MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

So, is it just the reputation of Steve as "Stealin" that makes the Stillin FSTB cost $100+ more than the Courtesy or the Mobiltek? Is there a quality reason to put that Stillen on my vehicle? I am not concerned with spending the money if I am getting a better product. Thanks for your feedback. Same goes for the RSB...I noticed that punkdork removed his Addco RSB...Is Stillen really making a better product.

punkdork

Stealin RSB is better than the Addco RSB. More adjustable etc.

Stealin FSTB is prettier than the courtesy FSTB but functionally they are the same.

Summary:

go stillen rsb, courtesy fstb

UMD_MaxSE

iTrader: (1)

I agree....thats what I am runnning with currently.

RcticMax

Yep. That's the route I'm going down (if the freakin' RSB ever comes off backorder).

Bottom line on the FSTB:
$tealin looks aftermarket... purdy
Courtesy looks OEM... not as purdy but still not bad. I love it.

RussMaxManiac

I will also add that Stillens FSTB is solid, Courtesy's is hollow...

punkdork

If I remember my physics correctly the fact that the courtesy bar is hollow shouldn't matter. Can anyone back this up?

mdeal

iTrader: (2)

I felt I got a little better responsiveness with the Courtesy, probably because you could adjust it a little more. I probably had it too tight. The Stillen matches the engine compartment better and is not adjustable, meaning you can tighten it so that the shock towers have more force on them. Don't get me wrong but the Stillen still helps.

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

Any advantage/disadvantage to the hollow Courtesy STB?

jashick

What's the cross-sectional shape and dimensions?
What material is it made of?
I think all these contribute to it's strength...

jashick

I stopped by Stillen about a week ago and they said they had a bunch of RSB's in stock...

Sly

To put it into simpler terms, it gets the job done with less cost, less weight. Therefore it might not be purdy but it's cost effective and efficient.

killrwheels

Any bar that keeps the front aligned in heavy (ie. spirited) driving will help. I prefer not to pay the premium Stillen wants when they cannot offer special pricing to Maxima.org members. They have even tried to push Avalon Racing out of the picture w/ price floors!!!

RcticMax

WHAT?!!! They killed Kenny? Those B@ASTARDS!!!

umpopa

Yu da bomb! LOL!!!

bcannon

I think it would work the same, (the physics is like compressing a paper towel tub at both ends) but if it gets bent or dinged, then I think you might have problems...

psing23

ye thats how i see it...

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

I guess the question is how likely is the bend or ding. Again, back to my original question...is the Stillen FSTB a "better" piece of equipment...in this case, because its solid instead of hollow?

I might just have to give up. I'm not finding much good information on-line on this (outside of this board) and I'd really like to educate myself on the pros and cons of the two pieces. I might just buy one and pretend I never had this conversation.

punkdork

My personal feelings on this are go with Stillen if you want looks. Otherwise go with courtesy for the price difference. The difference alone is half a stillen RSB (almost).

punkdork

One other thing, if you want help with your installs just PM or email me and I'd be glad to lend a hand. I've also got a few tools if there is something you need.

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I'm not much for what my car looks like under the hood...more interested in how it performs under the hood. So, given no advantage to the Stillen, I'll buy the Courtesy...

So, I'm buying it now @!#@$@#$!@#$%@#$%#$@#$!#$^

Nobody is allowed to provide any additional information to the contrary at this point.

punkdork...thanks for the offer for help. I am going to purchase a torque wrench (want one of my very own.. ) but I will let you know if I anticipate needing help or when I'm going to do the work if you want to assist or watch and drink beer while I get dirty.

punkdork

Well... unless it's Stewart's Root Beer, I'll pass. I don't do firewater The install is extremely straight forward but if I show up maybe I can convince you to get springs.. struts, rsb.. muahhah.

BTW, Tim was saying he wanted to get the 5th gens in Seattle together and make a showing at the next meet. You up for it?

RcticMax

Pure evil, dude.

punkdork

Guilty as charged :vampire:

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

Bastardo.

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

FYI, 4th gen owners have reported seeing rust spots and marks (from rubbing the top of the hood liner) on the Courtesy FSTBs. Some have also reported throttle cables being cut with the bar on. I've heard a story that the bar acutally went into the throttle body and got caught in the engine.

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Ooooo... your read my mind!

bcannon

I got the stillen.

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

bcannon

my bad, I editted the post for you...

crzyballa33

where do u get the courtesy fstb?

Wustylez

Okay, first let me commend some of the pro and con on FSTB, I have seen Punkdork's courtesy bar and I dont' know if he saw mine, however, as Kevin has descriibed, the courtesy bar does not fit as good as Stillen's and PLUS It is NOT direct bolt on like Stillen's it requires cutting(ask punkdork)..so I would recommend you going with Stillen's!!!and Stillen gives the engine bay more clearance..like punkdork's it is very possible that the bar can rub against throttle cable, intake manifold and couple of other wires on top of the intake manifold, etc!!!

Let's meet up as punkdork mentioned, and you can see what i mean(btw, i have stillen's)
and to answer your questions about whether stillen makes better product than courtesy's,,,from what i have seen and heard..YES they do make better products than any other companies(knock knock ...can i say CAttman sux???)

oh, it goes the same for the b-pipe,,,courtesy B-pipe sux, too



Tim

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

www.courtesyparts.com

UMD_MaxSE

iTrader: (1)

I have a courtesy fstb and it fit perfectly. It was a straight bolt on. The older courtesy fstb required a little bit of cutting in order to get it to fit. The newer one fits just fine and works great. Absolutely no problems here.

MichaelAE

iTrader: (1)

You guys suck!!!!!!!

Stop confusing me.

crzyballa33

a friend told me it was possible to make a custom rsb, fstb
like literally assemble and make one yourself
i doubted him....is it really possible?

UMD_MaxSE

iTrader: (1)

I guess so......if you had access to a metal shop and were good with metal shop machines, you could make your own to fit. They aren't much more than bars of metal and machined brackets.

RcticMax

Confused? You ain't seen nothin' yet. Just wait until you need to replace your muffler bearings. Talk about choices. Now that's confusing.

punkdork

The new 5th gen courtesy bar requires no hacking and shouldn't rub on anything.