i just finished installig my new megan racing o2 housing and realized that it doe not have the holes for the lower turbo bracket, is this bracket necessary??

 

Its not necessary but I thought it would have been nice to have. You should be fine without it. I believe only the invidia and maybe the works o2 housing has the bracket support.

 

doesnt that mean the whole weight of the turbo (and part of the exhaust to i imagine?) is now hanging unsupported on the exhaust manifold. I dont know if you have a stock manifold or tubular, but either way i cant imagine that's a good thing to avoid cracking of the manifold.

I'm still noob to 99% of the EVO so i have no clue as to how strong the manifolds are and how prone to cracking, but it really does not sound good to me. I've started doing some reading up on O2 housings only just (and stumbled on this topic searching) so dont take my word on it though.

 

The exhaust manifold and all the water/oil lines can easily support the turbo and O2 housing. You actually lose alot of weight by switching from the cast iron O2 housing to the tubular stainless one.

 

Agree on the losing weight part but still there's a whole lot of movement in the exhaust system from header to exhaust tip which, though it's hanging in rubbers is ultimately supported only by the header!!??

Now as i see it, if the O2 housing would have the mounting bracket to engine you would have a "solid" installation for the header, turbo and O2 housing. The whole header, turbo, O2 housing part would move simillar to the engine and the stress would mainly/only be on the exhaust part from the downpipe onwards? Vibrations might still be affecting/stressing header, turbo, O2 housing but never as much that it would become a serious problem as without the bracket supporting it to the engine.

 

Does a downpipe with a " Flex Section " help with the stresses placed on the manifold and housing? Most aftermarket downpipes do not have the flex.