Is it worth installing a sway bar (perhaps rear and front) on my 99 Maxima SE-L even though I have all stock suspension and do not plan to mod it???? What are some good sway bars?

 

 

Well the maxima already has a front sway bar. But A rear would make a nice difference even if you dont change anything else. Stillen, Progress, and Addco all make sway bars for 4th gens. They will all work pretty much the same, except that the stillen is adjustable and costs around $230. While the Progress and Addco are not adjustable but go for around $110-130. Most people with the stillen bar say that they never adjust it anyway so i really dont think its worth the extra $ unless you auto-x. But its your call.

 

:attention

 

Thanks dude, what about the strut bar...will that improve something?

 

Yes a front strut bar would inprove handling too, by tighting up the front end and reducing flex in the engine bay. Many compaines make FSTB's, A lot of people get courtesys at www.courtesyparts.com because its only $50 bucks and works as good as any other. Or you could just look on e-bay and find one for like $20-30 bucks. That would work too. The rear strut tower bar is the one that most people say does not make too much of a difference at all.

 

If you want a more neutral handling car instead of having major understeer, then get a rear sway bar. I helps a lot on a stock suspension. Your car will be a lot more responsive to steering input. If you are into auto-x or road racing, I'd opt for the adjustable stillen bar (which is what I have) due to it's ability to adjust from understeer to oversteer. The other sways aren't adjustable that I know of.

If you want to go all out, get the polyurathane bushings for the front sway bar and a stillen rear sway and adjust it to your taste. The front sway bar is actually pretty stiff, it just needs the bushings to keep from flexing in the mounts.

Just remember, more sway bar in front makes you understeer, more in back makes you oversteer. A lot of oversteer is dangerous if you don't know how to handle it, your rear will come out and you will end up doing a 360 if you aren't careful or don't know how to handle and recover from it. But a perfectly neutral car feels wonderful.

 

I put an ADDCO RSB on my car when I had stock suspension and I noticed a huge difference in handling. I love my ADDCO. It's kind of adjustable if you move the bushings more to the front of the car, or more towards the rear wheels. They work great.

 

FYI 99 SE-L and here's my setup.

Stock springs, KYB AGX's, Front Strut Bar and Addco Rear Stabalizer. 16" stock rims with Dunlop Sport A2's mounted. The car is as solid as a rock, no body roll at all, handles amazing and the best part is the ride quality. Very firm, smooth and quiet ride. It's actually very impressive setup this way, the only bad part is the gap.

 

makes me wanna get one....

 

Tom a few quick questions?
I'm leaving the stock springs in a 99 GXE, what shocks would you
recommend, the KYB/Gr2's or tokico hp. I'm adding 16" rims and was thinking of the dunlop A2's as well, what size tires do you have?
I'm adding a FSTB and RSB,I don't need adjustable shocks i'm
just looking for a firm comfortable ride.

Thanks
Ken

 

Are there any known issues with mounts breaking with stiffer sway bars? I know 3rd gens (former '91 owner) have a tendency for the rear sway bar mounts to break. The problem is reliable to the point where most people would reinforce them when adding their new bars.

 

Tokico is going to give you that new car ride back. Nice and smooth, there a fairly soft strut.

GR2's are pretty stiff, they will give you a firm smooth sports car ride.

The AGX's you can adjust from firm/smooth to hard. There fun to play around with. The GR2's are valved like a mid way setting on the AGX's, say 2 all around.

The GR2's are great struts and will blow the Tokico's away in performance, there probably just what your after! Your setup will be pretty much where I'm at now only I'm running AGX's. My car is solid as a rock, yet rides pretty smooth and very quiet.

I'm sure you'll "Enjoy The Ride!"

 

Thanks Tom, I think the gr2's with 16" rims and tires, rsb and fstb
should make enough of a difference for me.

Thanks
Ken