Review: Grimmspeed MC Brace

[Baddog]

Check over in my members ride for a problem I ran into installing the brace. Now on to the good stuff.

I ordered the MC Brace from Grimmspeed. I also have 04 WRX calipers with stoptech pads, blank rotors and SS brake lines.

Even after all of that I still had that mushy feel in my brakes even after several bleeds.

I pick this up from Cobb Tuning. I noticed right away a different feel in the pedal while I was backing out of the driveway. Got on the road and the pedal is now nice and firm and has much less pedal travel. It's actual unreal how much this brace really does help. Night and day difference.

So if you are looking to increase pedal feel this is one of the ways to do so. I would say this is almost 3x better then SS lines. Due to the instantaneous feel in the pedal.

[mike-tracy]

That's good to know. I've been on the fence about this mod for a while. With my 4/2pot upgrade the pedal "feel" is better but I could use some more of that stiffness that you're talking about. Thanks for sharing!

[Baddog]

It is a huge difference in pedal feel. Well worth the money

[r3v_v3ng3]

Nice. I'm actually in a process of making one for my car. What did you end up doing? Because I remember you had a post where you thought it wouldn't fit.

[Garrison]

Nice. I'm actually in a process of making one for my car. What did you end up doing? Because I remember you had a post where you thought it wouldn't fit.

Are you making it in AUTO-CAD by chance? If so, I've got a buddy in the engineering dept. who can help turn those out.

If nothing else, even pictures and measurements would work, for replication purposes.

[r3v_v3ng3]

^No auto-cad lol. I usually stare at a picture of the product and bust out my good ol mig welder, grinder and mild steel. I will post a pic once I'm done.

[phi11]

The Grimmspeed MC brace fit fine for me, I was the BD tester.

[04Legacy]

Would this fit on a BE?? Also would you do this or swap to an 04 STi MC and Brake booster?? Thinking about doing the Grimmspeed MC brace for autox

[Garrison]

They don't look all that complex to be honest:
http://www.grimmspeed.com/images/product_images/brake_brace_subaru_0207_300_3.jpg http://www.grimmspeed.com/images/product_images/brake_brace_subaru_0207_300_4.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/IMAG0189-2.jpg

[StatGSR]

^ thats because they are not complex... Honda guys have been making them for years for $15 with off the shelf L brackets/nuts and bolts for years....only fabrication skills needed was a decent set of drill bits and a drill... the only real question is how pretty you want it to be...

[Garrison]

Can anyone take pics of their brace in the car, so I can see how it mounts to the firewall/MC?

Please and thank you!

EDIT: Nevermind, got it:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=2119736 (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2119736)

[Baddog]

So I bought another one for the girlfriends car quite some time ago. The car was totaled and I had her MCB in a box. I have now lost the little red piece. Anyone know the name of that piece and where to get it?

[phi11]

i have an extra one, pm'ed

[r3v_v3ng3]

I think its called a bolt/nut cap. I got mine from a hardware store (osh)

[kimokalihi]

Just make your own if you have access to a welder. Its way overpriced as with everything grimmspeed makes. I bought one from grimmspeed on ebay for a lot cheaper than they sell it on their website. I have a 1st gen legacy and it made no difference in pedal feel whatsoever. If you have a 1st gen save yourself $100+. The first gen legacys do not have the firewall flex issue that the later generation subarus have.

[Patrick Olsen]

Check over in my members ride for a problem I ran into installing the brace. Now on to the good stuff.
For those (like me) who might come looking for information and don't want to go searching through Member's Rides to find an old thread, here's a link (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20293) to "Baddog's" thread. Even better, here are the posts about the MC brace:


Tried to install the MC Brace from Grimmspeed today. And as usual with their parts I run into problems. Will not be buying their pulley anymore, money will go to another company.

One of the hard lines from the brake reservoir is pressed RIGHT up against the strut tower. Which doesnt allow the MC Brace to sit flush like it is supposed to.

I tried to squeeze it behind the line but there is no room what so ever.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/20120405_201359-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/20120405_195108-2.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/20120405_195114-1.jpg

Got the brace installed today. Had to grind down a small part of it so that it would fit.

Blue is the hardline it was hitting and red is where I took some material off the actual brace.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/GrimmspeedBrace-2.jpg

This brace....IS AMAZING. It makes a HUGE difference in pedal feel. You would not believe it. The pedal is now FIRM and not mushy. Best $85 I spent on this car in a long while.

FWIW, this isn't just a Grimspeed issue. I bought a Cusco MC brace years ago and had the same issue; ended up putting the brace on my sister's '02 WRX instead. Imprezas apparently don't have that brake line that comes off the MC and runs down right next to the strut tower. I'm not even sure all Legacys have that brake line.

[ctbrighton]

Jist put a grimmspeed on my 98 brighton and it fits fine with zero modification. Possibly an abs or non abs thing