momo

I'm looking to 'upgrade' my suspension, I don't track or autocross, I’m just hoping to add a little improvement on an already dang great handling car. Can someone tell that the advantages of having under carriage bracing vs. upgrades in the sway bar and end links? What roll do these different components play in increasing the chassis rigidity and reducing flex?

In the real world I would like to upgrade all these parts, but I'm not sure if 1) the cost 2) the added weight 3) not sure about the benefits.

expo1

I had the same question.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/under-sub-frame-brace-pro-con-46043/

I have the very same subframe brace on order and should get it in a few weeks. I plan to make a D.I.Y on it. Mazda already put subframe braces on the 8 so they must feel it’s needed. The aftermarket ones are bigger and have more attachment points to the frame. The MOD that you will notice the most is the sway bars, they are also not that expensive. I got my bars / links from RacingBeat for under $400 and like them a lot. The subframe brace cost me $600. The other items I have are the Mazda speed front & rear strut tower bars ($375) springs are the other things you can get but I wish to ovoid them, the install of springs is more involved. Now I do track my car so that is the main reason behind my mods. If you do not plan to track yours Sway Bars ONLY would be the best and most cost effective mod.

momo

Good link. :D Very helpful. I tried doing a search using different word combinations, but I didn't come up with anything.

Hummmm some perfer the sways bars while other prefer the bracing. It sounds like either way I go, I can't lose. I think I will both the under bracing and sway bars, money permitting. Where did you get the bracing from?

expo1

Well I started that thred for the same reason. But again the sways will ne noticed before the subframe brace.

http://www.bulletproofautomotive.com...p?category=137

BoxerGT2.5

Depends on how you want the car to behave? Depending upon whether you want more oversteer or understeer, this will be affected most by sways. Sway bars will also reduce body roll (corner more flat). If this is your goal you may also want to look into springs as well (stiffer springs=less roll more so than OEM springs and Sways). The downside to sways is that when you hit a good size bump on the right side of the car you are now gonna feel it on the left. If you do upgrade sways I would suggest you upgrade endlinks, as they are pencil thin and are week when added a bigger bar.

Underbraces stiffen up the chassis and help with better turn in. These do not reduce roll. Likewise, a 4 point underbrace in the front is gonna do more to stiffen things up than a 2 point STB. I know I know....the STB is nice to look at. Unless you get the 4point STB. :D