TB Performance Mid Chassis Brace v2 (TC2MCBv2) Install / Review (Scion tC2 / tC2.5)

🛒 Product link(s) at bottom of video description.
► 01:38 - Installation
► 04:05 - Review
Installing a mid chassis brace from TB Performance Products and my thoughts after driving around for a week and a half.
🛒 Mid Chassis Brace: tbperformancep...
🛒 All tC2 Braces: tbperformancep...
🛒 Stanley 201-Piece Tool Set: amzn.to/2Y3eLpZ
🛒 TEKTON Torque Wrench (10-150 ft-lb): amzn.to/2YkWrcO
🛒 TEKTON Torque Wrench (25-250 ft-lb): amzn.to/3l5Wtig
🛒 Pittsburgh 2.5 Ton Floor Jack: amzn.to/36aAtMo
🛒 Torin 3 Ton Jack Stands: amzn.to/3bCzJR0
☕ If you find this helpful, you can buy me a coffee at ko-fi.com/vamp....

[@RandomlyTai]

Great video, I have a 2011 TC and have been wanting to install the front and rear strut bars. Did not know the brace was also something I could add to handle better. Awesome video, good info, nice extra tips on 0 the torque wrench and not using it loosen tough bolts. Keep it up dude

[@VampyreX13]

Thank you!

[@JeromeJunior]

Great video. You gave me some great ideas on what to upgrade.

[@VampyreX13]

Thank you. Glad it was helpful.

[@signsofthetimes886]

Was finally able to install this to my tC. The front long bolt washers WILL NOT FIT into the opening inserts of the brace. I went to go buy new bolts but they ended up not working since the head of the bolt was too big and would jam up and cause all the other bolts to not go in all the way. I ended up cutting up the washer off the original bolts and putting in new smaller washers and FINALLY everything was able to bolt down and get torque nicely.

[@VampyreX13]

You're the second person to menetion to me about having this issue. I would message TB Performance and at least give them a heads up about this. I had zero problems with my OEM bolts fitting inside mine. That aside, how does your car handle now?

[@signsofthetimes886]

@VampyreX13 yea I'll send them an email. My tC is a 2016 and idk maybe they put larger washers from factory in that year. I was able to get them in by hammering them in, but then the bolts would not align, and I was worried that if I forced them in like that they'll strip. Besides all that, I definitely feel the difference, and I'm glad I invested into the mid chassis brace. The front end feel s more planted. The handling and steering wheel while cornering feels more firm. I also noticed the car can handle bumps better. Definitely recommend it to any tC owner 👌

[@VampyreX13]

@@signsofthetimes886 mine is a 2016 as well, but it would be good to let them know that you had an issue for future buyers. I'm glad to hear you're seeing all the benefits of the brace.

[@james429]

Blaze? Ha ha! Hey brother! So we both fly and we both have similar cars. I have a 2014 Scion tC 10 Series #998/3500 in that special silver color. Oh, and she'd boosted/tuned to 312whp. It came lowered and with full TRD Suspension and bracing front and rear. Man, so funny to see you doing cars. Cool. Thought that you were converting that ride from a 1s to a 2s. LOL!

[@andrewflores4981]

Where did you get a boosted TC2? Been trying to find out how/where to get mine boosted.

[@SurferJoe71]

I agree I bought this Mid Brace for my 2016 Scion iM this used with the rear hatch back area brace and a Tanabe front Strut brace made the iM feel planted better in turns. My iM is my daily so stock height suspension, I live in Pennsylvania so after one year the finish came off the brace from salt used on the roads I’ve repainted it no other issues welds are still holding up Nice build quality.....I have the traction bar but I do not know how it mounts any ideas ? TB website does not show how it mounts 😎👍

[@VampyreX13]

The tC2 traction bar sits between the wheels just in front of where the s-pipe leads up to the manifold/header. I would guess that the iM is setup the same way since it's the same part for either car.

