Installed my FSTB tonight... but have a question, not sure if I did it right?
10-07-2001, 01:59 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 156
Installed my FSTB tonight... but have a question, not sure if I did it right?
I got the FSTB from courtesy for my '95 SE 5spd... I bolted both sides of it down to the strut towers, but the silver part of the bar itself is "loose". You can easily move twist it with your hand. Is it supposed to be like this, or is there something else that I need to tighten
??
Well one way or another, I just had the two front struts and bushings replaced with new OEM parts, and added the FSTB all at once today and wow does this thing carve corners much better. Not only that, but I noticed that a certain area of the road going to my house no longer causes the maxima to twist and shake like it used to do. I used to cringe every time I went over the bumps... now its just like one solid uniform "thud" and it never loses stride.
WTH doesn't nissan put these things on as factory equipment? I'm sure that the extra 15 bucks or so that it would cost them would be well worth it to most of their buyers!!
??Well one way or another, I just had the two front struts and bushings replaced with new OEM parts, and added the FSTB all at once today and wow does this thing carve corners much better. Not only that, but I noticed that a certain area of the road going to my house no longer causes the maxima to twist and shake like it used to do. I used to cringe every time I went over the bumps... now its just like one solid uniform "thud" and it never loses stride.
WTH doesn't nissan put these things on as factory equipment? I'm sure that the extra 15 bucks or so that it would cost them would be well worth it to most of their buyers!!
10-07-2001, 02:07 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 259
Re: Installed my FSTB tonight... but have a question, not sure if I did it right?
Originally posted by Threxx
I got the FSTB from courtesy for my '95 SE 5spd... I bolted both sides of it down to the strut towers, but the silver part of the bar itself is "loose". You can easily move twist it with your hand. Is it supposed to be like this, or is there something else that I need to tighten??
Well one way or another, I just had the two front struts and bushings replaced with new OEM parts, and added the FSTB all at once today and wow does this thing carve corners much better. Not only that, but I noticed that a certain area of the road going to my house no longer causes the maxima to twist and shake like it used to do. I used to cringe every time I went over the bumps... now its just like one solid uniform "thud" and it never loses stride.
WTH doesn't nissan put these things on as factory equipment? I'm sure that the extra 15 bucks or so that it would cost them would be well worth it to most of their buyers!!
I got the FSTB from courtesy for my '95 SE 5spd... I bolted both sides of it down to the strut towers, but the silver part of the bar itself is "loose". You can easily move twist it with your hand. Is it supposed to be like this, or is there something else that I need to tighten
??Well one way or another, I just had the two front struts and bushings replaced with new OEM parts, and added the FSTB all at once today and wow does this thing carve corners much better. Not only that, but I noticed that a certain area of the road going to my house no longer causes the maxima to twist and shake like it used to do. I used to cringe every time I went over the bumps... now its just like one solid uniform "thud" and it never loses stride.
WTH doesn't nissan put these things on as factory equipment? I'm sure that the extra 15 bucks or so that it would cost them would be well worth it to most of their buyers!!
10-07-2001, 09:53 AM
#6
Tightening.....
Originally posted by Threxx
OK I have it bolted on HARDCORE to the struts, just the actual bar has play in it... I'll go out there now and see if I can find a way to tighten it down.
OK I have it bolted on HARDCORE to the struts, just the actual bar has play in it... I'll go out there now and see if I can find a way to tighten it down.
10-07-2001, 10:31 AM
#7
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Re: Tightening.....
Originally posted by Maximum Pursuit
You should never over tighten your struts bolts. It can either strip your bolts or even pop out during hard cornering. That's what I've read prior to my FSTB. They recommend that you tightening it to about 30 lbs with a torque wrench.
You should never over tighten your struts bolts. It can either strip your bolts or even pop out during hard cornering. That's what I've read prior to my FSTB. They recommend that you tightening it to about 30 lbs with a torque wrench.
10-07-2001, 10:58 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 156
Well I just tightened them by hand, I have no idea how many pounds I tightened them... just as much as I could using about 90% strength (I'm not that strong of a guy, 6'1 & 180, no muscle definition) and a socket wrench that is about 8-10 inches long.
HAHA, how's that for a scientific analysis? So is there a tool I can get for CHEAP to tell me how hard they are bolted down? I want around 30 pounds you said?
BTW, I heard some people saying that the FSTB gets rid of some rattles, but I haven't noticed any difference.
Although I did notice that now when I start my car it feels solid... it used to be when I started it I could feel the chassis twist a little from the engine torque.
HAHA, how's that for a scientific analysis? So is there a tool I can get for CHEAP to tell me how hard they are bolted down? I want around 30 pounds you said?
BTW, I heard some people saying that the FSTB gets rid of some rattles, but I haven't noticed any difference.
Although I did notice that now when I start my car it feels solid... it used to be when I started it I could feel the chassis twist a little from the engine torque.
10-07-2001, 02:20 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 866
The brackets attach to the strut towers, three bolts each. Snug them down good, but don't over-tighten them. Your local auto parts store will let you borrow a torque wrench for a refundable deposit. You must also tighten the bolts that secure each end of the bar to its respective bracket. Again, do not over-tighten. (I broke a stud off one of my strut towers, and it cost me some $$$ to get it fixed...)
There should be *NO* free play on the bar nor the brackets. Enjoy.
There should be *NO* free play on the bar nor the brackets. Enjoy.
10-07-2001, 09:58 PM
#10
A torque wrench is like $12. If you tightened them with 90% of your strength you have them way too tight. By comparison, lugnuts for your wheels are to be tightened down to about 75 lbs, which is 2x as tight as the strut tower bolts should be.
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