I bought an Otto FSTB and it finally got here today. I wasted no time and got straight to installing it, holy shiznat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know some people say they can't notice a difference, others say it makes a world of difference, I'm going with the world of difference crowd.

Here's my setup right now:
Eibach Springs front
Stock Springs rear
Tokico Blues front
Stock Struts rear
Suspension Techniques RSB
Stock 92se wheels with semi crappy tires
and now Otto FSTB

Now just a few days ago Jeff and I installed the front Eibach/Tokicos, and man did that make a difference, I felt so much more attached to the road, turns were much more stable, and that was only the front! quick left right swerving felt much more responsive, but the car still didnt want to come back the other direction (ie swerving left but starting the right turn, it didnt want to come back and go to the right).

With the FSTB now it instantly digs in, and to think before I could feel the tires working, that was nothing compared to now. It is just insane, I didnt want to stop driving my car (but I did so I could take pictures). oh man, this setup rocks, The front end carves into turns, the RSB makes sure the rear end tracks , I'm in love, and the best part, is I'm not even half way there! On man now my car definately out handles my Dads 2000 SE 5spd with 235/45r17's, no doubt about it, I absolutely love it. Screw going fast, the twisties are sooooo much fun [/mini Matt], lol.

Anyway, on to the eye candy:






Now here are a few things I notice about the bar:
-It has more of a shiney finish than I thought. I thought it would have had more of a brushed look.
-The Plates are not a perfect fit, they are really close but not perfect. I just lined them up, only one of the outside holes needed a little pursuasion (lol, sp), ie. towel and hammer (since I dont have one of those plastic ones). Didn't damage the threads at all, but it didnt exactly slid right on. I could have put it on by tightening the bolts on it, but I wanted to get it level before I did that.
-The bar seems more solid compared to the ebay ones, it doesnt seem to flex as much (really very little at all).
-This bar gives me plenty of room to hook up a timing light/etc. I love it. No more messing around with wierd angles like with Dave's ebay one. (I know I dont mess with timing that much, but still).
-Gets beauty points, but I think I might have to play lemming to Michael and snag a Nismo sticker

now I'm mad because I forgot to take pics of the car with just the front eibach/tokico's installed.

I think I'm going to go back out for another drive.... It's dry out and my favorite backwoods twisty road is calling 2nd gear.

Nice. As soon as you upgrade tires and wheels, you will see even more improvement.

too bright I need sunglasses

I felt the same way when I installed my RSTB and Stage II L.T.B.... This stuff is addictive!

How much and where?

I love my OTTO bar, fits good, looks nice and does the trick

I bought it from another member, but Southwest autoworks is having a blow out right now. I think they said they have 5 left, $40 shipped. I still need to ask my dad if he wants one.

Pervis-
Thats the greatest part! I've got sooo much more to do, and judging by the reactions I've seen from the RSTB, Stage 2 tie bar, sub frames, and bushings, it's going to be great!!! There is also the ST FSB and I haven't even installed my rear suspension yet, not to mention new wheels tires. I'm sooooo excited

enjoy it now. when you put the rear on you're going to lose some oversteering characristic because right now stock setup can't hug the ground as good as the front.

rymo.rymo

LOL




I like my nismo sticker...rice or not .

Best looking and fitting bar for the VE out there right now IMO.

Right now my pennies are going towards the parallel link replacement kit. I am trying to put off SFCs in hopes that I will find (and be able to afford) a VE 5spd first.

It looks real nice...

mr.gone,
i didn't see the otto fstb listed for the 89-94 on swa. i wonder if it already sold out???
i really like the look of this fstb. nice and beefy like the stillen style.

very nice looking bar, I just saw Michael's in person and it looked very nice, especially with the Nismo sticker on it (I didn't know it didn't come like that til he told me).
it does look beefier than the Nissan ones (I have the old-school flattened oval bar that was made for the VE about 5 years ago)

Awesome! I have one too and love it, and it gives me something to polish under the hood. The price is definately worth it! Next you'll have to try out one of Matt's RSTBs!


By the way, procarparts.com carries them for $55.

I got mine a while ago for damn near $70 shipped

i got an otto racing fstb too (least i think it is, he said it is courtesy nissan fstb, but the box he shipped it in said otto racing ). bought it off an fellow org member. not as fancy as yours though, but it does the job rather well now i'm saving up for matt's rstb

Wow, to think that you could have bought (almost) 3 of the cheap ebay bars for that.

My bar was $12 with $12 shipping. $24 to my door.

Works great. I don't need no bling bling fstb, since the hood has to be closed in order for it to work right .

