ebay fstb vs stillen
#41
If i said i was going to buy illumina's off ebay i gurantee somebody will come on and say "i hear the ones off ebay dont last as long an you will have to refill the gas in the struts" or "MY FRIEND has one that he bought from ebay and they broke in two while the car was just sitting in the garage overnight" ppl will continue to tell Bold face lies
#42
Trust me dude, it made no difference, its all in the mind... you install it and then go for a drive and try to pay keen attention to your suspension so you pay more details to lil stuff thats been there that u havent paid attention to before, so you think its the strut bar... i gurantee you if you could some how test you car to see how fast it can go around a corner with and without the strut bar i can 99.9% gurantee you there would be no MPH difference... RSB is what makes a difference, maxima's dont have problems with understeer so the FSTB doesnt do much if anything, we suffer from oversteer so we need the RSB to keep our chassis from giving out around turns hense why the RSB is 100 times better and more expensive
#43
GH - you're not driving fast enough, lol!
I just got it to see if it'll at least attenuate some of my excessive roll (and bump steer) I experience...for $28, worth a try; but there was no way that I was gonna be modifying/cutting/etc. my car to make it "work" - just wanted to make sure it was a direct fit.
I just got it to see if it'll at least attenuate some of my excessive roll (and bump steer) I experience...for $28, worth a try; but there was no way that I was gonna be modifying/cutting/etc. my car to make it "work" - just wanted to make sure it was a direct fit.
#45
However, without a RSB, the FSTB all by itself makes a very noticeable difference in particular situations. (Cutting hard into a turn from a standing start; quick steering adjustments at low speeds; etc.) It's not dramatic, but it certainly makes the experience more confident and controllable. (Now, I will say as disclaimer that I'm also running ES motor mount bushings, which is another contributing factor in this area.)
Anyway, I don't know how else to say that about the FSTB. It makes a difference. It just does.
Perhaps your expectations were too high?
Last edited by Rochester; 09-02-2009 at 05:02 AM.
#46
thanks in part to my fstb, I was able to have 100+ MPH fun on twisty portions of a local freeway near pasadena. Higher patrols in the area( and dumb *** drivers who would cut me off when noone else was on the freeway) caused me to end those fun times
#47
So yeah, I suppose it could do that.
#48
man, you guys are so afraid to try crap... gotta learn to be difference makers, stop listening to idiots that make up non sense, whenever the word Ebay comes up somebody will make up something just because.... if u look in the background of this pic you would see that minse is already installed, no modification needed JUST SO EVERBODY KNOWS, THE STRUT BARS ARE ADJUSTABLE... ALL OF THEM ARE SO IT WILL FIT
#49
well I can only hope my fstb will give me that kind of confidence when I install it. Irrresponsibility here I come!
#50
#52
I've had worse traffic violations in the USA than up here... Im not even allowed to drive in washington, Im not sure if that goes on to other states or if its only the one state.
Anyways, our laws may be stricter but I doubt it. The thing is I haven't had a ticket for 2+ yrs and I cant even recall the last time I had to slow down for a cop... I just cruise freely and dont even really worry about limits, unless its a playground zone...
I think we have less cops around to enforce our stricter laws....
Back to the main topic- I really hope the bar clears my IM after I get the spacers on... if not oh well for $30 shipped I can afford to give it away or something... I dont really want to blow $100+ for the stillen so I'll just keep my fingers crossed.
#53
wow
ya, thats pretty much what I thought... stillen isnt that great anyways, I dont have any other stillen gear, no need for a flashy fstb... I didnt see a rear ebay one... I'll keep searching, Im ordering the front right now.
How much of a difference does it make vs stock? I've never had these before. Does it feel better in corners?
How much of a difference does it make vs stock? I've never had these before. Does it feel better in corners?
you get what you pay for. ever take a corner, a serious corner , with that pos off e bay. I lived up in the mountains and had one break on me (right at the pivot point). so taking that experience with me I got the stillen. have fun with your 30 buck e bay junk cause I will not put my life on the line for 30 bucks again. The stillen is way better than anything I have seen on e bay let alone I can go there and ring some necks if and only if it ever happened again. And btw it hasn’t
#54
you get what you pay for. ever take a corner, a serious corner , with that pos off e bay. I lived up in the mountains and had one break on me (right at the pivot point). so taking that experience with me I got the stillen. have fun with your 30 buck e bay junk cause I will not put my life on the line for 30 bucks again. The stillen is way better than anything I have seen on e bay let alone I can go there and ring some necks if and only if it ever happened again. And btw it hasn’t
"put my life on the line.." Wow, that's a lot of drama. You're not jumping out of an airplane... it's just a tower brace.
