EOI for 9N(3) Rear UNIbrace XB

[kaanage]

I was making an enquiry with UNIbrace (http://www.unibrace.com) about the possibility of them making me a MkIV Golf Rear XB Brace without the mounting holes drilled so that could machine it down to fit and drill my own mounting holes.

He asked me if there was demand for more than one of these as they could the make a new version to specifically for the 9N3 Polo if they could get orders for 10. I told him that I would gauge local interest.

In case you haven't seen them, this (http://www.unibrace.com/frameset.html) is what I am referring to. It is by far the nicest looking rear brace tha I have seen and is easily removable after the initial install as it uses nutserts to hold the brace to the body.

So, who else might want one?

Current interest count: 5 + a maybe

[noone]

If the price is reasonable and it can be removed with a leatherman (as in when I'm out), sure.

[Bflat]

Are the advantages similar to those delivered from a RSB?

[jasonc23]

What would the ballpark price be?

[noone]

Are the advantages similar to those delivered from a RSB?

Very different. This device helps with chassis rigidity, sway limits the difference between suspension movement. It's more like the front strut brace.

[seangti]

Is this the one that sits behind the rear seat, attached between the struts, or the underbody brace, like a H brace?

[kaanage]

Click on this to see the brace and how it fits (http://www.unibrace.com/xb_photo.html)

I imagine the price will be the same as for the Golf rear braces A$420 delivered

[noone]

damn, thats not cheap... I am sure its well designed, but think i'll have to sit this one out

[triode12]

Being a lot smaller than the Golf, do the Polos suffer badly from chassis flex?

[kaanage]

A 9N3 is almost the same size as a MkIV Golf - any hatchback flexes at the back since there is no bracing at the rear wheels.


damn, thats not cheap... I am sure its well designed, but think i'll have to sit this one out

I'd say this would do much more for performance than oversized wheels and brakes. But that's an unproven opinion.

And think what a single high performance tyre costs.

[noone]

I can't afford slicks either...
Are you trying to make some other statement here?

[kaanage]

Just that I think it's good back for buck and you seem willing to spend on other mods that I think have less effect on performance (IMO and I'm not special casing you - this applies to lots here)

[Driven Threads]

Unibrace is a exceptionally high quality product. If you can get them to manufacture something to suit Polo- you are on to a winner.

Its the best handling mod I have ever done. Its feels as if the back of the car is now connected to the front. (Although my car is a fat, porky, overweight pig compared to the polo)

A pic for reference. (with rear seat installed)

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/06/DSCF2350-1.jpg

[kangfu]

If it is easily removable i'd possibly be in. My current one is a pain in the ass sometimes when i'm transporting mums grandma trolley in the boot!

[End User]

Will a stiffer chassis mean more understeer? I'm just trying to wrap my head around the physics.....

[vwthunder]

I would be in, after seeing the unibrace in Pauls R32, it is beautiful

[seangti]

Will a stiffer chassis mean more understeer? I'm just trying to wrap my head around the physics.....

understeer isn't typically/necessarily a result of a non-reinforced chassis, particularly on the polos being of good build. A nissan micra... yeah perhaps.

From my experience, additional bracing provides for improved feel and feedback when driving hard, or on uneven roads. It won't typically "dial out" understeer, but may allow for improved feel so you get get closer to the limit with greater confidence.

[End User]

From my experience, additional bracing provides for improved feel and feedback when driving hard, or on uneven roads. It won't typically "dial out" understeer, but may allow for improved feel so you get get closer to the limit with greater confidence.
Good enough for me. Count me in if they come in at under $450 delivered.

[vwthunder]

So how many of us is that now

I can ask someone (or I will) post over on the South African VW forum

[kaanage]

3 + a maybe.:P

The UNIbrace guy (Bruce Levin) would also be interested in getting pics of the underbody of the Polos to size up for the underbrace as well. Anyone got some good pics when doing some work on a hoist?

[vwthunder]

3 + a maybe.:P

The UNIbrace guy (Bruce Levin) would also be interested in getting pics of the underbody of the Polos to size up for the underbrace as well. Anyone got some good pics when doing some work on a hoist?

