This time on Modified, we stiffen up the front chassis with horizontal upper & lower bars from Road Race Motorsports. Does it work ? Watch to find out... roadracemotors...
Nice videos. BTW Petrol Fiat500 has a lower cap that cover the engine(bottom), not sure if the electric version does have it too but if not it will be a good addon specially to keep the dust out... thanks and keep posting
I just installed the lower brace from Madness 500 and while I love the improved performance, I can't stand the new gear noise. I think I saw a rubber piece between the brace and the chassis and might be too flat now. I torqued it to 55 ft lbs but may loosen it a bit to see if it helps with the noise or I may add a piece of rubber to provide some isolation. Did you hear any noise after your install?
An earlier comment stated a similar issue. Thought the madness bar was "lower profile" to be better. Now, I may question that. You should not be having any new noises! My road race motorsport lower bar has no fitment problems. However, being that it hangs low... I have heard impact pings when I hit something on the road that I thought I should have cleared. It's a been a couple of tree branches so far . Shredded to mulch in the rear view mirror.
So I bought the upper and installed it. What are you thoughts on using a thick nylon washer vs the 3 galvanized washers you used. For the lower bar I got the 500madnes v2 brace which is flat since I plan to lower it.
The "upper" doesn't do much more than subdue a vibration or a squeak. So, probably does not matter much. If thick enough, nylon can be pretty rigid. Good deal on the "lower" bar, that does make a difference. The Road Race Motorsports bar does stick down way too far.
It would have been interesting if you had done the bottom one first, then took it for a test drive to see how much difference it made before installing the top one. Still, any improvement is an improvement!
@@theevolvingworld Ah, excellent. Looking forward to that video. I posted a question on episode 18 about how you determined which 12V battery size would be adequate because I am going to do the same thing for my 2016 Kia Soul EV, but I want to make sure I get the right one. I know a typical lead acid battery is about 45 amp hours, but of course I don't need cranking amps. Subscribed!
@@JustWasted3HoursHere 20 Ah has worked fine. Prices have come down since then. I've bought two more 27 Ah 12v LiFePO4 batteries for two of my EV conversion projects. Each one was only $225 on eBay. Ciao.
@@theevolvingworld Yeah, I've noticed that too. Lithium batteries for all kinds of things, not just cars, have dropped a lot in the past few years (which is a good thing!) Were those ebay purchases direct from China (I've bought many things from there with no issues, other than the extended wait time) or shipped from the US?
Do you experience increasing gear noise after install the subframe brace? I've just installed chassis braces and lower bar from DNA, the gear noise dramatically increased.
No noises here. Does drives better. Only complaint is it hangs down too low, maybe an an inch. I would recommend Madness lower bar instead, as it has a stock profile (not lower).
Turns out reinstall the stock lower bar, DNA lower bar does not have enough clearance from the motor mount, and it rubbed on the motor mount bolts and make that noise. Too bad.
That sucks. What a crappy product. You should get your money back with interest. Roadrace motorsports (as shown) or Madness autoworks will work. Don't give up.
The lower bar does hang down lower than the rest of the underbody. I've hit stuff that I thought I wouldn't. Aftermarket parts: you always gain something & lose something else.
Do you recommend the sub frame brace versus the upper frame brace? I’m thinking the lower brace and vertical chassis brace for my 500e. Thanks for the info!
The lower horizontal brace & vertical side braces transform the car. I would do this BEFORE any other suspension mods. It's amazing how much chassis flex there was before!
The Evolving World Thanks! The lower horizontal brace arrived a few day ago and waiting on the vertical side brace. Thanks again for the video and info!
So, by doing lower bar you definitely decreased your range by completely destroying smooth flow of air underneath the car and this bar will also cause air whirl contributing to drag.
Haven't really noticed a difference. Still get a about 5.7 miles a kWh. Then again, I don't drive above 60 MPH either. Certainly, it would matter more at 80 MPH. The Fiat 500 is NOT an aero car in any shape or form to begin with. Ciao
Also Look at speed motive performance as well they offer fast shipping and better customer service than that little guy in Arizona Corsa FORESKIN performance Corsa FORESKIN will ship you out garbage braces via the back of a Donkeys ass! So if you have the time to wait for crap metal braces and don’t mind them damaged and gouged than go with the little man in Arizona.
Will this make a significant different in the amount of torque steer as well? Whenever I floor it in this car it’s pretty squirrelly and wants to go off in its own direction so I constantly have to correct. My other cars haven’t been like this. Would this fix it?
No. These bars stiffen the chassis & reduce unwanted flex. Like when you corner hard or even just when hitting pot holes. I don't really notice any torque steer myself, but maybe I'm just used to it. Although, the tires do break free rather easily under full power at low speeds, worse in the rain. I've learned to go easy at launch & then mash the throttle.
Nice videos. BTW Petrol Fiat500 has a lower cap that cover the engine(bottom), not sure if the electric version does have it too but if not it will be a good addon specially to keep the dust out... thanks and keep posting
What kit did you get, Buscemi?
Do you need extended bolts for the top bar ?
That shield protects plugs from water and other damage. Probably structural too.
can you do a video on how to jack up the car safely and using jack stands?
Sure. I'll add it to my list.
You CAN get an upper strut brace for the fiat 500.
