my strubar arrives tomorow and i just wanted to know if i will feel any difference when cornering and where can i get new bolts because mines are rusted and i want to put new ones....

 

its very very lil not that much diff, u would feel more if u dropped it 2 in"s

 

dropping is not an option because i want to sell the max by the end of summer i need something 5spd, so i purchase the strutbat to see if can keep my self from rolling over cause that wat it feels like in the max, in my 92 celica i used to take curves at 90mph like nothing and in the max i cant go pass 50 in the same curves....

 

Those two cars aren't good to compare between. Too many differences between the two. If you corner hard everyday, you will feel a difference, but it probably won't be as much as you may expect...

 

The nose down braking hard corners are where I noticed it. AKA doing 40MPH in a 25MPH 90 degree corner.

 

Comparing a celica and a maxima is just stupid. Of cource the celica will handle much better. Look at the dimensions of the cars. You must have a gxe/gle also.

 

ok, good point. I have an SE so mine will handle better than a GXE, GLE anyway. you should notice it more than I did then.

 

i know more than everyone that u cant compare a celica to a max in handling, i rally like the max but by the end of summer im getting another celica an 00 + or a scion tc because i really like the handling and yes mines is a gxe that y the handling sucks to but the rear suspension of the maxima is really weak that big bar in the back is wack i feel my car wants to loose control in some curves, and wat sucks is that the cars has soo much power but the brakes and the suspension suck for people who use the max for more than trips to the supermarket...

 

uhm i noticed it the INSTANT i put it on... taking corners felt much better!

install the rear also... that's a CRAZY difference... it took me a day to get used to the different dynamics...

 

If your going to keep your maxima at stock hieght I suggest not cornering at 90mph+ you will lose control your crazy for even trying...The maximas are family cars to begin with. Oh and your waisting your time and money if your going to buy only a strut bar and expect it to help you corner at 90mph

 

I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but when I drove my max really hard, the back end would slip out during at the limit cornering, due to lack of weight in the rear or what have you. But honostly the max will out perform both those cars with mediocre costing suspension upgrades like FSTB, RSTB and RSB. Lowering and tires make the biggest difference though but they can be quite pricy.

 

i have 235/45 / in the back and i remenber it did make a diff in the biginning and i never said that i wanted the max to corner at 90mph ive never tried it either im not stupid i just said that it would be nice if when u doing 90 and a big curves comes u dont have to slow down to 40 maybe 60 or 70 but 60 mph is pushing it for me and ive only tried it in the inner part of the curve once and the car felt like it was at its limit..

 

In my experience, my SE FEELS like it's at it's limit a bit before it actually IS at it's limit. But that' s a sensory opinion there I guess...

 

Well you gotta pay to play I got lots of upgraded suspension parts and I can take turns so sharp I can hang with the best in turns.
1. lower the center of gravity as much as possible
2. High performance ADJ shocks and struts & HP springs
3. Tire choice is very mportant Z rated ofcourse or better and the wider the better 235 or 245
4. FSTB RSTB and Urithane Bushings

But be carefull Oversteer will be more noticeable at high speed cornering I learned the hard way I took the off ramp at 100mph down to 94mph and the back end lost grip there I went 360* luckly I did'n hit anything . I found out that my rear end was too stiff I need to soften her up...80mph is my limit more than that I can feel the rear tires loose grip....

 

I didn't notice any difference adding the fstb. Adding an rstb didn't do anything noticeable either.

Dave

 

I just added my RSTB and I haven't been able to sense anything, but I haven't been cornering hard to feel it yet. Still have studded snow tires on from winter....

 

HP corner better than Eibach? Just curious...

OK, back to the FSTB!! I think that a RSB would make a more noticable cornering difference, and they aren't that big of a price difference. I think Cattman even combines them as a special.

 

HP=High Performance

Eibach's are up there on quality and performance and prices are reasonable..

 

ok. sorry misunderstanding. I thought you meant HP the brand. I am getting Eibachs because they are proven to be one of, if not THE best springs before coilovers.

 

Hmm, wouldnt widening the tires while keeping the same wheel actually hurt handling? I mean, you have extra rubber twisting and turning against the the same smaller rim.

 

If they are p235's then it's not being used on a stock wheel

 

Ditto.... that's why I am looking at the 17x8 Enkei RPF1... ohh so sweet

 

with the ftsb, i feel as if i can take corners a lot harder and faster as compared to my dad's other 99 SE maxima without it. It just feels like theres more control and more room to push the car before the traction breaks. I like it. I got the custommaxima one, but it required a little bit of dremeling to avoid hitting the brake line.

o well, im still satisfied...

 

I don't think most suspension 'upgrades' out their are based on racing experience. Popular and available does not mean it's effective. I'm gonna **** some people off here by saying most of the 'difference' is in the beholder's head. Sure, they will make the car corner differently, but different doesn't mean faster or with better control. Unless the person has some track or autocross data to support their arguments, consider it with large grains of salt. Wider tires increase unsprung weight, they make handling DIFFERENT (not necessarily better), this is guaranteed. Unless you need to increase your brake size, larger diameter wheels are basically just for looks.

IMO, doing 'suspension mods' to a Maxima is overrated. This car has MacPherson struts up front and lacks a fully independent rear. You gotta have the right suspension geometry as a platform.

Dave

 

^^^
which translates to= ??? *shrug*

 

A suspension designed for handling costs cabin space, complexity, and money. The Maxima's suspension is set up as a balance of these things, and so to try and modify it into a pure racing/handling car is of limited use. So my point is that much of handling ability of a car basically cannot be changed. The manufacturers that sell suspension components make products per the demand, not because is legitimate gains to be made. Anyone reading this thread who is considers making major changes to their suspension should be aware that although it can have major effects on feel and stiffness, it doesn't always translate to better handling and control.

As far as concluding on the wider tires, wider wheel/tire combinations have many effects that are hard to generalize. Which is why for street driving, I say that wheel changes are for looks, not much for function.

Dave

 

the rsb did way more to handling and understeer than the fstb. My car is sitting on stock SE suspension. the front was mildly noticeable, but the rsb was definitely noticeable. It doens't minimize roll or anything that the manufacturer promises but it makes the car feel much more balanced in hard turns

 

is the Anti-Sway-Bar too different from the RST ? which one would you rather buy? or both?

 

Get the RSB. The RSTB is basically unnoticeable.

Dave

 

I JUST WHOOPED A TC IN AUTO-X on my worn 100k suspension

 

The FSTB will do little to help with cornering limits and roll. It only makes the steering response firmer. japmaxSE hit the upgrades right on the nose.

Oh, and as far as whooping other cars I whopped a couple Elise's, a 911, and a bunch of M3's on Sunday. Driver skill often overcomes vehicle design.