ZX-5 Alloy front brace

[jimmy]

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/zx5/alloybrace01.jpg

http://www.oople.com/rc/photos/zx5/alloybrace02.jpg


Beefy huh.
After reading something about a hingepin brace / pivot block breaking, I got paranoid and had a friend (dave grunill) machine this for me.
He spend a while on it so doesnt want to make another, ever, its a shame because hes done a good job.

[PaulRotheram]

how heavy isit jimmy? hope you dont nose dive with it :o

looks really nice, Dave did a good job :!:

[jimmy]

4 hours, cough cough.... poor dave, i felt rather guilty, but hes a champion..

its heavier than the plastic thats for sure, its not too bad tho..
might only use it indoors.

[Pasqual]

Looks very nice.

Hopefully Kyosho comes with an alloy brace :)

[BluesFan]

Any time on the buggy yet with the new brace? Does it make the car handle any differently? I can't imagine the weight difference is very significant.... More importantly, have you broken anything yet? I'm really curious to see what breaks first when you clip a pipe with your front tires. Of course, not that I want you to break your car! We just all know that it eventually happens and I'd like to know what piece would be the next weak link up front.

[jimmy]

I heard of this brace breaking, I've heard of the steering knuckles breaking and heard of the shock tower / bulkheads breaking

I've yet to break anything and crashed it a few times.

I did'nt weigh the brace but it is heavier than the plastic one, probably not enough to change the handling so you'd notice.

[dave g]

jimmy,i could have actually made the front brace a lot lighter but you then start to lose strength with it,i could have machined 2 thru pockets in it no problem but i wasnt sure how much lateral strength would have been lost,thats why i kept it solid..i didnt think there was that much difference in weight to be honest to warrant concern over it..besides,gives you a bit more steering :)

dave

[jimmy]

hehe, cars light enough dave! and hey, need that steering indoors. dug my polish out so gonna "bling it up" soon, be like jewelry !

Let me know if i can plug your services at all mate, you do some ace stuff.

[dave g]

cheers jimmy :)
turning stuff isnt too bad..milling by hand is a pain especially when its got intricate curves and the work piece has to be set up about 5 times to make different cuts,makes for a long job!

i could have anodised it a nice blue if you would have said :D

dave

[jimmy]

OOOOH now theres an idea! :)

[dave g]

hehe..anodisings pretty easy to do but its smelly!!!

plus it depends on what grade the alloy is,if its got any copper in it,it doesnt anodise well.