K, bottom line, what are the best units for the following that people have had good experience with?

Clutch and pressure plate: Something that can handle good torque and won'd fade so freakin much as it heats up.

Springs: Want some GOOD 1 inch lowering springs, anyone know of progressive rate lowering springs?

Front struts and rear shocks: Getting tired of the EAS, not impressed with the dealer cost on the units. I drive in firm all the time anyway, so out it all goes. What are some wicked struts and shocks that offer really good performance dampning?

Poly bushings: Any body have the part numbers from say . . . Energy Suspensions for the ploy bushings for our cars? I know not all will be available, but some of the bushing must be available, like swway bar stuff.

Strut tower brace: Anyone?

Lower chassis stiffners: Anyone?

I know this is alot of questions in one thread, and I know there are links to performance parts stuff, but I am looking for good, positive feedback here from people based on experience with these parts, not just a 'Hey, go buy that because it's a good name' sort of thing.

Thanks gus, I look forward to hearing back.

 

Alright, here is my run down.

Clutch and Pressure Plate: I would go with the ACT Stage 1 clutch and pressure plate. My buddy iansw has it on his supercharged 97 max. I highly recommend it.

Springs: well, I don't think you will find progressive springs for this car. The only spring that really drops 1" is Eibachs....and even I can't find them. I'm going with ST springs myself, which I will be ordering mid july.

Struts: I myself got a hold of KONI adjustables inserts. These are damn near impossible to find. Your next best bet would be KYB GR2 struts. They perform very well. You can also probably get Tokico blues, I believe carparts.com have them, but you may want to call them and check.

Poly Bushings: maxwgn may know something about this, so I will let him post on it.

Strut Tower Brace: The one that will fit is the 93-97 Altima FSTB. You will have to do a little modifying on the brackets to get it to fit all the way on the strut mounts (nothing a dremel can't do). Also, besure you don't get the wide bar FSTB, it will definately not fit. Since you have the VG30ET, I don't know if the EGR is in the same spot or not. On my 86, I ran into a problem where the vacuum fitting was in the way. To remedy this, I got a EGR valve from an 88 SE which has the fitting facing the driver side fender instead of the firewall. (It worked well, but I still have clearance problems with the valve since I have a manual, and the engine tends to shift more than an auto). I have pics on my cardomain site, www.cardomain.com/id/86maximase. Take a look there. Either way, my main concern is clearance for your car, so you may have to do some more modifying than I had to.

Lower Chassis Stiffners: I remember hearing someone talking about getting sub-frame connectors made for our generation. Unfortunately, nothing has happened with this in a while. You may have to make your own, anyone car to comment.

Either way, your going to have a monster of a car when you finish!

 

Warpspeed subframe connectors they made some for us but we never bit into the deal I was going to get some but then ran into money probs. They had the stage ones for our cars. cost was like 145 or something. Hit them up and see if they can make some for you. They may ask for half of the price first though since we ditched on them a year ago and enver bought them. They may have one in stock they test fitted theirs on a 1986 maxima anyway. Even though that may not make a difference with chassis and all. Hitm up

 

Krieky!!!! $145 US or so??? Nope, not for me, especially for simple sub-frame connectors. There isn't even $30 CDN worth of steel in those.

I'll be making my own and powder coating them. I will post pics.

:-)

 

lol if you make them, I'll be knocking on your door!

S

 

If I make them? Hehehe!!! Trust me, they'll get made. It's a matter of 'when' I make them, not if. :-)

Soon, dude, very, very soon.

:-)

 

Well, the poly sway bar bushings are about it. I know John Lang, with the 1st gen, was thinking about making his own from some form of uerethane or equivilent, that was supposed to have a harder durometer measure than normal poly.

The sway bar bushings are standard, generic fare. The end-link bushings fit, no problem, but the washers that come with them will require either some finessing with a hammer, or a drill to open hole just a tad. The actual mounts, i forget the p/n, but i took in one of my old, worn bushings, and found a generic bushing w/ bracket, that was a size smaller than the old worn unit, to allow for wear on the old piece. Both the mounts and the end links were made by Energy Suspension products, and can be bought from Autozone (where i got mine) or JC-Whitney carries them, also.

The control arm bushings can't be found, unles john makes some, but they're going to be a PITA. Autozone also just recent;y started carrying poly replacement boots for tie-rod ends and maybe ball-joints, since that's all the poly is for those parts. The sway bar bushings for the rear sway bar should be available the same way, I just haven't had the money to get in there, and find out.

One other note, is the addco rear sway bar that's available. However, if you have access to the right metal, and the right equipment, you should be able to bend your own, much heavier unit. I've checked locally, and no one was willing to work with me to make them...i was chacking for both front and rear...

And I agree with the cost of those sub-frames costing so much...unless that's to help cover shipping, as well...our cars have a pretty simple floor pan, so it wouldn't be very hard to fab some...

Well, that's my two cents, plus some...