With the Kappa community starting to have options in the power development of our unique platform, DDMWorks has been in development of new suspension and other components. Drawing for our extensive work with other roadster platforms, we have developed a rear structural cross member brace for your Kappa.
Beginning in the early fall of 2007, we began testing prototypes for a stiffening brace on our test Solstice. The objective was to improve on some shortcoming built into our beloved car due to the nature of production vehicles. We began with some very simple and straight forward concepts. However, our test mule proved to be quite a fighter. Feeling all good about a brace design, we merrily bolted up several prototypes and went blasting down the back roads. At least 3 different design concepts met their untimely demise this way. The problem? Our primary test vehicle is lowered and has an aftermarket exhaust. Most of the concepts that we modeled would work perfectly on a stock Kappa, but being lowered and having an aftermarket exhaust killed several designs we had spent days modeling in the computer. Below the photos show several design that, obviously, did not make the final cut.
We continued our quest with what we called the "X-brace". Very functional and VERY cool looking from the rear. But the lowered vehicle and Center exit exhaust setups still proved to be a problem.
Then we engaged a few GM Performance Racing engineers about the problems and what they had discovered were the weakness of the Kappa. From our track brothers in SSB & T2 SCCA racing, we discovered that it's not so much the two lower rear control arm mounts thats the problem. The engineers at GM found the cross member that holds the back of the differential in place is flexing. Although this looks to be very beefy, it is actually very thin metal filled with foam. Due to this flex, all ZOK's use a HD version of this piece. We we're able to inspect the changes they made at the factory, and tailored out new brace like-wise. To do like GM, you would have to weld additional steel in place, not for the average shade tree mechanic.
The DDMWorks Rear Pro-Beam is engineered to bring your light-duty stock cross member up to the par with the 2006 & 2007 SCCA winning Kappas. It has been tested on vehicles lowered as much as 2" with low profile tires. It survived over 10,000 miles of abuse on roads that most of you would never take you rides. Exhaust fitment has been verified with Stock, Magnaflow, SOLO Center, GM Performance and DDMWorks exhaust systems. This is the first brace to tie and link together the diff. cross member to the suspension mounting components. It is made from high quality STEEL and is seam welded. The brace is E-coated black for corrosion protection. Installation is accomplished with simple hand tools and an electric drill.
The DMMWorks Rear Pro-Beam will be available at an introductory price of $159 and will come with Stainless Steel hardware and complete instructions. They are available for Pre-Order now and should be in stock and ready to ship on March 14th
__________________ Randy Carter - Product Manager www.DDMWorks.com
06 Classic Cool: DDMp62 supercharger #0.5b
Last edited by Randy@ddmworks : 03-04-2008 at 08:24 PM.
Does this fit on existing holes or do we have to drill new ones Randy ? This option suits me better as I will be getting the dual center SOLO exhaust. Thanks
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Does this fit on existing holes or do we have to drill new ones Randy ? This option suits me better as I will be getting the dual center SOLO exhaust. Thanks
It bolts to the 4 existing holes on each side at the lower control arm mouting point, but has an additional 3 holes directly into the Black Cross member that the diff bolt to. The Center hole already exist, you just have to drill all the way through the foam center. The two other hole will be drilled and bolted once the Pro-Beam is in place.
__________________ Randy Carter - Product Manager www.DDMWorks.com
06 Classic Cool: DDMp62 supercharger #0.5b
How similar is this to the rear suspension crossmember on the ZOK's?
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How similar is this to the rear suspension crossmember on the ZOK's?
Same concept but different method of doing it. The ZOK crossmenber is welded in place, ours is bolted. There's(GM) use more of a flat thick plate, where ours is thinner steel, but has a formed structure that gives it rigidity.
__________________ Randy Carter - Product Manager www.DDMWorks.com
06 Classic Cool: DDMp62 supercharger #0.5b
Same concept but different method of doing it. The ZOK crossmenber is welded in place, ours is bolted. There's(GM) use more of a flat thick plate, where ours is thinner steel, but has a formed structure that gives it rigidity.
Anybody got a picture of the ZOK crossmember they can post?
Would better illustrate how it's similar
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Same concept but different method of doing it. The ZOK crossmenber is welded in place, ours is bolted. There's(GM) use more of a flat thick plate, where ours is thinner steel, but has a formed structure that gives it rigidity.
I think he might have been referring to the one that you can order - the GXP ZOK suspension crossmember. That one is noy welded into place to the best of my knowledge.
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
#139640 '07 NA Sly Fully Loaded 12/1/07
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Be too blessed to be stressed! ~ Joel Osteen If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
I think he might have been referring to the one that you can order - the GXP ZOK suspension crossmember. That one is noy welded into place to the best of my knowledge.
The ZOK crossmember has a thick plate welded on the bottom from the factory. It really doesn't look any different than the regular one cept the bottom is thicker
__________________ Randy Carter - Product Manager www.DDMWorks.com
06 Classic Cool: DDMp62 supercharger #0.5b
The ZOK crossmember has a thick plate welded on the bottom from the factory. It really doesn't look any different than the regular one cept the bottom is thicker
Thanks Randy ..... another question:
Is the DDM bar SCCA approved? IOW will it be allowed for those that AutoX and Race?
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
#139640 '07 NA Sly Fully Loaded 12/1/07
#106614 12/15/05 NA Sly Traded @ 35k Miles
Be too blessed to be stressed! ~ Joel Osteen If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it.