Hmmm no not really, I would be worried about having a low car with a brace underneath

[Buller_Scott]

Hmmm no not really, I would be worried about having a low car with a brace underneath

so jack it up to sensible + best handling height!

[Buller_Scott]

I'd say this would do much more for performance than oversized wheels and brakes. But that's an unproven opinion.


not really... even greg from gsl rallysport says that his hi-po evo 7 lancer rally car, with race-trained HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY left foot brakers, only require 274mm (iirc) brakes up front, in race conditions...

given that our cars are lighter, less powerful, only FWD, and the fact that we CANNOT LFB (which is ufcking GAY, when you take into account that i used to LFB in my dad's old land rover disco, FFS!!!), i'd personally tear my balls off, before adding that extra unnecessary weight there... +/- 5kg's per corner? lol. supaLAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!! ewwww. get some decent brake pads, then get yo'self some RPF1's!

pads + fluid + (at most) discs, should do one fine. then, rip the back seats out, de-muff, speakers + HU, smaller battery... then, you're on your way, IMO.

but what would i know? diesels are slow e.g. peugeot / audi @ le mans...... slow. yes. diesel. slow.

[vwthunder]

, rip the back seats out, de-muff, speakers + HU, smaller battery... then, you're on your way

I have taken the Sub Box out and the back seat, I swear the car feels like it has gained about 20KW.
Amazing what a difference it makes. I had a problem with traction control, it wouldnt stay on, I let my friend go for a drive, and he said he couldnt drive it, as it was spinning wheels in 1st and 2nd.

[Evaded Motorsport]

Why can't you left foot brake in these, I'm huge and can left foot braking, if you mean left foot braking and changing down gears you can do that you just have to rev match.

[vwthunder]

so jack it up to sensible + best handling height!

Pfffft boring, thats not how you make your car one of the nicest going around, one of the guys in Malaysia has the Ultra racing subframe brace on and he hits things. His car is only lowered 35mm

[Evaded Motorsport]

Mine isn't lowered all that much and it hits on things.

[vwthunder]

I guess it wouldnt be that hard to make something like the unibrace, I am not going to copy it of course, but im sure something can be made to strengthen the rear.
Anyone know someone who can do cutting with a waterjet lol

[nikanasz]

Pfffft boring, thats not how you make your car one of the nicest going around, one of the guys in Malaysia has the Ultra racing subframe brace on and he hits things. His car is only lowered 35mm

that would be me. the brace scrapes 'tall' speed bumps.

[kaanage]

I guess it wouldnt be that hard to make something like the unibrace, I am not going to copy it of course, but im sure something can be made to strengthen the rear.
Anyone know someone who can do cutting with a waterjet lol

The harder part may be getting the heat treated aluminium sheet and rectangular bar.
We'd need 5mm 6061-T6, 7075-T6 or 2024-T3.

I'm not sure if you can buy the sheets already heat treated and we'd certainly need to buy the bar unheat treated so they could be bent and then have them heat treated.
Maybe we could get them both unheat treated so the cross bar could be welded to the sheet (after it has been cut) and then the final items get heat treated.

7075-T6 would seem to have the best properties, going by this site but it couldn't be welded
Performance Metals Australia- Home Page (http://www.performancemetalsaustralia.com.au)

[Eddy]

Mine isn't lowered all that much and it hits on things.

Hoyhoy.

Me is getting mine modified, it hits.

[kaanage]

Back to the original subject, are there any more people out in Pololand who would be interested in the XB Rear UNIbrace?

[MeTsU]

I've posted up a thread on our local South African forum, to gauge the interest in a UNIbrace. :)

[insanekiwi]

I am guessing it's a characteristics of diesel. I have SMF but is very quite. Can be a little annoying at idle when AC is on, but dissappears at touch of throttle. My exhaust is standard (except for down pipe), so you can imagine it's very quiet otherwise.

Nice one though!

[MeTsU]

Yeah, definitely mostly down to the fact it's a diesel, lets be honest, they are rough little beasts. :) I think you might have replied in the incorrect thread though.

[kaanage]

The common rail VW engines are far smoother than the PDs but that is for another thread.


I've posted up a thread on our local South African forum, to gauge the interest in a UNIbrace. :)
Awesome :thumbup:
Now if any of the euro and uk guys would do the same...

