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Old Apr 15, 2002 | 11:59 PM
  #1  
NismoRacer83's Avatar
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Fstb

I've seen you all posting that fstb if a good mod to get, but what exactly does it do?

and is it fairly easy to put in?
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 02:45 AM
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Re: Fstb

Originally posted by NismoRacer83
I've seen you all posting that fstb if a good mod to get, but what exactly does it do?

and is it fairly easy to put in?
Stiffens the front strut mounts and overall body rigidy, and it is cake to install, simply remove the 3 bolts from either side strut mount put bar on and re tighten nuts over bar, this is really simple if you have a second hand doing the other side at the same time.

Jared
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 08:07 AM
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highly recommended

the fstb was one of the first mods i got (b/c of the $$$) and it's probably one of the best bang for the buck. you don't even have to be an "agressive driver" to feel the advantages of the bar. on and off ramps and everyday cornering are much more stable. i just got a new set of tires and man does the car feel nice.... highly recommended.
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 01:36 PM
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Since it looks like you have a stock suspension, adding a FSTB will improve the feeling of the front end through the steering wheel mainly (modded suspension guys don't notice as much). In relaxed driving you probably won't tell it's there, but in hard corners the car will feel more solid and secure. You'll know what I mean.

Use the SEARCH engine. More opinions, and I'm sure I posted a full install how-to sometime recently. Make sure it's tight.
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 02:38 PM
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hmm k, thanks looks like something i should invest into.
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 02:42 PM
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where can i pick up a fstb? and how much $$$$$$$????????
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 02:48 PM
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Originally posted by 91mizzax
where can i pick up a fstb? and how much $$$$$$$????????
stealthmax at the for sale forum are selling them at 45 dollars a piece.
might wanna go and check it out
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 05:14 PM
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www.courtesynissan.com has them for 79.00 doillars. They are very sharp looking, check them out!!
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 05:19 PM
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Stealth Max still has them in stock and they've been complimented. I haven't seen a pic though. Check it out FSTB
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 10:31 PM
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fstb the best bang for buck? not in my opinion. bang for buck goes to rear sway bar. drastically decreases understeer. the fstb will only improve your initial turn-in. the problem is cuz the bottom of the struts are still "loose". You don't have a parallelogram. However, that's all gonna change really soon...i'm talking w/someone who's fabricating a lower A-Arm brace for us. Yay! And when that's done, at $75, it would rank as the best bang for buck in my opinion.
Jae
Old Apr 16, 2002 | 11:43 PM
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Originally posted by ThurzNite
fstb the best bang for buck? not in my opinion. bang for buck goes to rear sway bar. drastically decreases understeer. the fstb will only improve your initial turn-in. the problem is cuz the bottom of the struts are still "loose". You don't have a parallelogram. However, that's all gonna change really soon...i'm talking w/someone who's fabricating a lower A-Arm brace for us. Yay! And when that's done, at $75, it would rank as the best bang for buck in my opinion.
Jae
you're still gonna need to get the fstb. It's amazing how a piece of steel can cost so much.
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 12:36 AM
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Originally posted by ThurzNite
fstb the best bang for buck? not in my opinion. bang for buck goes to rear sway bar. drastically decreases understeer. the fstb will only improve your initial turn-in. the problem is cuz the bottom of the struts are still "loose". You don't have a parallelogram. However, that's all gonna change really soon...i'm talking w/someone who's fabricating a lower A-Arm brace for us. Yay! And when that's done, at $75, it would rank as the best bang for buck in my opinion.
Jae
Very interesting! I suppose this is what's called a "tie-bar" for Hondas and such. Would these attach to the gussets near the sway bar or something? (At their narrowest point.) Is it 2 or 4 point?

I wonder how much understeer you'd invoke though, since with both FSTB and this brace you'll be increasing the effective spring rate of the front suspension ever so slightly (at least, at cornering limits). Oh well, the improvement in chassis stiffness is probably worth it though.

Keep us updated if you can!
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 02:01 AM
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http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=102833

Found the link to your old thread!

I don't think anyone else has considered this for our cars yet!
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 03:14 AM
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Originally posted by JoJo428m
Stealth Max still has them in stock and they've been complimented. I haven't seen a pic though. Check it out FSTB
I can e-mail you or anyone else a pic of his strut tower bar. I have pics of it installed and uninstalled...
nismo1989@aol.com
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 03:27 AM
  #15  
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Originally posted by nismo1989


I can e-mail you or anyone else a pic of his strut tower bar. I have pics of it installed and uninstalled...
nismo1989@aol.com
Ken aka Stealth Max is a great guy, but if you want even a stronger more desirable bar for a total of $73.00 including shipping for an OBX FSTB go to Ebay and look for the username reddogmotorsports. He is out of LA and the bar he sells by OBX blows the courtesy/custommaxima, etc. bar away. It is thicker then the others, and has drilled holes like the Stillen one with the OBX logo, nicer looking in my opinion, but the one stealth max sells is a damn good price for that one and Ken was super to work with.

Jared
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 02:13 PM
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Re: Re: Fstb

Originally posted by ICONOCLAST


Stiffens the front strut mounts and overall body rigidy, and it is cake to install, simply remove the 3 bolts from either side strut mount put bar on and re tighten nuts over bar, this is really simple if you have a second hand doing the other side at the same time.

Jared
But the only thing is those 3 nuts on each strut tower are on there pretty tight, i cracked my wrench trying to loosen them. While theyre temporarily unscrewed (stupid Q ), will it have any affect on the car, like the strut towers popping up or anything
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 04:06 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Fstb

Originally posted by Maximan190

But the only thing is those 3 nuts on each strut tower are on there pretty tight, i cracked my wrench trying to loosen them. While theyre temporarily unscrewed (stupid Q ), will it have any affect on the car, like the strut towers popping up or anything
Errr, while you have less than 3 nuts on each strut tower DO NOT drive it. Disaster might not happen, but they're the only things holding the struts in!

BTW, any idea why they were so tight? They're spec'd only to 35 ft-lbs.... Might want to consider replacing them if they were super-tight. The FSM actually says to replace them EVERY time you use them. People usually don't (I didn't), but I would in your case.
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 05:54 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Fstb

Originally posted by Bman

The FSM actually says to replace them EVERY time you use them. People usually don't (I didn't), but I would in your case.
what do you mean every time i use them? the nuts on there are the ones thats been on the car since new
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 06:30 PM
  #19  
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i think he means every time you take them out that you should put new ones in.....
Old Apr 17, 2002 | 09:03 PM
  #20  
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Originally posted by maximum3rdgen
i think he means every time you take them out that you should put new ones in.....
Yes, that's what I meant. Shoulda worded it better.

I just double checked the FSM too, and it DOES have that little "Replace after each disassembly" X symbol next to these nuts, so if your nuts really were torqued into neverneverland, I'd replace them. Torque range is 30-40 ft-lbs, but just shoot for 35 (which is why ppl just say 35).

HTH
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