Bell Raceworks Diff Brace Install

solidus · 02-19-2019, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotrodz

LOL, I think I have set of those worthless things too!

Switched out to the FI 3 bolt gasket and no more gasket leak. Just sucked to have to go through that twice in 7 days. Made worse by the fact it was done on jack stands and the whole front half of the exhaust and the turbo and manifold had to be dropped.......twice.

jwick · 02-19-2019, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidus

Switched out to the FI 3 bolt gasket and no more gasket leak. Just sucked to have to go through that twice in 7 days. Made worse by the fact it was done on jack stands and the whole front half of the exhaust and the turbo and manifold had to be dropped.......twice.

Yeah that sucks

solidus · 02-19-2019, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwick

Yeah that sucks

Jwick you're a BP guy like me, I know you know. Lol!!!

jwick · 02-19-2019, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidus

Jwick you're a BP guy like me, I know you know. Lol!!!

Dude. Chuck and I fought that turbo for over an hour when we first installed the kit. After we finally got it clocked and inplace, it took me 30-45 minutes to tighten the t-bolt clamp on the coupler. It was so tight I couldn’t get a socket on it. It was one ratchet click at a time with my flex head ratcheting box wrench.

I was so thankful to upgrade to the V2 piping.

solidus · 02-20-2019, 12:16 AM

For me it's two things. The top forward bolt for the turbo flange and getting the v bands for the recirc pipes to line up to put the clamps on. I'm an expert at removing catalytic, test pipes and turbo manifolds. I can do it with the hood closed now.

Rusty · 05-25-2019, 04:25 PM

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.

cv129 · 05-25-2019, 10:42 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, 10:53 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, 07:36 AM

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

Rusty · 05-26-2019, 05:50 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, 09:47 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

BettyZ · 05-27-2019, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

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.

The picture on Z1's site shows the same welding. Looks like it's that way for all the braces. So either a) they wanted to be extra sure the brace was strong, or b) this is a substandard product.

Rusty · 05-27-2019, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

The picture on Z1's site shows the same welding. Looks like it's that way for all the braces. So either a) they wanted to be extra sure the brace was strong, or b) this is a substandard product.

I've seen this before in fabing parts. They're putting a flat piece into an iron worker and pressing it into shape. Either they need to put some lube on the piece to let it move or the dies need adjusted.

BettyZ · 05-27-2019, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Either they need to put some lube on the piece to let it move or the dies need adjusted.

"When in doubt, add more lube" is a pretty coherent life philosophy.

Rusty · 05-27-2019, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

"When in doubt, add more lube" is a pretty coherent life philosophy.

Tell her to bit the pillow. Because you're going in dry.

05-25-2019, 04:25 PM	#96 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,173 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684437	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. Hotrodz likes this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

05-26-2019, 07:36 AM	#99 (permalink)
bunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,077 Drives: 2010 370z Roadster Rep Power: 2684369	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

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02-20-2019, 12:16 AM	#95 (permalink)
solidus Track Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 694 Drives: 15' Nismo Black 6MT Rep Power: 10081	For me it's two things. The top forward bolt for the turbo flange and getting the v bands for the recirc pipes to line up to put the clamps on. I'm an expert at removing catalytic, test pipes and turbo manifolds. I can do it with the hood closed now.