Courtesy Nissans Front Strut Tower Brace
I tried to install today on my 2002 Maxima
Problem
The freaken bar rubs on the intake manafold
When you put the car in reverse the whole hood moves.
Crap..
The clearance from the intake manafold is about 1/4 inch or less when you put the car in reverse the engine hits the bar. So I took it off the car.
ANY help thank you

 

Look for the thread called "Courtesy Nissan FSTB".
Several other people had this problem on the 2k2.
I just ordered one for my 2k. I hope I don't have any problems!

 

Thanks I have been reading that stuff now

 

Turn the bar a couple of times to loosen it (thus making it longer). It will give you a couple more mm of clearance.

If need be (though you shouldn't have to), tilt the bar backwards a little bit.

My install (non-courtesy)

 

There are two large volumes of help in "Search" including my pictures of how to clear.

 

Ok I will read on But more problems One of the main bolt have seized up I had to cut it off with my sawsall
I will get new bolts at work tomorrow

I will tell people this Anyone who has a FSTB FROM Courtesy Nissan Motorsports on order
The bars sucks The main bolts get stuck .You can not loosen them,you must cut them off. The bar dose not fit right, it should not be so close to the manifold
So far it is a waste of 79 bucks and I am stuck with it because I had to cut the main bolts
I could not wait to get this thing and my mind is blown
I would cut a notch in it BUT IT IS HOLLOW
I will try to use the ideas others have to get this thing to work. But it should not be so close to the manifold period. POOR WORKMAN SHIP

 

Before you continue with your Anti-courtesy crusade give it some time and you'll get it right. I see no reason why a lot of people can do it and you can't.

Btw, that bar was never intended to be used on the 2k2 because of the manifold clearance issue but since people were able to get it to work w/o a problem i assume that Courtesy took that as a go signal to market it as a 2k2 bar as well.

 

I was led to believe that the bar fit Courtesy Nissan told me that
I will get it to work after a big hassle and modification it should not be like this

I would have bought a different brand even if I was spending more it
would have been worth it


This only gos for 2002 maxima nothing else

 

You've go email. I sent you a link where u can download a vid i created a while back on how two turns on the bar itself can make a world of difference in terms of clearance.

 

OK thank you very much I will check it out

 

I do not see how a 02 strut bolt could be frozen?

 

s

Not the strut bolts the bolts on the bar[ the chrome bolts] will not losen another guy had same problem something wrong with them

 

Thanks for your help I saw your little movie.
After getting a couple more bolts from work to replace the main bolts that came with the bar,[One of the main bolt sized on me, had to cut it off] I tried to install again. This time I did like you said ,I made the bar tighter and it no longer hit the intake manifold .Now it clears the intake manifold real good. I carefully lowered the hood to check for clearance ,and it seems ok
So After that I took the car for a ride.The front end seems much tighter now.
I was really ****ed at that FSTB on Tuesday the instructions were not that good thanks for your help
John

 

How long did it take to get shipped to you.Ive ordered mine from courtesy on 3/26 and am still waiting.Thinking of cancelling it and waiting for Gregs to come in.Whats the dilly yo.

 

I ordered on Tuesday got the bar the following Tuesday UPS ground to New York Long island
Call them for a tracking number then track it on line
After getting help from the people on this newsgroup all is fine now .
The bar seems to fit fine . The front end feels tighter. So maybe learn from my mistakes if you still want buy from them. A lot of other people seem to have this one,so it should be fine.That is what made me buy for this one good luck John

 

You'll have to file down about a 1/4" where the bar rubs.

 

I'm still waiting too. I ordered mine on 3/28 and today I just got an e-mail saying that is was shipped and will be here on 4/8. Thats kinda slow if ya ask me but oh well, I'm really not a patient person anyway!

 

I followed these directions an it worked for me
http://www.rootaxs.com/max/fstbinstall/

odere 3/26/2002 received date 4/02/2002

 

I think when you are buying a " BOLT ON " item like this , you shouldnt have to watch a video or post on a board in order to get it to fit properly. Im sure if they really wanted to, they could produce one that would fit perfectly. These pieces of metal only cost them about 10-15 each to make, if not less. I myself, after reading this post , will go to another source for my FSTB.. just my opinion ...

 

Man.I still have to wait for an email saying it was shipped.Haven't got that yet.Not looking forward to installing it.If it dosen't go on easy I get Pi$$ed and start smashing things.Oh well,it is worth the wait.Anyone have a RSB on their 2k2 and what are your opinions.

 

Call them for a tracking number I never got an email from them

If fits very well once you get it right
remember check for hood clearance
and motor clearance

 

yup you are right

I do have it fitting very well now, thanks to help on this news group