I just installed the lower brace from Madness 500 and while I love the improved performance, I can't stand the new gear noise. I think I saw a rubber piece between the brace and the chassis and might be too flat now. I torqued it to 55 ft lbs but may loosen it a bit to see if it helps with the noise or I may add a piece of rubber to provide some isolation. Did you hear any noise after your install?
An earlier comment stated a similar issue. Thought the madness bar was "lower profile" to be better. Now, I may question that. You should not be having any new noises!
My road race motorsport lower bar has no fitment problems. However, being that it hangs low... I have heard impact pings when I hit something on the road that I thought I should have cleared. It's a been a couple of tree branches so far . Shredded to mulch in the rear view mirror.
So I bought the upper and installed it. What are you thoughts on using a thick nylon washer vs the 3 galvanized washers you used. For the lower bar I got the 500madnes v2 brace which is flat since I plan to lower it.
The "upper" doesn't do much more than subdue a vibration or a squeak. So, probably does not matter much. If thick enough, nylon can be pretty rigid.
Good deal on the "lower" bar, that does make a difference. The Road Race Motorsports bar does stick down way too far.
@@theevolvingworld what's you next video gonna be? Din radio install with back up camera?
It would have been interesting if you had done the bottom one first, then took it for a test drive to see how much difference it made before installing the top one. Still, any improvement is an improvement!
Yes, that would have been even more informative, instead of assuming. I'm going to take the top one off for a while to see if it matters. Ciao.
@@theevolvingworld Ah, excellent. Looking forward to that video. I posted a question on episode 18 about how you determined which 12V battery size would be adequate because I am going to do the same thing for my 2016 Kia Soul EV, but I want to make sure I get the right one. I know a typical lead acid battery is about 45 amp hours, but of course I don't need cranking amps. Subscribed!
@@JustWasted3HoursHere 20 Ah has worked fine. Prices have come down since then. I've bought two more 27 Ah 12v LiFePO4 batteries for two of my EV conversion projects. Each one was only $225 on eBay. Ciao.
@@theevolvingworld Yeah, I've noticed that too. Lithium batteries for all kinds of things, not just cars, have dropped a lot in the past few years (which is a good thing!)
Were those ebay purchases direct from China (I've bought many things from there with no issues, other than the extended wait time) or shipped from the US?
@@JustWasted3HoursHere No. The newer ones I'm buying are Made in Japan, which is very reassuring. Bought & shipped from the U.S. at motorcycle shops.
Do you experience increasing gear noise after install the subframe brace? I've just installed chassis braces and lower bar from DNA, the gear noise dramatically increased.
No noises here. Does drives better. Only complaint is it hangs down too low, maybe an an inch. I would recommend Madness lower bar instead, as it has a stock profile (not lower).
Turns out reinstall the stock lower bar, DNA lower bar does not have enough clearance from the motor mount, and it rubbed on the motor mount bolts and make that noise. Too bad.
That sucks. What a crappy product. You should get your money back with interest. Roadrace motorsports (as shown) or Madness autoworks will work. Don't give up.
@@RonHaslam2001 Mine from Madness did the same thing and they said to buy some washers because it just needs about 1/8 to 1/4 inch more
@@byronw3112 Did you re-install after adding the washer? did that solve the noise problem?
What size are the bolts
The "lower bar" comes with longer bolts. The "upper" uses the factory bolts.
Hi What are the dimensions
Have you drug the bottom bar ?
The lower bar does hang down lower than the rest of the underbody. I've hit stuff that I thought I wouldn't. Aftermarket parts: you always gain something & lose something else.
Why in the world would u do anything to a E slow slow slow
Do you recommend the sub frame brace versus the upper frame brace? I’m thinking the lower brace and vertical chassis brace for my 500e. Thanks for the info!
The lower horizontal brace & vertical side braces transform the car. I would do this BEFORE any other suspension mods. It's amazing how much chassis flex there was before!
The Evolving World Thanks! The lower horizontal brace arrived a few day ago and waiting on the vertical side brace. Thanks again for the video and info!
Your welcome! Let us know how they work out for you.
So, by doing lower bar you definitely decreased your range by completely destroying smooth flow of air underneath the car and this bar will also cause air whirl contributing to drag.
Haven't really noticed a difference. Still get a about 5.7 miles a kWh. Then again, I don't drive above 60 MPH either. Certainly, it would matter more at 80 MPH. The Fiat 500 is NOT an aero car in any shape or form to begin with. Ciao
Also Look at speed motive performance as well they offer fast shipping and better customer service than that little guy in Arizona Corsa FORESKIN performance Corsa FORESKIN will ship you out garbage braces via the back of a Donkeys ass! So if you have the time to wait for crap metal braces and don’t mind them damaged and gouged than go with the little man in Arizona.
I’ve had ALL of the cfp parts on my 2015 abarth. Shipped next day all parts fit and worked perfect. I was very happy with everything.
Will this make a significant different in the amount of torque steer as well? Whenever I floor it in this car it’s pretty squirrelly and wants to go off in its own direction so I constantly have to correct. My other cars haven’t been like this. Would this fix it?
No. These bars stiffen the chassis & reduce unwanted flex. Like when you corner hard or even just when hitting pot holes.
I don't really notice any torque steer myself, but maybe I'm just used to it. Although, the tires do break free rather easily under full power at low speeds, worse in the rain. I've learned to go easy at launch & then mash the throttle.