Gtt Upper Front Strutbrace

[BUTTONMUSH]

To all those out there with a GTT Upper Front Strutbrace.......

What difference does it REALLY make ?

On my second MINI and, having driven 90,000 between them, I have always felt there's a degree of woolyness up front that could do with sorting.
The Front wheels always have felt like they don't act as one and are attached with rubber.

I had a JCW one on my Cooper and it was a total non-entity as far as effect on it's handling characteristics.

I know these things can work as I had one on my 99 106GTi 9 years ago and instantly noticed the difference.

Thing is, it needs to be good at approaching £300, I know the real cost is from the development work and Aluminium blocks to mill that out of aren't cheap.... but I can by a PS3 or a Blue Ray, Sat Nav & ICE or have a 15% fitted for that.

On the plus side it won't devalue or blow-up my "S" and being a big disliker of the R56 I may get a last production R56 "S" Cabby and that will need a brace.

Comments from owners welcolmed to help make informed decision..

[Fen]

I had mine fitted by Roland just before Christmas when I was having the 210 kit done. I had the rear lower done at the same time which may colour things slightly, but in all seriousness I could feel the difference within 100 yards of the workshop.

That's on a hatch BTW.

[Streeters]

Must admit, althoug expensive its the best looking strutbrace i've seen, areal piece of engine furniture. Not having one myself, i can only point you in the direction of another thread running in this section as well as Fen's positive comment.
http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-ty...my-cooper.html

[BUTTONMUSH]

Quote: Originally Posted by Streeters (original)

Must admit, althoug expensive its the best looking strutbrace i've seen, areal piece of engine furniture. Not having one myself, i can only point you in the direction of another thread running in this section as well as Fen's positive comment.
http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-ty...my-cooper.html

Looks won't be an issue as I'll be going for Black if I choose to get one and quite possiblely without the badge if possible.

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by BUTTONMUSH (original)

Looks won't be an issue as I'll be going for Black if I choose to get one and quite possiblely without the badge if possible.

Some pics to wet your appetite

The Minx - Her PowerPlant - a photoset on Flickr

[BUTTONMUSH]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Some pics to wet your appetite

The Minx - Her PowerPlant - a photoset on Flickr

That's the one but what about it's effect as opposed to it's looks ?

Don't want my thread hijacked with a million comments on the looks as trying to make a purchase decision

[minicabrio]

Effect is very dramatic - I swapped my JCW one for the set of three upper/lower/mid from GTT and I can't even begin to tell you how much of an effect it made

[Damo]

Can't comment on the brace, not got one, although I did personally feel the JCW one did make a difference on my friend car (My S had one from the delivery daym becuase of this)

If you've done 90,000 with 2 MINI's could indicate you've done a lot of miles in your current MINI, you may want to get your front wishbone rear bushes check out as these can go if you push your car.

[coded2112]

If you don't notice the difference in a hundred yards, then the suspension on your car needs looking at! I have one on my GP and it is awesome! Getting the bottom strut brace fitted when i have my big brakes put on by Roland very shortly!

[BUTTONMUSH]

Quote: Originally Posted by Damo (original)

Can't comment on the brace, not got one, although I did personally feel the JCW one did make a difference on my friend car (My S had one from the delivery daym becuase of this)

If you've done 90,000 with 2 MINI's could indicate you've done a lot of miles in your current MINI, you may want to get your front wishbone rear bushes check out as these can go if you push your car.

I doubt it....My first MINI (a 03 Cooper Chilli) racked up a healthy 75K before I swopped it for an "S" which currently has 17K

[REDHOT CHILLI COOPER]

Put it this way, if I bought another MINI I'd buy another GTT Brace if only to stop the dash rattles.

They look the part and really do the job.

I have it fitted to my Cooper but on the the non 'S' model you need to remove the battery cover or cut the lid and modify it like I've done. I'm just about to post some pics on another thread if you give me 10mins.

Thread link for pics..... http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-ty...ml#post3296907

[Damo]

Quote: Originally Posted by BUTTONMUSH (original)

I doubt it....My first MINI (a 03 Cooper Chilli) racked up a healthy 75K before I swopped it for an "S" which currently has 17K

17 definitly not, especially if standard, was just a thought thats all.

Personally felt the S never handled as well as a Cooper, unless the S had a strut brace.

I drove My Coooper with Eibach springs then my friends JCW S with eibachs. His felt awful compared to mine. I put it down to his runfat tyres, but then he got the strut brace (JCW aswell) and felt better. Can only imagine the GTT being that much better.

[Fen]

I was paying attention to mine today as I hadn't driven it for a few days and had been driving an old Audi diesel (had to park overnight in London). It's really awesome; the front of the car feels like it's utterly solid like the whole thing is a block that has zero flex. As I said I have the rear lower GTT brace as well and I recently an OMP front lower that I already had bought off the 'Bay before I visited GTT. The OMP didn't make an appreciable difference but the GTT pair is like night and day.

I went for black as well as my car very much has a dark silver and black theme going. A mate who used to be a mechnaic and is as into cars as I am (though not Minis) didn't even notice it when he looked under the bonnet despite the badge, so it's quite subtle in black.

The only downside I have seen is that you can't get the engine bay fuse box cover off with the brace in place.

[BUTTONMUSH]

Has anyone tried the Carbon Fibre Strut Brace that MiniMania sell for £210 all-in ?

It's got no hinges etc so should be pretty good and far lighter than the 3Kg the GTT weighs in at.

They're only 25mins away too

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by BUTTONMUSH (original)

It's got no hinges etc so should be pretty good and far lighter than the 3Kg the GTT weighs in at.

I'd never considered the additional 3 Kg that the GTT items adds to my MCS. Just getting back to reality for a moment, it's less than the weight I've just saved by taking the jack out of the car and probably about the same as paying a worthwhile visit to the loo... Or, about the same as £3.50's worth of premium unleaded....

If this is the strut brace that you are referring to:

MINI Coopers by Mini Mania

It's bolted together at either end of the carbon fibre tube and it's only bolted to the car at two points at either end, via a narrow alloy bracket, whereas the GTT item is bolted to the car at all three points using rigid alloy plates that are welded (not bolted) to the cross member .