#55
ever drive up hwy 18 at 80mph on a good night and have the front end jerk on you going into a tight rt turn. guess not. but then again have fun with your 30 bucks. lol. and any person putting down a good product that they cant afford is drama to me
#56
Don't freak the kid out. It's just a tower brace.
#57
i hear you. i just got tired of getting junk off of e bay. tried it and wont do it again. look at all the fitment issues with stuff people have gotten off e bay. please note that when you deal with a brand name you can deal with someone on the other end. doing a every day drive with alot of curves i guess was my fault that i put some trust into something i should of known would be cheep. thats just my 2 cents.......thanks
#59
i probably would have tried it if i had more funds but i just started school and books are EXPENSIVE! so don't really have money to waste if it wasn't a direct fit.. but i will probably end up ordering one after school today.. hope everything turns out well with your mother.. (read ur other thread)
#60
I don't drive like that anymore(it was stupid and reckless I admit), because with the crappy drivers we have in socal, the danger was just too high. It was definitely fun while it lasted. I know that it was a combination of pure luck, tires that held their grip, my stiffer springs, rear illuminas, the FSTB, oh and did I mention LUCK(or guardian angel, whatever you want to call it) that i didn't lose control.
Last edited by Mr. Blue Sky; 09-03-2009 at 12:52 AM.
#61
I don't drive like that anymore(it was stupid and reckless I admit), because with the crappy drivers we have in socal, the danger was just too high. It was definitely fun while it lasted. I know that it was a combination of pure luck, tires that held their grip, my stiffer springs, rear illuminas, the FSTB, oh and did I mention LUCK(or guardian angel, whatever you want to call it) that i didn't lose control.
#62
Alright, I just recieve my ebay ftsb thanks to UPS.
It looks really nice actually, seems very sturdy. The bar is pretty beefy and it kinda curved upward so Im hoping it has decent clearance. The joints on it look pretty sturdy too I can't imagine this thing breaking too easily.
Im installing tonight so I'll keep you posted and we will see if there is any noticable difference.
It looks really nice actually, seems very sturdy. The bar is pretty beefy and it kinda curved upward so Im hoping it has decent clearance. The joints on it look pretty sturdy too I can't imagine this thing breaking too easily.
Im installing tonight so I'll keep you posted and we will see if there is any noticable difference.
#64
Alright, I just recieve my ebay ftsb thanks to UPS.
It looks really nice actually, seems very sturdy. The bar is pretty beefy and it kinda curved upward so Im hoping it has decent clearance. The joints on it look pretty sturdy too I can't imagine this thing breaking too easily.
Im installing tonight so I'll keep you posted and we will see if there is any noticable difference.
It looks really nice actually, seems very sturdy. The bar is pretty beefy and it kinda curved upward so Im hoping it has decent clearance. The joints on it look pretty sturdy too I can't imagine this thing breaking too easily.
Im installing tonight so I'll keep you posted and we will see if there is any noticable difference.
The nuts need to be torqued down to 50 ft lbs, or thereabouts.
#65
Although I don't have one, I think the vibrant is the better choice of all the FSTB's because there is a slight adjustment if you know what you are doing. You can make it a little more stiff or a little softer. AKA the custommaxima FSTB no longer available (i have the stillen on mine) If you can find a used vibrant I would go for that.
#66
I did and it PWNED my Veyron uppet:
honestly I do believe in the whole "you get what you pay for" axiom but honestly come on if you are driving SO hard in your 4-door, family sedan maxima that you can BREAK an FSTB then I dont think its the only thing that is going to get broken....all I'm trying to say is that even the most technologically advanced cars costing in excess of 1.0M euros are susceptible to wrecking so I think it all depends on the driver above any kind of "performance/handling enhancing product"....sometimes ppl just gotta slow down and enjoy the ride and arrive alive...you catch my drift?
honestly I do believe in the whole "you get what you pay for" axiom but honestly come on if you are driving SO hard in your 4-door, family sedan maxima that you can BREAK an FSTB then I dont think its the only thing that is going to get broken....all I'm trying to say is that even the most technologically advanced cars costing in excess of 1.0M euros are susceptible to wrecking so I think it all depends on the driver above any kind of "performance/handling enhancing product"....sometimes ppl just gotta slow down and enjoy the ride and arrive alive...you catch my drift?
#67
So the bar went on pretty easy... It definitley makes a difference, but its not huge. I only felt anything different when I took a ramp that I know usually give me some serious body roll, it felt much stiffer and held the corner nicer.
The bend in the bar leaves lots of room for the IM it should even be fine with spacers I have 1" or more to spare between the IM and the bar.
Slight problem which I am going to have to try and fix tonight- Since the bar bends upward and has all that clearance, it pushes on the heat shield of the hood. Not a big deal the hood still closes fine, BUT it has cut off the washer fluid line on the driver side and it is not spraying now.... I think if I reposition the bar by adjusting it to angle forward a little bit I should be able to fix it. If not its coming off because seeing through the windshield is more important than flying through ramps...