[@SurferJoe71]

Derrick Aquino Hello again One other question Are there thicker sway bars available for TC and would they fit the iM ? Since they are similar cars,I heard the TRDs were same thickness as stock ones on my iM only difference is they are Red in color and expensive ....Great Channel Thanks 🙏

[@VampyreX13]

@@SurferJoe71 Eibach makes them. For the tC, the rear one was the only one you needed for daily driving. If you autocross, then you want the front as well. Check my videos. I have a review of the Eibach with the part number listed.

[@MEXICANCAT23]

nice riview man I just installed my aibach sway bars Trd strut and I'm looking for tb performance parts

[@GlassPieceGames]

I used to have a 350z and when I put on the mid-chassis brace, it made a world of a difference so I'm excited to install mine. Only concern I have is whether to wait or not because I have a mid-pipe on backorder and am curious if it's an easy work-around or if it would be better to just remove it for the installation.

[@VampyreX13]

When I had my Vibrant Ultra Quiet resonator installed on the front of my mid pipe, the shop was able to unbolt, remove, and reinstall it without taking out the mid chassis brace.

[@toyotabrony]

Does this give more rigidity and makes stronger turns? And do they have this for Scion xB1,xB2/2.5?

[@VampyreX13]

Yes, it does make it more rigid and improves cornering. I checked their site and they do have it for the xB2.

[@SavageYaaaj]

Im trying to install the mid chassis brace, and was wondering when you removes the bolts do you have to worry about anything falling off of your car after the bolts is remove, I went to a car shop and they told me something is gonna fall off(I don't remember what they said) and they told me they couldn't do it. Now I'm kind of worry to do it.

[@VampyreX13]

Nothing fell off the car when I removed the 4 bolts to install the brace. I'm not sure what your shop thought was going to fall off.

[@rickjames5998]

i have trd strut bar and trd lowering springs, will this reduce under steer? What does this help with? I like to drive on curvy mountain roads.

[@VampyreX13]

This will definitely help for your curvy mountain roads since you're reducing the chassis flex and allowing the other suspension components to work better. It's been several years since I installed it, so I don't remember exactly how the car handled before and after. Just the fact that it handled better. If you can get all of the braces, that will be the best. If you can't get them, then get this mid chassis race followed by the rear strut bar for your best bang. Sway bars will also help a lot, but they're very hard to find.

[@JayTc2]

my washers on the long bolts don’t fit in the holes of the chassis brace…? did you have to make any modification for the washer

[@VampyreX13]

It was a snug fit for me, but if your washers are actually too big to fit, the easiest thing to do is get another grade 8 bolt and washer to use.

[@JayTc2]

@@VampyreX13 i took a dremmel and made the washers diameter smaller, unfortunately cross threaded one of the short bolts but i said screw it because it won’t be coming out for a long time and when it does i’ll get it retreaded or something

[@JayTc2]

@@VampyreX13 it all went on though lol just installed both the traction bar and mid chassis brace today

[@michaelgelinas7395]

Was wondering do you have any mesurment? Like the lengh of the bars and how deep are the "pipe"?

[@VampyreX13]

No I don't, and it's too cold out to check right now. Your best bet is to contact TB Performance.

[@hanzberger8751]

REwatched this and then looked up the brace. Did you consider getting the traction bar also?

[@VampyreX13]

No. At the moment, I don't think my car would have a benefit from it. Possibly in the future.

[@SurferJoe71]

I bought the traction bar for my 2016 Scion iM do you know how it mounts no real instructions from TB where it mounts ....This Mid Chassis Brace did make a difference on my iM ,plus the rear strut brace and a Tanabe Front brace Sept 2019 🇺🇸👍

[@VampyreX13]

Did you already have a factory rear brace to begin with like the tC does?

[@SurferJoe71]

Derrick Aquino Sorry which Rear Brace.?

[@VampyreX13]

@@SurferJoe71 I misread your reply and missed that you said rear STRUT brace. I was thinking about the rear underside brace because I was associating it with the mid-chassis and torque brace.

[@cuppajoe__]

I have found on my 2016 tC that the longer bolts have a washer on them that does not come off. And this washer stops me from putting the brace on. I'm wondering if I should cut the washer and just bolt it on like that. Or buy another washer after cutting off the one on the bolt, and use that washer as a replacement.

