E86 Front Triangulation Braces Retrofit

[heinzboehmer]

People talk about the front end on the e9x m3 been better than the e46– front end triangulation hasn’t made me wonder if that’s actually due to the multi link setup, as commonly attributed, or if it’s actually due to chassis stiffness

I bet chassis stiffness is a huge part of it. Even the non-M, "soft" E9x/E8x cars feel much sharper up front, compared to a stock E46 M3.

[bigjae46]

People talk about the front end on the e9x m3 been better than the e46– front end triangulation hasn’t made me wonder if that’s actually due to the multi link setup, as commonly attributed, or if it’s actually due to chassis stiffness

My guess is the E9X's front end being better has more to do with stiffness which I would think is mostly in the subframe. The E9X is basically a tubular aluminum figure 8 with 6 attachment points, the E46 is just a straight bar with 4 attachments.

It is still a macpherson strut design. The E9X M3 tension bushing lasts FAR longer than the E46 FCAB. Still have the same dynamic camber issues - both platforms need similar levels of added negative camber.

I think the rear suspension is the big step change. Especially the limited slip unit when it was new.

[Obioban]

Drove 7 track sessions this past weekend. The front end is SOOOOO much better!

People talk about the front end on the e9x m3 being better than the e46– front end triangulation hasn’t made me wonder if that’s actually due change in setup, as commonly attributed, or if it’s actually due to chassis stiffness

[bigjae46]

Drove 7 track sessions this past weekend. The front end is SOOOOO much better!

[siamkazi]

Yep, the HVAC plastics are the hardest by far. The geometry is weird (or rather designed for injection molding, not 3D printing), so it's not easy to get quality parts. The gaskets are especially tricky to print.

The other components are easy cause you just pay someone to do the hard part for you and then receive a completed part in the mail

Gotta hand it to you, my brain can't comprehend how you created this to the point where I can just simply pay someone and get a part and just bolt it on

[heinzboehmer]

oh man, what's the hardest part outside of these items? lol, was just talking to bigjae46on the carbon pieces, want to make sure i got everything.

Yep, the HVAC plastics are the hardest by far. The geometry is weird (or rather designed for injection molding, not 3D printing), so it's not easy to get quality parts. The gaskets are especially tricky to print.

The other components are easy cause you just pay someone to do the hard part for you and then receive a completed part in the mail

[siamkazi]

Many/most track-dedicated cars have the heater/ac and cabin air filter housing removed. For me - that brings the project into reach.

Ah, thank you! I'm going to keep the cabin air filter housing etc. so will get those printed out via the files provided

[OldRanger]

oh man, what's the hardest part outside of these items?

Many/most track-dedicated cars have the heater/ac and cabin air filter housing removed. For me - that brings the project into reach.

[siamkazi]

Cars like yours and bigjae46's are the perfect candidates for this, since you get to skip the hardest part of the project!

Couple hours to bond the windshield mount in, then just bolt the rest of the parts in and done.

oh man, what's the hardest part outside of these items? lol, was just talking to bigjae46on the carbon pieces, want to make sure i got everything.

[heinzboehmer]

I really want to do this! Thanks heinzboehmer, and everyone that contributed to this. Lots of good ideas.

Our track car has the IHKA and cabin air intake removed - so I’m in that camp.

Cars like yours and bigjae46's are the perfect candidates for this, since you get to skip the hardest part of the project!

Couple hours to bond the windshield mount in, then just bolt the rest of the parts in and done.

[siamkazi]

I have all the molds made if you want the brackets in carbon fiber...

I'd be interested, slowly trying to conceptualize and understand what's needed via the Word Doc

[bigjae46]

I really want to do this! Thanks heinzboehmer, and everyone that contributed to this. Lots of good ideas.

Our track car has the IHKA and cabin air intake removed - so I’m in that camp.

I have all the molds made if you want the brackets in carbon fiber...

[OldRanger]

I really want to do this! Thanks heinzboehmer, and everyone that contributed to this. Lots of good ideas.

Our track car has the IHKA and cabin air intake removed - so I’m in that camp.

[bigjae46]

Awesome! No spin around the paddock to get some driving impressions?

Drove yesterday and WOW! Now this includes Bry5on's wheel well braces and removing 10lbs of weight off the front end.

Same tired and worn out TC Klines...the car did not understeer at all! Usually the handling would be a mess in these conditions. There is a front end sharpness that I'd only get with fresh tires in much cooler weather. Can't wait to really push the car when it cool down.

I consider this a must do if you care about performance!

[Bimma360]

Most of it can be 3D printed. I believe the piece that bonds under the windshield is pricey to CNC. Not sure about the strut tower brackets.

I can say that making the center bracket only cost me about $400, I could have saved $60 on shipping costs if I ordered enough casting resin the first time. So $340 - $320 for casting resin, the rest is carbon and epoxy. I used scrap carbon from other projects that I chopped up. You can buy chopped carbon for $50/lb. Epoxy will be the pain, can typically only buy it by the gallon.

It's been a while since I have ordered from them, but Fiberglast is good stuff and sells resin in smaller volumes.

https://www.fibreglast.com/collections/epoxy-resins?page=1