · 06-24-2019, 04:02 PM

Hey Rusty, I need to get with you to figure out a solution since you're about as close to a solid one with an F.I. exhaust. At ZDayZ, I snapped the diff bolt and put a hole in my diff cover. Hard launch, strong clutch, and sticky tires doomed the diff bolt. Z1 did come though and replaced my diff cover free, but I couldn't add the diff brace for obvious reasons while they helped me get my car down to their shop. Any kind of hard driving with hardened bushings and a lot of traction will snap it without effort. It was instantaneous, like a guillotine and some poor dudes neck.

Rusty · 06-24-2019, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Firehawk

Hey Rusty, I need to get with you to figure out a solution since you're about as close to a solid one with an F.I. exhaust. At ZDayZ, I snapped the diff bolt and put a hole in my diff cover. Hard launch, strong clutch, and sticky tires doomed the diff bolt. Z1 did come though and replaced my diff cover free, but I couldn't add the diff brace for obvious reasons while they helped me get my car down to their shop. Any kind of hard driving with hardened bushings and a lot of traction will snap it without effort. It was instantaneous, like a guillotine and some poor dudes neck.

Shoot me a pm with your phone number.

Spooler · 06-24-2019, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Shoot me a pm with your phone number.

Make me one too please. Mine is at MA.

Rusty · 06-25-2019, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooler

Make me one too please. Mine is at MA.

I can mod it. Ship it to me.

Spooler · 06-25-2019, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

I can mod it. Ship it to me.

I have to get it back from MA.

05-26-2019, 06:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
bunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,080 Drives: 2010 370z Roadster Rep Power: 2684371	Rusty, do you notice any difference with the diff brace? Rusty likes this. __________________ -Drop in K&N Filter -Invidia Gemini CBE -Z1 Oil Cooler -Swift Springs - EcuTek -Forgestar F14 -SPL Camber Links -Akebono BBK Upgrade -Z1 Premium SS Lines -SPL Diff Bushings -SPL FUCAs - BellRaceworks Diff Brace

06-24-2019, 06:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 45 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684442	What exhaust are you running? cv129, Rusty, Hotrodz and 2 others like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

06-24-2019, 04:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7336	Hey Rusty, I need to get with you to figure out a solution since you're about as close to a solid one with an F.I. exhaust. At ZDayZ, I snapped the diff bolt and put a hole in my diff cover. Hard launch, strong clutch, and sticky tires doomed the diff bolt. Z1 did come though and replaced my diff cover free, but I couldn't add the diff brace for obvious reasons while they helped me get my car down to their shop. Any kind of hard driving with hardened bushings and a lot of traction will snap it without effort. It was instantaneous, like a guillotine and some poor dudes neck. JARblue, Rusty, Hotrodz and 3 others like this. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

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06-24-2019, 12:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
fechavez Base Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Santa Fe, NM Age: 32 Posts: 27 Drives: 11' Sport 6MT Rep Power: 8	Can’t speak to the performance of the brace as I just put it on today but I don’t understand why there’s any hate for it. The install was super simple and I had literally 0 issues and didn’t have to cut or trim any fins. I have the Z1 diff cover btw.