Author Topic: Your experiences with the DDM Pro-Beam? (Read 12280 times)

Sly Bob · « **on:** December 23, 2008, 10:00:20 PM »

DDMWorks some time ago developed the Pro-Beam rear suspension brace. I know that it is engineered to bring your light-duty stock cross member up to snuff but what does it do in day to day driving. Is it as much bang for the buck as others say their Backbone is?

What are peoples experience with the Pro-Beam?

spicy3480 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2008, 11:47:32 PM »

It stiffens the rear of the car up considerably. Less roll through cornering and the car doesn't seem to dive as much upon acceleration. i put it on in combination with lowering springs, so the effect might have been increased. I love it and highly recommend it. I will be getting their backbone and shock tower braces installed at the mod meet.

snaponbob · « **Reply #2 on:** December 24, 2008, 12:21:42 AM »

Quote from: spiky3480 on December 23, 2008, 11:47:32 PM

It stiffens the rear of the car up considerably. Less roll through cornering and the car doesn't seem to dive as much upon acceleration. i put it on in combination with lowering springs, so the effect might have been increased. I love it and highly recommend it. I will be getting their backbone and shock tower braces installed at the mod meet.

Your springs did the squat, dive, and sway "fixes". The ProBeam will make the rear more satble in cornering and under real hard forward loads (slamming the gas pedal!!).

Hey !!!!!! WHAT shock tower braces?

stuck · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2008, 12:30:53 AM »

Flattens the curves and prevents most of the understeer during hard cornering. I think it's a sum of the parts. Both are going to give you some benefits, but when used together it allows the car to be what it should be from the factory. I've got the GMPP suspension, too. It rides like a skateboard, but a very gooooood cornering skateboard...

spicy3480 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2008, 01:35:52 AM »

Quote from: snaponbob on December 24, 2008, 12:21:42 AM

Your springs did the squat, dive, and sway "fixes". The ProBeam will make the rear more satble in cornering and under real hard forward loads (slamming the gas pedal!!).

Hey !!!!!! WHAT shock tower braces?

Ha ha...it's a new brace that DDM is working on...you will see it soon enough...and will want one.

lil goat · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2008, 10:28:43 AM »

OK everyone remember the weird thing about cars, if you put a bigger ie stiffer sway bar on the back you will feel an improvement in the FRONT of the car, just weird the way that works. I am waiting until after the Christmas shell out of funds to order the Pro Beam. The backbone reduces the flex in the middle of the car where it is weakest. I can only believe that the Pro beam will help reduce the car's tendency to plow through corners by stiffening up the rear. It will also help keep the assend planted as we all add more POWER! (insert Tim Tool Time grunt here)

Critterman · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2008, 10:30:54 AM »

I had the backbone and probeam installed at the same time, night and day, car just flat out goes where you point it, no fuss no muss.

The shock tower brace is sweeeeeeeeeet, going on with my stage III upgrade.

Cheers · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2008, 11:15:59 AM »

Drove the Dragon, went to DDM Work and Dave installed the "Pro Beam." Drove the Dragon again...Unless someone comes up with something better, the "Pro Beam" stays on forever. Noticeable improvement!!

Dave@DDMworks · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2008, 11:18:45 AM »

Incase you missed it, this is a rendering of the shock tower brace that we are doing, the first ones are going to be installed at the new york mod meet next week.

spicy3480 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2008, 12:56:38 PM »

Now that is sweet looking...can't wait to have mine installed!

Morfious · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2009, 05:42:10 PM »

The group at DDM do great work as well. The clearances are quite tight. Spikey had to change out his coil cover that had stickers on it to give enough clearance for the new brace. (Actually I think Dave just told him that to get him to buy another one, he's sneaky like that.) Looks good and I need a ride to see how much better it makes the ride.

Cheers · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2009, 06:35:52 PM »

Drove the Dragon last Summer. Drove over to Greenville and Dave installed my Pro-Beam and went back to the Dragon. Noticeable different. Can't wait to try it with the DDM Works Backbone ---Maybe this month if the WX is good and my CUZ is willing to put up with me in her spare room again

tailhooker · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2009, 10:03:16 PM »

I had the Pro Beam and the Backbone installed at the Mod meet. I didn't really "test " it until I was on the Southern Parkway , heading toward Kennedy Airport and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. I had an occasion to really get out of the way of another car.....WOW !
When I punched it, there was NO sideways movement......the rearend just squatted a little and TOOK OFF ! Money WELL SPENT !
A word of caution: If you have the SOLO Center outlet exhaust......the clearances are VERY tight. My Center outlet exhaust clears by about 1/8" on one side and just touches on the other side. If I grind about 1/8 " from that side , everything will be cool. As it is now , it touches on the one side and vibrates/rattles sometimes. No Biggy.......this is an eassy fix to have a MAJOR improvement in handling.
Just my $0.02

RUTurbo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2009, 10:10:17 PM »

I really want the Pro Beam, unfortunately I'm not sure it will fit with my exhaust, hopefully someone with a Sky out there can answer this. Does the Pro Beam fit with RPI GT series exhaust?? I know Kappasphere's similar reBar product does not fit with the RPI GT, really want to get this mod done but switching out exhausts is not an option, and I don't want to have to "take one for the team" on this unless absolutely necessary.

