Carbon Fiber Trunk Catapult
 

So here's the deal. A got a cf trunk over a year ago and ever since installing it, I had to tie it down with bungee cords so that it wouldn't fling up so violently and almost break my rear window and maybe even rip the trunk from the latches. If a small cat were to sit on my trunk I could launch it at least 20 feet just by popping my trunk. Its that bad. So any body have any ideas on how to control how fast the trunk opens instead of replacing ripped bungee cords every month?

Thanks

Find some kinda way 2 mount weights on the inside of the trunk lid

But wouldn't that completely negate the benefits of a CF trunk lid in the first place?

I'd pay to see this. :lol:

Like other guy said, you'll probably need some weights to counter-balance the mechanism that opens the trunk. It was designed with the factory trunk in mind. Nissan didn't intend for anyone to replace it with a much lighter trunk cover.

Maybe you could try removing the trunk torsion bars? This is for a 4th gen, but the 5th gen shouldn't be too different. (http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...97-maxima.html)
And I would like to see pics/vids of said cat catapult. :laugh:

Use a dampener like Second Skin or Raam Mat to add weight.

Yeah, they also didn't intend for anyone to add turbos, exhausts, wheels, cf hoods, and all the other crap we do to our cars either haha.




And I've tried removing the torsion bars, but then the exact opposite happened, the trunk wanted to shut. So after catapulting the cat, I could chop its head off.

Oh, and weights, defeat the purpose of a cf trunk like Unklejoe said.

you really think the 20-40 lbs you "saved" really makes the car that much faster or quicker...trust me...it takes about 100-150lbs for us to see 0.1s off the 1/4 times on the N/a application.

Admit it....the trunk is for aesthetic purposes and add the little bit of weight.

btw the idea of the torsion bars was so our trunks popped open on their own but it never worked even from the factory as far as I know, so be happy that you are a maxima that has a self popping trunk

Alright maybe you're right. It is only for looks haha but still I'd rather not add weight. But as of now it looks like its that, or someone's dead cat.

Adding a ten pound weight to keep your trunk from slinging open won't really make a difference in how fast your car is. If you're that worried about your car losing weight, driving naked should about counter-balance the 10 pounds you added in the trunk.

:rofl:

Loose the front seats (fully loaded airbag, heated and leather weighs roughly 75-100lbs) sit on egg crates

Its lose* by the way. Loose would define your vag.

I guess I'll be adding weights then.

I may want to *&$% off every time I go down the speedway. Gotta get rid of all that extra weight.

Add one of those engine damper shock things on the support arms of the trunk. Similar to how the hood has them to open it.

That sounds like it'd be more of a pain in the *** than it's worth. :gotme:

I don't even know where you'd mount those in the trunk considering our trunks are on a u-shaped bracket.

IIRC, the trunk rods are different on the 3rd gens between those that came from the factory with a spoiler vs those that did not. So, which was your trunk originally from the factory...spoiler or none? It may be worth checking to see if the rods are different on a fifth gen Max.

If they are, and you originally had an oem spoiler, then you could try swapping out the trunk rods for those out of a non-factory spoiler trunk lid.

Just a thought.

I would guess you mount one end to the trunk hinge and the other to the bottom of the rear deck.

Put a video of you launching kitties!!!! Lol

Mount one end of the damper on the U bracket and the other end on a bracket mounted under the rear deck. Whether it will work or not idk, but its actually pretty simple.

I mean, I can see where you and Chris Gregg are coming from, but I can also see the damper getting caught on the lower lip of the rear window. Mainly because our trunks sort of "roll" up instead of opening on a hinge, if that makes any sense.

Unless I'm mis-interpreting your mounting points.

How about a inverted spring?

Nah, I know what your talking about man. They do curve up quite a bit.

+1 I did this to my trunk. helps out alot. here is how i did it. one on each side.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...29842_7564.jpg

Word. It never occurred to me to mount them that way. Looks kind cool, though.

i did a bracket in mine and mounted the shock that i added to the rear support arm. It pivots on the one end and causes no issue.

My problem comes from all of the deadening, and i think youd continue to launch with 2 shocks, but one you should be fine. just install an L bracket on one side and mount to the rear deck. Youll be fine.

No.. Unless he gets weights that are close to the weight of the factory trunk.