I installed a Toyota Prius Plus rear anti-sway bar on my 2012 PiPa

pics??? come on you know the rules!

 

What's the ultrabrace like, I actually ordered one Wednesday!

 

What size Bolt is it? Save me lazily taking my tool box out the the car then!

Going to try to do while the car is in the floor!

 

I can't find anything about this " billet Ultrabrace ".
Could you post a link? Thanks,

 

eBay item 330835432289

 

Toyota Prius Ultra Brace Chassis Stiffening Plate ZVW30 | eBay

 

BP,

Thanks, got it.
It looks like a clone of Rude person's's brace. It's sort of a mid brace, no?
Dang, now there's a third under brace that can be installed, not including the rear braces.
I'm not so sure about those as the rear is on a twist beam that connects both wheels and is designed to flex anyway.

I posted earlier today (near bottom of pg. 2) about 3 other front under braces: All in a day's work | Page 2 | PriusChat

I'm waiting to gather more info about this subject before I purchase.
I did buy the Tanabe upper strut brace to get started with the other goodies I have on the way !!

Does anyone have any thoughts, comment, opinions, hearsay, innuendos about this bracing subject?

 

Thanks Ken,

Here is a link to my latest findings;

For Sale - "Bulletproof" Gen III or Prius"v" mid-chassis under brace $65-77 delivered (US) | PriusChat

Basically, I discovered that "eye pleasing," " good looking" or "high tech looking" does not enhance performance and function.


2012 2013 Toyota Prius ZVW30 ZVW35 Door Under Floor Support Bar JDM VIP Japan | eBay

I've followed it on eBay, NOW, for nearly a year. There has been NO sales at more than $200 delivered from Japan. The "more is more" of the Cusco version of this brace, with its "trailing arms," in effect is LESS, and actually degrades performance from my findings.

The "cutouts" in the Ultra brace introduces complex stresses on it in the "bowing" or bending mode, and they shave maybe 3-4 ounces off the weight of the brace.

My design takes both designs and eliminates both the welds and complex stresses of the two braces. No "counterbores" for the fastening bolts means that there is less stress there. And, with the "perfectly flat" large surface area super strong 10.9 J.I.S. bolts, the stress is again spread out to a wider area. The effect of these bolts is twofold. The Toyota OEM bolts use washers. The bolts can spin on the washers to facilitate smooth and quick assembly on the line. Bolt, whn torqued are retained by "tension" like a rubber band and the friction of the area under the head. Large and wide surface area of contact and the intergral flange means that the bolts will stay in place much better than the OEM ones. That's why this i the same kind of bolt usually used to retain the harmonic balancer to the end of an engine's crankshaft.

I used heat treated "tempered" highly corrosion resistant aluminum alloy. So, there is no need for the light and thin "flash" anodizing that the ultra brace puts on theirs. Welds destroy tempering and weakens the metal. I doubt if JDM retempers and age hardens their assembled brace. Wih all their lightweight construction, JDM saved about 3-4 ounces in weight.

Basically, I "morthed" the same sectional area of the ultrabrace to that of a simple smooth "rectangle" and did that with the entire length of the bar.

So, that's why I finally came upon the simple, functional and inexpensive design.



Rude person's

 

Yes Ken,

I have just a few available. The next batch will be made in June or July 2013, when the current few are sold.

Thanks for you interest and your support.

Rude person's

 

Hey Ken. This is Wade. I've caught the Prius bug..... After I pay the Vette off I'm thinking about adding one to the stable.

 

I also thought you had stopped making them, so I bought the Ultrabrace. It looks much like the G7 brace that I have on my 2008 Prius. Which has 30,000 miles with no sign of any problems.

 

One of those is MINE! Hey Mike, please advise how you want me to send you the money (assuming you still have one left).

Mike

 

Mike,

Check your Inbox, I've started a private conversation with you.

Thanks,

Rude person's

 

Well Ken... I joined the Prius club.