I just got off the phone with Stillen an hour ago, and ordered the OLD STYLE (single-bar) FSTB for my 2K2.

Apparently, the 3-point design is going back to the drawing board because the firewall proved "not strong enough" to handle the side loads. Stillen is now back to selling the old-style FSTB, which in my opinion is a much better design, and I am happy I was able to get it for $186 + shipping.

I suspected this would happen. Who over at Stillen ever thought that the 3-point design made any sense was crazy.

So, those of you who have been waiting to order the Stillen, you might as well forget about the 3-point design. I don't think it will ever work. Also - it was going to require DRILLING into the firewall. NO WAY. I would have ordered the Courtesy bar in that case.

Greg

 

will the single bar fit the 2k2 ok or will it touch the hood

 

I would assume that if Stillen is spec-ing it for the 2K2 that it would not hit the hood.

There was nothing inherently wrong with the old design - Stillen just wanted to trick it up a bit. (For no good reason, IMO).

 

Yes for good reason -- to make people with the old design buy one of the new ones to fit their 2k2s... Its also nice to occasionally try out new ideas, otherwise products never get improved.

 

thanks man!!!
I just called them and ordered the old style FSTB too

 

It fits fine.
It is touching the hoodliner a little bit, but it did the same way on my 2000 SE, so I think it is fine.

 

I had the Stillen FSTB on my '99 and loved it. It's beauty is in the simplicity of design - a stinking metal rod that drastically improves cornering performance.

No need for a 3-point design, IMO. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Greg

 

Dany, i hate to be a bugger trailing you around on this one. But when we had this discussion with several other members in the past and i showed you a photo of the Stillen bar and the Courtesy-looking one you said the Courtesy look-alike "Looks exactly like my Stillen".

When in fact the one you said you had didn't have the holes in the middle (which Stillen has).

I just really want to clarify this with you since that thread just trailed off w/o you posting an actual photo of your bar.

 

Let me know how the install goes and if you have any issues with the 2001 bar (if it rubs, hits intake manifold, etc.).

If you are successful, I will probably do the same...that bar looks much better than the other ones. You pay for it too...

Brian

 

A 3 point is better than a 2 point anyday. It does make it much stiffer if the firewall was strong enough. FBODYS use them.

 

Hey, yeah I don't have digital camera so can't post a pic sorry.
Maybe I was not clear when I described how my Stillen FSTB looked. It does have the holes in the bar.
What I meant when I said it is similar looking bar to the one we had discussion about a while back, I meant the arch shape like of it.
I do have the holes in my Stillen bar with red Stillen logo in the middle.

Sorry if I wasn't clear before.

This bar came from my 2000 Maxima SE. It was touching a hoodliner on my 2000 Maxima too a little bit, and it seems to touch a hood liner in my 2002 Maixma now. Which I think is ok.
But it clears everything else in the engine bay perfectly.

 

Ah cool! Thanks for not flaming me for being such an *ss

 

The caster angle on most strut designs causes deflection of the strut towers backward, towards the firewall. A 3-point would prevent some of this deflection.

 

The difference wouldn't be nearly as pronounced between a 2 and 3 point bar on a Maxima though. F-bodys are very, very flexible cars in stock form. Not much rigidity at all.

 

Actually you be surprised. Fbodys are realy stiff. When I added the STB, on my TA, I didn't notice a difference except on the highway.

 

2000+ 'Stangs don't seem to benefit much from the tri-brace either.

 

The best design for an fstb i have seen is from neuspeed. There is no joint where the bar attaches to the bracket, so it should be stronger, and it doesn't require drilling into anything.