[MeTsU]

The common rail VW engines are far smoother than the PDs but that is for another thread.


Awesome :thumbup:
Now if any of the euro and uk guys would do the same...
Let's see how the chaps respond here - so far, not much. :( Am I right in saying that AUD420 was the approximate landed cost there? I'm trying to get an idea for shipping costs to SA.

[MeTsU]

Just a quick update, there are so far two people (myselft & another chap) keen on the brace. :)

[kaanage]

Let's see how the chaps respond here - so far, not much. :( Am I right in saying that AUD420 was the approximate landed cost there? I'm trying to get an idea for shipping costs to SA.
That's right Matteo, I've emailed Bruce for the Sth African price.

current interest: 5 + a maybe

[MeTsU]

That's right Matteo, I've emailed Bruce for the Sth African price.

current interest: 5 + a maybe
Thanks mate. :)

[kaanage]

I guess it wouldnt be that hard to make something like the unibrace, I am not going to copy it of course, but im sure something can be made to strengthen the rear.
Anyone know someone who can do cutting with a waterjet lol

I've been thinking about this recently and come to the conclusion that it could be done in a simpler and far cheaper manner with steel - possibly for similar weight, though it won't look as nice. I am talking to someone about it next week (in conjunction with my strut brace quote) so I will come back with some figures.

Anyone interested?

[noone]

Depends on price and ease of removal. Interested but likely not in...

[csimpson]

Not especially worried about the ease of removal, but just price. If it's around the $400 mark I'm in :)

Edit: (below 450 posted)

[kaanage]

I think I'll only approach VIC 9N(3) owners about this and just put up the measurments etc for interstaters/overseas people to get a local workshop to copy/mod as they wish.

[kaanage]

Well I spoke to the owner of the business where I was making enquiries about the struct and rear braces and he a had a good long look at the car. In his opinion, neither is worthwhile since the torsional rigidity of the Polo is far less than the rigidity across the struct towers - particularly the front since the towers are strongly welded to the front bulkhead. Without a body brace or full roll cage (and I ain't fitting either of those), the issues caused by the torsional flex would more than overcome any additional stiffness between the axles. If I had fully adjustable suspension units (rebound + high/low compression damping, height adjustment for front), then he thinks there would be some small benefit if I were to take the time and effort to dial in all of these factors for each circuit (with MUCH more gain if torsional stiffness could be greatly increase by the aforementioned methods).

Since this is the advice of a man who has rallied and raced production based cars for years (and who could make money by making me the braces I asked about), I'll take his advice and just drive the car more :) and look into stiffer bushes, camber adjustment and adjustable anti-roll bars if I get serious and fast enough.

But he did say there was no question at all about a ATBD so that's next...:o

[vert1]

I'm going to be making these for 9N Polo's, CNC cut from 8mm plate with a 25mm square reinforcing bar along the top.
How many of you would be interested?
They will be well cheaper than whats currently available and being from NZ shipping will also be cheaper.
Here's one I made for my MK4 Jetta coupe, R logo is inlayed with a red or blue acrylic logo.
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/09/27_08_2011021-1.jpg

[noone]

looks interesting, I'm interested but want an easily removable solution. any idea on a cost?

[vert1]

It will install with 4 bolts, takes about 5min to remove it.
Pricing came in at $395 NZ, would be good to do a batch of 5 units for Polo's.
My wife drives an 06 3 door so getting the measurements is easy enough.

[vwthunder]

It will install with 4 bolts, takes about 5min to remove it.
Pricing came in at $395 NZ, would be good to do a batch of 5 units for Polo's.
My wife drives an 06 3 door so getting the measurements is easy enough.

Im sure if you make up 5 you will sell them

[DeanB]

I'm interested in one. Dumb question, but what is it bolting to and will I need to hack into carpets, etc to fit it ?

[vert1]

You need to drill 4 holes and install riv nuts (inc with brace) and that way it can be installed and removed with 4 bolts (also supplied)
The carpet covers the area where you drill the holes and carpet in this area will need to have a 8mm hole for the bolt to pass through, if done correctly it will look factory when the seats are down and brace removed.
I don't mind making them if I can get some confirmed numbers, can even change the logo to GTI instead of R.....