[@VampyreX13]

So this happened to someone else. Apparently the powder coating is too thick in the front holes. The easiest fixes are to but the washer off, find other similar grade bolts to replace them, or use a Dremel to sand off the excess powder coating. One user was able to simply hammer the washers and bolts into the hole though.

[@cuppajoe__]

@@VampyreX13 Thanks so much for the quick reply! I'm just starting out adding mods and such to my car, so I am a little hesitant with everything. I'll try these tomorrow and post a response with my findings.

[@cuppajoe__]

@@VampyreX13 Turns out the holes don't even align properly so I'll just have to buy a similar bolt without the washer.

[@VampyreX13]

@@cuppajoe__ that sucks. Let TB Performance know, and make sure you get the same grade bolt as the one you're replacing.

[@XxStr1keBl4zexX]

Great video man! I see you have the K&N Short Ram, how do you like it? Would you recommend this part over say Injen or Weapon R?

[@VampyreX13]

StrikeBlaze, considering that all the short ram intakes are basically the same design except for the filter, I recommend the K&N over the rest because it also includes the heat shield. It also comes with a known good air filter since it is K&N, where as I'm not quite sure about the others. I've been using K&N filters for 16+ years.

[@XxStr1keBl4zexX]

Awesome, I just purchased the intake, have you noticed any significant changes in the engine sounds?

[@VampyreX13]

You'll definitely hear the engine sucking in air when you hit the throttle. I enjoy the sound it makes, although my current exhaust setup is drowning it out at the moment. I'm hoping to fix that issue though.

[@XxStr1keBl4zexX]

Derrick Aquino Oh awesome, very excited to install it now! I am looking for a little bit more sound. Hoping to grab an aftermarket header as well, hopefully that will make a bigger impact on performance and sound.

[@rayhauck503]

Do you notice any noise after you installed the trunk brace? I installed one on my car and I’m noticing a noise like the shock is squishing on the back right

[@VampyreX13]

Funny you ask because I was just listening to that noise yesterday. That's just the sound of the oil going through the valves in the strut when the piston inside travels up and down when going over bumps. I don't know why it's become more audible, but it's normal from what I can tell. It might simply be because it's getting cold out right now. I used to hear it from the front struts on my old car sometimes, before and after replacing them.

[@rayhauck503]

I only hear it on one side, I don’t hear anything on the other side I thought it was because of it being twisted, I tried to take it off and re mount it and noticed the strut wasn’t dead center so I’ll try to do it again tomorrow it’s weird because without the bar I don’t hear the noise

[@VampyreX13]

Let me know what you're results are.

[@grry8]

Where did you get your rubber floor mat for the trunk?

[@VampyreX13]

It came with the 2016's, but you can get one from amzn.to/33nFyA4

[@cabezon8705]

Hey, I'm currently having trouble installing my mid brace. When installing the large bolts, it doesn't fit because of the washer. Did you took this out? The small bolts go in with no trouble

[@VampyreX13]

I didn't use any washers when I installed mine.

[@cabezon8705]

@@VampyreX13 how did you took off the washer off the bolt did you sand the edges to take it off? I had to hammer my bolts in. I had contacted TB performance about this showed him pictures, and he told me the powder coating on my brace was put on too thick by mistake.

[@VampyreX13]

@@cabezon8705 can you send me pictures showing me the problem and the bolts to vampyrex13 at hotmail dot com?

[@cabezon8705]

@@VampyreX13 just did

[@VampyreX13]

@@cabezon8705 got your email. I'll put my car up in the air this morning and take a quick look and send you back photos as well.

[@mytoiletsfull]

Two ugguh dugguhs from my impact should be enough torque

[@VampyreX13]

It's always better to at least follow through with a torque wrench afterwards. I was teaching someone how to do a part install and they tightened a nut with an impact. I checked with my torque wrench, and it was surprisingly not tight enough. That being said, I do impact tighten some of my bolts like the strut to steering knuckle, but I usually have to hit it a few times to make it's tight enough.