Front subframe tearing has been getting more and more common as a fatigue failure. We've now started seeing cars on 100TW tires and run of the mill HPDE cars with enough time on them start to tear subframes.

Mazda Motorsports recently introduced a weld-on gusset plate to reinforce the front subframe on 90-05 Miatas.


Maxxis Supermiata Cup has approved it as safety modification in both S1 and S2.
Both SCCA and NASA have approved the mod as a safety modification in Spec Miata
NASA has also approved it as a zero point safety mod in PT and ST.

We now carry them here: https://supermiata.com/mazda-motorsp...me-gusset.aspx





Vegas SPM S1
Marcus Luttrell's TTE NB1
Sky Chan' SPM S2 NA8

 

Great stuff. Can't order today but bookmarked for my checklist before she hits the road.

 

Is it $26 for a pair, or per piece?

 

read

 

derp, the mobile version is lacking that info. I should have known to go full, as I have experienced this before.

thanks

 

I am Marcus Luttrell and I approve this message.

 

Talk about a shitty way to end a track session. Nice to know about this in advance, looks like I'll be adding these in this year.

 

Another scary Miata failure point. I have been checking mine after each event. Wonder if it’s the curb hoppers or just plain metal fatigue. Whatever the case mine are just waiting to be installed.

Are people pulling the lower CA’s before welding? It seems like a good way to cook my spherical bearings. I’ll time it before a fresh setup.

 

That area gets put in tension when you brake.

 

Anyone have tips for rustproofing the area after welding for a street car?

 

Weld prep the original paint off, paint that area with copper weld through primer, paint the whole brace or at least the inside with weld through primer. Then prime and paint as much as you can.

 

This stuff?


And this is on a subframe with the control arms removed? I'm assuming the welding would be far to hot for the lca bushings?
Thanks

 

Thats the stuff. I use it whenever I'm welding steel where I wont be able to paint later, like rocker rot repair. I'd certainly take the whole corner of the suspension out to have room to move. And I'd monitor the temperature of the subframe near the steering rack.

 

I just installed my reinforcement plates today and did this exact process. NAPA also sells a weld-thru primer in store, which is what I used.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NHQ82781

 

Zinc rich? I thought that is what gave you metal flu.

 

It is, you want the copper one. Zinc is mig and extra well ventilated only