Wheels · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2009, 10:16:10 PM »

I installed the Pro-Beam when it first came out and I liked how it made the car drive. I now have the Backbone brace and I'm looking forward to installing that if the weather warms up. Both products are well thought out and well made. While I don't often push the car on times that I have the Pro - Beam made the handling better.

thanks,
Jim

1KULSOL · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2009, 09:24:28 AM »

Quote from: tailhooker on January 04, 2009, 10:03:16 PM

   I had the Pro Beam and the Backbone installed at the Mod meet. I didn't really "test " it until I was on the Southern Parkway , heading toward Kennedy Airport and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. I had an occasion to really get out of the way of another car.....WOW !
When I punched it, there was NO sideways movement......the rearend just squatted a little and TOOK OFF ! Money WELL SPENT !
   A word of caution: If you have the SOLO Center outlet exhaust......the clearances are VERY tight. My Center outlet exhaust clears by about 1/8" on one side and just touches on the other side. If I grind about 1/8 " from that side , everything will be cool. As it is now , it touches on the one side and vibrates/rattles sometimes. No Biggy.......this is an eassy fix to have a MAJOR improvement in handling.
   Just my $0.02

I have both the ProBeam and the Backbone .... along with the SQR-2 exhaust and have no clearance problems ....

Critterman · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2009, 09:33:19 AM »

Quote from: 1KULSOL on January 05, 2009, 09:24:28 AM

I have both the ProBeam and the Backbone .... along with the SQR-2 exhaust and have no clearance problems ....

1kulsol and I have the same set up and I have no clearance problem either

spicy3480 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2009, 09:53:50 AM »

I just had the backbone installed with the shock tower brace...already had a pro-beam. The car is solid as a rock...considerable difference....no side to side movement...money very well spent!!!

idkfa · « **Reply #18 on:** January 05, 2009, 01:20:22 PM »

Quote from: RUTurbo on January 04, 2009, 10:10:17 PM

I really want the Pro Beam, unfortunately I'm not sure it will fit with my exhaust, hopefully someone with a Sky out there can answer this. Does the Pro Beam fit with RPI GT series exhaust?? I know Kappasphere's similar reBar product does not fit with the RPI GT, really want to get this mod done but switching out exhausts is not an option, and I don't want to have to "take one for the team" on this unless absolutely necessary.

It will fit. I have not seen any thread where it interferes with any of the retail exhausts.

I have the RPi GT and the brace and will be installing them both next time I have my car in the air.

spicy3480 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2009, 01:42:28 PM »

That exhaust just might need some adjustment if it isn't aligned correctly. Check the tip alignment and make sure they are perfect. The Pro Beam has yet to be non-compatible with any exhaust system.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #20 on:** January 05, 2009, 04:04:21 PM »

Quote from: RUTurbo on January 04, 2009, 10:10:17 PM

I really want the Pro Beam, unfortunately I'm not sure it will fit with my exhaust, hopefully someone with a Sky out there can answer this. Does the Pro Beam fit with RPI GT series exhaust?? I know Kappasphere's similar reBar product does not fit with the RPI GT, really want to get this mod done but switching out exhausts is not an option, and I don't want to have to "take one for the team" on this unless absolutely necessary.

Is this the GT exhaust. The Pro Beam is installed.

spicy3480 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2009, 04:14:47 PM »

Yea that's the RPI GT exhaust. Fitment looks good to me.

GXPinKC · « **Reply #22 on:** January 06, 2009, 09:06:44 AM »

Simple question here. Anyone know the weight of the Pro-Beam? If it is so good, why in the world didn't GM include it as stock when the Kappa's were introduced. My guess is that it was rushed into production and simply overlooked? I would think the added weight would be of benefit in one way but not in another?

spicy3480 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2009, 09:39:05 AM »

I have held one in my hand....I am guessing maybe 5-7 lbs?? It's not too heavy, and it really stiffens the back end.

MomsSol · « **Reply #24 on:** January 06, 2009, 10:05:42 AM »

Quote from: GXPinKC on January 06, 2009, 09:06:44 AM

Simple question here. Anyone know the weight of the Pro-Beam? If it is so good, why in the world didn't GM include it as stock when the Kappa's were introduced. My guess is that it was rushed into production and simply overlooked? I would think the added weight would be of benefit in one way but not in another?

From my talks with a friend and GM suspension engineer, he tells me that many of the suspension items were not done in order to keep costs down and also because this roadster they felt would be purchased mostly by those who would NOT be driving it in the manner that necessitated the extra 'stiffening'. That is why you see the GMPP Suspension that was offered - they knew when this was brought to market what the car could and couldn't do on the track. But, they also knew that many of the everyday drivers would not like nor appreciate the less than comfortable ride that extra stiffening provides. While those of us who like to "drive hard" thru the twists and curves are willing to sacrifice some comfortably for better handling.

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Author Topic: Your experiences with the DDM Pro-Beam? (Read 12280 times)

lil goat