Chassis brace

[Poopdog]

My car doesn't seem to have any chassis braces underneath, are these vital???, if so where can I purchase these from ?

[ukkid35]

If you mean this part, then I reckon a call to the usual suspects would be worthwhile (Bell Hill, TVR Glen, etc)



Does it have a structural function? I'm not convinced it does.

[900T-R]

Any kind of triangulation/crossbracing the central spine (otherwise open at the bottom) to make a 'box' does add stiffness, but the plate is not very effective being essentially a flat sheet with cutouts.

Powers do a tubular one for the Tuscan. It weighs about half the original item - which at least is bent upwards at the edges unlike the Cerb one) and is MUCH harder to bend at the ends (bolt holes). It could well be beneficial to have something similar made up for the Cerbera...

[Jhonno]

ukkid35 said:

Does it have a structural function? I'm not convinced it does.

Me neither..

[Mr Cerbera]

Jhonno said:

ukkid35 said:

Does it have a structural function? I'm not convinced it does.

Me neither..

There is a modicum of increased bracing
BUT
it also helps stopping the exhaust train from being left on the motorway

[jamieduff1981]

Jhonno said:

ukkid35 said:

Does it have a structural function? I'm not convinced it does.

Me neither..

Being a flat sheet, it doesn't work in compression but works fine in tension - like these flimsy wires:



The structure of the chassis is well triangulated everywhere else. The open bottom means that when torsion is applied to the chassis, one lower chassis rail tries to move forward (or backward) compared to the other.

As the OE chassis brace has diagonals going in both directions, with a bolt to pin each end to the lower chassis rails, the brace does work in tension by stopping the corresponding pair of bolt holes on the lower chassis rails getting further apart.

[ukkid35]

jamieduff1981 said:

As the OE chassis brace has diagonals going in both directions, with a bolt to pin each end to the lower chassis rails, the brace does work in tension by stopping the corresponding pair of bolt holes on the lower chassis rails getting further apart.

OK makes sense, but I would be more convinced if there were more than two diagonals, the rest are perpendicular.

[Poopdog]

When flicking through pictures of cerbera under bellies 😳, there seems to be the triangular ones and the pressed ones so I was wondering if anyone has made upgraded ones out of alloy or the like ?

[aide]

I've heard of cerbera windscreens cracking when jacked up aggressively on one corner.
Never seen an example of it happening, just remember it bieng an issue.
I always thought the lack of a brace might allow the chassis to flex/twist and distort the windscreen frame.

[Engineer1949]

i have one of the race car i am building i could have it copied in any material you fancy call on 07765596575


john

[pmessling]

If your happy to wait a while you can buy mine. I have a stainless steel replacement so the old mild steel one will be surplus

[Jhonno]

aide said:

I've heard of cerbera windscreens cracking when jacked up aggressively on one corner.
Never seen an example of it happening, just remember it bieng an issue.
I always thought the lack of a brace might allow the chassis to flex/twist and distort the windscreen frame.

I don't have my brace fitted, and no issues with mine. I reckon that might be more down to flex caused by corrosion..

I need to redesign my brace round my exhaust silencers to fit it.. I think I might get one made up and see if I notice a difference.

[Poopdog]

Ahh that might be the reason why mine hasn't got one as it has an ACT stainless system on it,
Not that I can check as it's all stripped out for a bit of light restoration

[Poopdog]

Cheers Jon, I'll call you and sort one out