- My model of MX-5 is a NC (2011)
- I’m based nearLymington
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on whether my Cobalt strut brace will fit over a set of ITB’s as fitted in BBR’s Super 225 package.
Give BBR a tinkle 
If you have the brace why not try it on the car? It doesn’t take very long to install one. In the past I’ve had people tell me parts or wheels etc don’t work or fit on cars but when I’ve tried them myself they sometimes do.
I suspect that they have the brace but not the ITB setup (yet). 
I see 
. Well if my mind was set on a set of itb’s it would be the brace in the way, not the other way around 
.
I have seen pics of itb cars with braces fitted, some do push into the foam filter a little but must have otherwise cleared for the car to run them.
Yes, I have the brace but trying to make my mind up between ITB’s or a supercharger.
Would prefer ITB’s but might go down the Supercharger route if the ITB’s mess with a strut brace.
You don’t really need the tower brace, it’s a nice decoration though to look at.
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Shirley that depends on the application, if doing trackdays and or hillclimbs and sprints one would imagine a stiffer car would make for better and more consistent handling through the corners, or do tower braces really not make any difference ?
I know the below is about an ND but, I got told the same about my NC brace too, second post down.
I drove around for a few weeks without until I got fed up of it laying around in the garage, then refitted it. It was removed when I had MeisterR’s fitted, it did fit back on ok with those. I never noticed any difference on or off TBH.
As it does not have MacPherson Struts, no. Obviously there can be a placebo effect and they can look ‘interesting’ but it is your choice.
It certainly should not be very high on your performance upgrade list and some very competitive racers don’t use them.
Unless you are a ‘racing god’ then don’t get bogged down by this.
Well that sounds like proof positive I may as well save a couple of ounces thanks 
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Apart from the 3 point ones, which might have some small effect, front strut braces are merely decorative in MX5s.
Rear ones are even less use.
Seatbelt tower braces are actually effective, as are half roll bars. The latter do add quite a lot of weight though, and probs won’t do much to protect you in a roll over once the A pillars have collapsed.
Stiffening up the suspension is best done underneath, and is more effective on NBs and especially NAs. Rear cross braces, chassis rails stiffeners etc all help join the sides and the ends of the car together in a way that is less needed on the NC and ND. Even adding a correctly adjusted hardtop to NB and NA makes a noticeable difference.
Or buy an MX5 NB Coupe for silly money. And carry an angle grinder with you for if you get a sunny day.
I have ITBs on my NC and the strut brace still fits (standard strut brace). I pushed the foam filter on the ITBs down a bit to get it to fit, but others have raised theirs strut braces up by using washers or similar. A guy on YouTube called Jayson Fong has ITBs and a Cobalt strut brace, so they fit too.
I did. They’ve never had a Cobalt strut brace to check dimensions and fit.
Have checked out Jayson Fong and couldn’t see a picture of his engine bay with a Cobalt brace fitted. Popping along to BBR early March to have a chat. Still can’t make up my mind. Supercharger gives more power and can be upgraded further, but ITB’s give enough and will be cheaper since I have manifold and high performance camshafts already fitted.
Hi Lewigie
As Barmy1 has said, front strut braces are really just for decorative effect.
Each to their own, but you can get a lot of conflicting advice if you’re not careful.
With performance upgrades you should really start with tyres, chassis and brakes.
ie. Braided lines, uprated pads, sticky tyres, coilovers (Meister R’s or Ohlins are the best)
Then start to add horsepower.
I had an NC with Meister’s and tried it with and without the front strut brace and no perceivable difference.
Some people swear by chassis braces. My current NC is supercharged, running Ohlins and has the 3 IL under car chassis braces. TBH it’s probably too stiff for a lot of UK B road usage, though great for track.
If you improve the chassis, brakes and tyres then you’ll be able to drive the car quicker with your current power.
Enjoy
Hi Fangio,
Thanks for the great advice. Would be nice to keep the strut brace as it looks so sexy but losing it won’t be a problem.
Chassis already fitted out with the full IL Motorsport kit and I’m lucky enough to have Ohlins too.
Used to run slicks on track days when I had my Subaru but as it was the 5 door, I had space to transport them 
so I’ll have to make do with Kumho’s. Just need some more oomph now.
How long have your chassis braces been in place there ?
3 years.