Rear Brace Installation

There are many ways to improve the handling characteristics of your car. Unfortunately, most of those ways involve very complicated suspension work. Tools like spring compressors, air wrenches and a hydraulic lift are obviously pricey—and doing it on your garage floor will probably not be much fun nor is it very safe.

Simple Upgrade
However, an easy and affordable way to give your car better handling is by bracing the body. Cars with unibody construction are easy for manufacturers to build because the frame is built-in. This lack of a real frame does allow the body to flex much like a shoebox without its lid (get the picture—).

Body Flex
Most cars today have what's called a subframe at the front and rear of the car. This is where the wheels, tires and suspension are located. The subframe is beefed up with extra steel in the unibody where the suspension is attached. However, the remainder of the body around the subframe is not as rigid and, because the car's weight is acting on the suspension attachment points in the subframe, this causes the body to twist and flex between the two opposing front tires as well as the rear. This flexing results in compromised traction when the car is put through its paces on a twisting road.

External Bracing
Anti-roll or sway bars as they are often called helped control this flexing without rigid bracing (thus allowing the car to ride more comfortably from the factory). However, to achieve optimal handling, the chassis needs to be as rigid as possible. A firmly mounted brace between the two suspension points improves rigidity by reducing the flex between the two. Front braces are usually located under the hood at the top of the suspension, while rear braces are under the car, behind the rear seat or in the trunk or hatch area. External bracing, whether bolted or welded, is the best way to control this flexing and it's usually a quick and easy job.