Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: Grant Monkhouse on May 04, 2010, 07:13:03 PM

Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: Grant Monkhouse on May 04, 2010, 07:13:03 PM
what are peoples opinions on using these parts on a road car, i know the engine damper is a good idea but what about the other two?
 
Will these make the noise in the car unbearable, or will a couple of notches on the stereo sort it?
 
I want to start using my car for drag racing and the odd trackday so would these be a good investment to help stop things breaking?
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: lee mills on May 04, 2010, 07:14:27 PM
If your gonna use it for drag racing a diff brace is a must i would say
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: Grant Monkhouse on May 04, 2010, 07:36:51 PM
are the diff braces easy enough to take off/put on? how long does it take?
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: lee mills on May 04, 2010, 07:42:06 PM
Just a few nuts to undo dont take to long
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: TRIND-FD on May 04, 2010, 08:35:10 PM
I use the banzai racing diff Brace, Great bit of kit, Easy to fit. Keith
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: Grant Monkhouse on May 04, 2010, 10:04:07 PM
Quote from: TRIND-FD;691529I use the banzai racing diff Brace, Great bit of kit, Easy to fit. Keith

Have only seen the dragon performance ones, any pointers of where to have a look at the banzai ones?
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: lee mills on May 04, 2010, 10:36:02 PM
http://banzai-racing.com/store/FD_differential_brace.html  :Thumbs-up
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: TRex on May 04, 2010, 10:42:25 PM
Quote from: Grant Monkhouse;691510what are peoples opinions on using these parts on a road car, i know the engine damper is a good idea but what about the other two?
QUOTE]

 The Engine Damper is the worst offender actually, it transmits every  bit of vibration from the Engine bay in the Car!
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: TRIND-FD on May 04, 2010, 11:16:30 PM
Lee beat me.  If your diff bushes are good and your eng mounts,  you should\'nt need anything but the diff brace.
 
 
:3gears-rh
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: chrisJDM on May 05, 2010, 12:02:02 AM
i found the engine damper did F*ck All on my last FD, you are better off looking at replacing your engine and diff bushes really to get most benefit.  Change the bushes and get the gearbox and diff braces and should be pretty solid then, will get a bit of vibration thou with the braces, i had them on a road car and got on ok, depends what you are willing to put up with
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: SiH on May 05, 2010, 08:39:56 AM
Yup, engine dampers are bling band-aids. Spend the money on uprated engine moutns instead.
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: Grant Monkhouse on May 05, 2010, 10:20:31 AM
Quote from: SiH;691635Yup, engine dampers are bling band-aids. Spend the money on uprated engine moutns instead.

Replacing engine mounts means taking engine out? If it does this means I can\'t be arsed with that as had the engine out to replace the clutch, too much messing around for such a small
thing.
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: chrisJDM on May 05, 2010, 10:51:03 AM
i dont know as ive never done it but im sure i have read a few places you dont have to take engine out to replace the mounts
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: jackaleks on May 06, 2010, 02:00:46 PM
Quote from: Grant Monkhouse;691653Replacing engine mounts means taking engine out? If it does this means I can\'t be arsed with that as had the engine out to replace the clutch, too much messing around for such a small
thing.

you should be able to jack it up just enough to wiggle them out without disconnecting it from anything. one of the guys who\'s actually done it should be able to confirm.
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: C J R on May 07, 2010, 12:38:28 PM
I fitted a Dragon Diff Brace. Noticed an increase in cabin noise, but not enough to make me take it off.
 
I have changed my engine mounts.
 
It is possible to jack up the engine sufficiently (taking note not to stretch any lines [fuel/wires] etc etc) and to remove and replace the engine mounts. Depending on your exhaust system, you may have suffiicient flex on the rubber mountings to avoid disconnecting from the manifold.
It was a while ago but I remember there was sufficient clearence on the gearbox/tunnel and bell housing/bulkhead distances.
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: FDAsh on May 07, 2010, 04:51:21 PM
I have solid engine mounts, engine damper, diff brace and polybushes all round. It\'s pretty tight but not unbearably noisy. Tend to hear the diff noise more on coast than power.

I have the full interior still in mine too, when I had the back seats out it was MUCH noisier, so if your car is stripped bear that in mind. Although people who strip their cars out aren\'t usually too bothered about road noise... ;)
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: sammysideways on May 09, 2010, 07:46:24 PM
Whats your opinions on this stuff for a drift car?
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: Grant Monkhouse on May 09, 2010, 09:29:45 PM
Quote from: sammysideways;692710Whats your opinions on this stuff for a drift car?

I would say these parts are important for a car used for any kind of racing, diff brace stops diff movement under hard starts, wheel tramp. Gear box brace to stop gear box moving and stop  the difficulty of finding third gear under harsh acceleration. Engine damper stops engine movement, I\'m sure there are few people with racing experience that can give you better advice.

I\'m looking to get these bits on my car to help stop things from braking if I decideto go racing.
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: sammysideways on May 10, 2010, 05:43:15 PM
Quote from: Grant Monkhouse;692747I would say these parts are important for a car used for any kind of racing, diff brace stops diff movement under hard starts, wheel tramp. Gear box brace to stop gear box moving and stop the difficulty of finding third gear under harsh acceleration. Engine damper stops engine movement, I\'m sure there are few people with racing experience that can give you better advice.
 
I\'m looking to get these bits on my car to help stop things from braking if I decideto go racing.

 
that was my thinking too. will be getting a diff brace when i fit my 1.5:Thumbsup!
Title: Engine damper, gear box brace and diff. brace
Post by: m1tch on May 10, 2010, 05:59:03 PM
Instead of solid engine mounts I would recommend getting poly bush uprated ones, Prof has fitted them to his FC, they do increase vibration a bit, but nothing as mental like solid ones!