It looks great MrGone and I'm glad you like the difference it makes. Now you have me wishing it was spring (even more) - I have suspension upgrades to do too.

Yep, Eibachs, STB's and Sway are awesome. Its also amazing what a difference good tires make.

Up next in my handling dept are LTB and SFC's.

i'm considering waiting till i have as many suspension mods as i possibly can acquire within 2 months before slapping them all on at the same time. eibachs, tokicos, fstb, rstb, fsb, rsb, ltb 2, sfcs, ideal 8" wide 17s...... what a glorious day that would be....:earth calling sola!!!:

Nice bar and at a fraction of cost of the stillen bar, very clean engine bay.

True, but I could also use Fram oil filters and nobody would see them

I dont mind spending the extra bit for quality, especially since it will be there forever

good point.

hahahahahahaahhahahaha (again)

I'm going out on a limb here, but I think the Otto might be better than the ebay one because it seems like you can install it 'tighter'. The ebay one you just kind of find the tightest fit then install it, but with this one it seems like its pulling the strut towers together abit more, Then ontop of that, I'm still having nightmares from seeing the other kind flex (I think it was Jeff who showed me) when I pushed on mine it barely move.

Shock211- I think its just a 5th gen bar. I think you have to call them to get the pricing, I just saw them talking about it in a group deals thread.

Oh and Dave.... Just a few days ago you wanted an Otto, Don't go dissin on Donny's stuff (heheheehhehe)

It's not even light out yet and I want to go back on my twisty road

Lophix- That was my origonal plan, to install everything at once, but money, time, and pure impatience kind of cancelled those plans. I'm glad though, I really like to find out what each mod feels like, and oh man, at this rate, I think if I went from stock to fully modded my mom would give my room to one of my stepsisters because I would never leave my car.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I appreciate it!

I thought the vq30dek fstb didn't fit the VE?
oh well who cares i gotta a vg anyways.
i'm gonna call up SWA and see if they have any in stock

thanx

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately they only had 1 left...AND I GOT IT!! $50 shipped 5-7 days, $62 here by Friday.

order! order damnit! out of stock!?!?!?

Since you have a '92 just like I do, I think you should get one of these VE-fitting bars anyway, because of the A/C hose. I'm sure this has come up several times since, but here's one of the original threads about this...

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....light=fstb+gxe

EDIT: Hahaha, I was so excitable back then! (Just re-reading some of that stuff....)

(not to go OT or anything...I have to respond now..)

Whoa whoa whoa...Fram oil filters? I have never used a Fram. K&N filters have always been on my car, I have a Mobil 1 M1-208 cause the K&N's were out of stock in the store at the time (and the M1-208 was $4 cheaper ), and for the future I'll be using the old kickas s Nissan (the -66yy00 or somethin) filters that I got (I have 5 of them).

Man, a fram?? Where did you come up with that one? lol.

Btw, my ebay bar fits ok, and works fine. I do think though that the Otto bar may be a bit more rigid because of the joints. I don't think the actual bar has anything to do with it, but how it fixes to the mounts is much better.

donkey I saw a fram in that oil pan, no denying it.

Taurus.

,,,

Fram user

[QUOTE=MrGone]I bought an Otto FSTB and it finally got here today. I wasted no time and got straight to installing it, holy shiznat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I, also, just got mine!!Amazing, I paid an extra $12 and it came the next day. Cant wait to put it in, thanks.

yeah...realistically it seems that with a little work most nissan fstbs are interchangeable. i've seen a 240 fstb on a 3rd and 4th gen maxima...
i'm actually bidding on a 5th gen fstb as we speak....

BUT I WANT THE DAMN OTTO ONE for $40 !!!

damn you swowlinc!!!

We will have this in stock by Friday and we can do them for $50 shipped for you guys. They are not listed under the 89-94 section as it is the same bar as the 5th gen maximas. Give us a call if you have any questions.

Hey man, High speed Internet!! They told me that this was for the 5th gen though and it wasnt 40 it was 50+ shipping.

it's cool...i'll order one when they have more in stock.
but from now on, you and i are enemies
j/k

It doesnt feel too good does it? Its happened to me a coupla times too...come to think about it, this is my first time being on the winning side.HA!!
PS-...Ouch!

swowlinc- I'm curious, how was the install? Did the end brackets just drop right on or did you have to kind of force it down over the strut bolt?

For me it went smoothly. There was, like you said, a little bit off ...but a coupla taps with the ratchet and it was cool , nothing major. I put the brackets on first and then tightened the middle part.Steering is MUCH improved... In the front. Now I can feel how wobbly only the back is. She dives into turns now, its nice.