The bend in the bar leaves lots of room for the IM it should even be fine with spacers I have 1" or more to spare between the IM and the bar.
Slight problem which I am going to have to try and fix tonight- Since the bar bends upward and has all that clearance, it pushes on the heat shield of the hood. Not a big deal the hood still closes fine, BUT it has cut off the washer fluid line on the driver side and it is not spraying now.... I think if I reposition the bar by adjusting it to angle forward a little bit I should be able to fix it. If not its coming off because seeing through the windshield is more important than flying through ramps...
#69
Slight problem which I am going to have to try and fix tonight- Since the bar bends upward and has all that clearance, it pushes on the heat shield of the hood. Not a big deal the hood still closes fine, BUT it has cut off the washer fluid line on the driver side and it is not spraying now.... I think if I reposition the bar by adjusting it to angle forward a little bit I should be able to fix it. If not its coming off because seeing through the windshield is more important than flying through ramps...
Last edited by Rochester; 09-04-2009 at 08:43 AM.
#70
On a side not I screwed up pretty bad trying to install the rear side markers. I didnt realize the best way was popping with a screwdriver, I figured that was the lazy way and went to work to get it from behind... needless to say two of the bolts holding my rear bumper cover are now sheared off and I have to go back in with some self threading screws to fix it.... and I only have 1 smoked side marker on, the other is going on during my lunch break right away here.
#72
#73
I got my Ebay FSTB the other day and just installed it. It was a perfect fit on my 03 AT w/o header spacers. It was easy to install in about 15 mins. I have the same one that Maximo18 was showing pictures of. Im not counting on a very noticeable change in my suspension as im not a get-away driver squeaking tires at every turn. However for $28 ill appreciate it when i pop the hood and since Im riding on dubs, it might help with the roll/higher center of gravity for myself more so than for others.
#74
It's too bad that they don't have the CustomMaxima FSTB anymore. I bought one off of eBay last January for $45 when CustomMaxima had just went under new management and they were trying to clear out the stock. From the pics Hustle put up, mine looks a lot more solid than the "JDM" eBay ones that are on there now.
#76
Since I'm so pleased with my Racingline, I figure I'll plug their FSTB for anyone who's reading this and thinking about Ebay alternatives.
The bar is very strong, and designed to fit our cars perfectly, rather than the threaded end-points on the Ebay models. The bracket welds are thick, and the connecting ends are wide and solid. I've got 3/4 inch clearance... enough to account for phenolic spacers (which I've got on backorder at the moment), but not so much gap as to compromise the washer fluid.
By their advertisement, there was supposed to be a "Racingline" logo laser edged into their products, but mine is perfectly clean and smooth, no text. I don't know if that was a fluke, but I couldn't be happier about it. Looks far cleaner this way.
Their customer service was good, and they're even using a picture of my engine bay on their website, which is very cool while it lasts. (Mine is the first image.)
Here's their link:
http://racinglineperformance.com/sho...&idcategory=12
The bar is very strong, and designed to fit our cars perfectly, rather than the threaded end-points on the Ebay models. The bracket welds are thick, and the connecting ends are wide and solid. I've got 3/4 inch clearance... enough to account for phenolic spacers (which I've got on backorder at the moment), but not so much gap as to compromise the washer fluid.
By their advertisement, there was supposed to be a "Racingline" logo laser edged into their products, but mine is perfectly clean and smooth, no text. I don't know if that was a fluke, but I couldn't be happier about it. Looks far cleaner this way.
Their customer service was good, and they're even using a picture of my engine bay on their website, which is very cool while it lasts. (Mine is the first image.)
Here's their link:
http://racinglineperformance.com/sho...&idcategory=12
#78
I just fixed the washer fluid lines today... took 15 mins easy fix with some electrical tape. Just had to move the line out of the way and its all good now. For $30 you cant go wrong. For a difference you can feel you cant find a cheaper mod. ebay ftw
#79
Trust me dude, it made no difference, its all in the mind... you install it and then go for a drive and try to pay keen attention to your suspension so you pay more details to lil stuff thats been there that u havent paid attention to before, so you think its the strut bar... i gurantee you if you could some how test you car to see how fast it can go around a corner with and without the strut bar i can 99.9% gurantee you there would be no MPH difference... RSB is what makes a difference, maxima's dont have problems with understeer so the FSTB doesnt do much if anything, we suffer from oversteer so we need the RSB to keep our chassis from giving out around turns hense why the RSB is 100 times better and more expensive
#80
There are three pieces correct? the mounts and the bar. The bar is bolted to the mounts. Before you tighten those bolts get someone to put a little weight on the bar while you tighten them. I'm not saying get a 400 pound guy to sit on it, but just get someone to push down on it then tighten it.