backbone

[bryan1969]

AR you will love the difference

[kennysabarese]

i'd really like to hear from DDM on this

[KappaKadet]

Most likely, DDM's race, competition version, is for people who intend to hit the track
and their street, standard backbone, is for the rest of us who drive on normal roads.

[kennysabarese]

people are curious if there is a measurable difference in rigidity between the two.

[lhanks]

I can't tell you for sure from my own experience cause I don't have one (yet). Race version is on order for me.

I can tell you as I searched the forum trying to find out which one I should buy I ran in to a post that said the Street version is intended for 2.4L models with little to no mods and the Race version is intended for GXP's or a car with serious mods.

[carbontech]

Originally Posted by kennysabarese i'd really like to hear from DDM on this

I did speak with dave from DDM awhile back and asked him when these first came out the difference over the phone, he told me their both very measurable difference over stock, and that if i don't intend on taking this vehicle to the track then the street version will offer me the same benefits the race version will give me, and unless i was putting the car through some high speed turns there is no need for me to buy the race version because i would only benefit at 60+mph turns.

he never gave me a detailed explanation as to why but it makes sense, both units are huge increases over our stock backbone, but from 1/4 of an inch to 3/8 of an inch is a small difference, the benefits from this product are more from the fact that the material is alot more stable and wont flex and also once you reach a certain size 1/4 of an inch the gains beyond that are minimal and only noticed at higher speeds, thats why there is one street version and one track version,

Originally Posted by KappaKadet Most likely, DDM's race, competition version, is for people who intend to hit the track and their street, standard backbone, is for the rest of us who drive on normal roads.

mhm

Originally Posted by kennysabarese people are curious if there is a measurable difference in rigidity between the two.

the race version is a bit stiffer but less forgiving due to its size, i would honestly only recommend the race version only for track use, a little flex on the street is good because it allows for more room for error before the rear end slips and also gives you more warning. THAT IS WHY I CHOSE THE STREET VERSION because it is made for street driving.

Originally Posted by lhanks I can't tell you for sure from my own experience cause I don't have one (yet). Race version is on order for me. I can tell you as I searched the forum trying to find out which one I should buy I ran in to a post that said the Street version is intended for 2.4L models with little to no mods and the Race version is intended for GXP's or a car with serious mods.

i assure you that is not true, the 2.4 and 2.0l engines are going to yield the same results from both backbones, like i stated above the difference in "how it feels" is one is for street use because it is more forgiving and less stiff, and the other is for the track to give you a more rigid radius in your turns.

they both will yield close to the same results in what it does for the vehicle, the differences being in the application you choose to apply it to and your driving style,

RACE VERSION
:::EXAMPLE::: if i were a track racer and i was racing for time slips on a track i would pick the race version due to its rigidly feel and it's ability to be pushed a little harder for the person who can drive the vehicle properly and reach those limits without reducing performance.

STREET VERSION
:::EXAMPLE::: if i was someone who wanted to improve the stiffness of the vehicle while being able to have some high speed fun on the streets i would pick the street version, it is a bit more forgiving because it is not so rigid and yields you almost the same results, it is also more forgiving to the people who aren't professional race car drivers and this is why it is called a street version.

the difference in performance between the 2 are minor think of it like this, if stock is 20% effective for the car, then the street version would have 80-85% effectiveness for our vehicle, the race version would be 90-95% effectiveness for our vehicles.

the point is both are huge gains over stock but not much different from each other except for the application it is used in.

hope this helps some people out with the understanding between the 2 versions.

[lhanks]

I understand where you're coming from when you say either engine will see the same results.

Where I'm curious is wouldn't torque from the engine under heavy throttle and heavy shifting affect the body twisting as well? I believe that's where the idea came from where heavier modded cars and GXP's would benefit more.

Not sure of this. Just throwing out the idea.

[ROBOWO]

Originally Posted by carbontech I did speak with dave from DDM awhile back and asked him when these first came out the difference over the phone, he told me their both very measurable difference over stock, and that if i don't intend on taking this vehicle to the track then the street version will offer me the same benefits the race version will give me, and unless i was putting the car through some high speed turns there is no need for me to buy the race version because i would only benefit at 60+mph turns. he never gave me a detailed explanation as to why but it makes sense, both units are huge increases over our stock backbone, but from 1/4 of an inch to 3/8 of an inch is a small difference, the benefits from this product are more from the fact that the material is alot more stable and wont flex and also once you reach a certain size 1/4 of an inch the gains beyond that are minimal and only noticed at higher speeds, thats why there is one street version and one track version,

I PM'd Dave before deciding which backbone to get for my 2008 2.4. This was Dave's response:

The ride quality is going to be similar between the race and the street backbone, with the race giving a little better ride since the chassis is a little stiffer with it than the street. The only reason to consider the street version over the race version is price.

I went with the race version and I am extremely satisfied with it.

[kennysabarese]

i'm planning on doing track days once or twice a month. so i'm neither here nor there. i'll probably go with the race version since i'm planning on going with wester's tune in the future

[solli4me]

Here's the link to the specifics:

DDMworks Backbone Brace - Official announcement

and an impression from Gordo over on the Skyforum. He installed the 3/8 race brace.

Driving Impressions. My non-scientific, “butt-dyno” tells me that the car is torsionally stiffer with less body roll and “twitchiness” in the back end. I didn’t test the car on a skid pad or slalom course but I did drive to a couple of my favorite nearby roads with a handful of decreasing and increasing radius curves and one off-camber curve. I intentionally turned hard and late to the apex multiple times, both on and off throttle, to induce a bit of oversteer. The car felt more responsive and tighter under every situation. Now, is the car actually handling better? I really don’t know but from a psychological perspective the car feels better to me and I have more confidence in the handling. I think this is a worthwhile mod.

[kennysabarese]

too bad they don't mention the difference in the measurement or percentage between the street and race version. but i'll prolly go race. car can't get much less comfortable on the street

[solli4me]

It boils down to two schools of thought. carbontech makes sense, and Critterman, who has the street version, is very pleased with the performance of his car. Since you're into the track, go with the race version. My bimmer has a race stabilizer and I can't imagine driving without it. The car switches lanes on a square. Best way I can describe it and I love it.

[LatinVenom]

To me for the price of both of these options from DDM is a must have.
No more mushy feel but rather a great feeling when driving the car.

[kennysabarese]

ok, ok you convinced me. Race version it is!

Just gotta watch my budget, I'm waiting for my tune to come in, and I want a Backbone, ProBeam and new Tires and Wheels

[carbontech]

Originally Posted by solli4me It boils down to two schools of thought. carbontech makes sense, and Critterman, who has the street version, is very pleased with the performance of his car. Since you're into the track, go with the race version. My bimmer has a race stabilizer and I can't imagine driving without it. The car switches lanes on a square. Best way I can describe it and I love it.

ding ding ding ding ding we have a winner!!!

yea exactly, i have street version and i am very pleased with it