I'm not looking at a Strut Brace to improve the looks of my engine compartment -- I want to improve the handling of my SE in the curves. Do you have a brace on your SL? I'm looking for the opinions of Max owners who have them installed on a 6-generation Max.

I want to hear something like this: "I just put one in and I can feel the difference, quicker steering respond. I don't know about other brands, but {if} the bar is hollow it won't do much good." Hope my addition of the word "if" is correct in better explaining what you were saying.

 

Yes, thanks for the "if". It would be interesting to hear from others, especially the non-Stillen ones.

Since they are less expensive.

It seems to help plant both wheels down during hard acceleration, anyone else?

 

Just received my front strut bar and rear sway bar...going to install them and let you know about the ebay one and how good it is. has anyone had problems getting the bolts off, lol? I take it you just take off the bolts at the top of the struts and put the bar on and then replace the bolts?

And I am talking about the front strut bar when I ask about the installation by the way

 

Correct, I used a breaker bar to loosen the bolts (only the 3 outside ones on each side), then removed bolts. On the Stillen bracket I turned my allen bolts out so they are facing away from the firewall, this will help ease tighening later on, aligned stillen brace over the top and hand tighten all bolts first before taking it to torque. After tightening, I made sure the Stllen Brace was centered then I tighten down the two allen heads to lock the brace in.

I also had to slightly bend some AC tubing to elimiate rubbing and used a high strenght tie wrap to keep it in place.

 

Do you need a torque wrench to tighten it back up? Or can I just use a wrench?

 

I just tightened it back down with my breaker bar...

 

okay thank you, I will see if my dad has one becuase I do not. I know I tried to get them off but it seemed too tight so I was not sure if I was doing it right, lol.

 

I had to cut a small portion of the plastic upper strut cover. Other than that, easy install.

 

Hollow or solid is irrelevant, the strut bar doesn't act on torsion resistance like a sway bar. The most effective strut bar would be to get a straight piece of metal and have it welded to the strut towers. Like I said, our strut towers are on the firewall, so they don't move... or else you would hear the firewall and rest of the car moving/cracking.
If you want significant improvement in handling without lowering your car, I would get the rear sway bar. In a hard turn, your rear wheels will lose grip before the front.
Trust me, this is my 4th front wheel drive car. I've dumped a lot of money into my past 3 and have learned quite a few things here and there. Not that being an engineer doesn't help.

Here's my last car I got rid of last year:
http://www.mustangmods.com/data/9894/combined.jpg

Just trying to be helpful. Ultimately, it's your decision based off of what you read on this board.

 

So basically you're saying that you don't have one on your car now. I put Cattman rear sway bar on first and found that the rear became much tighter than front, and yes slight oversteer. When I added the front strut bar, it balanced out the car with quicker and more solid steering respond, plus zero body roll with stock springs and struts. Buy it for your Max, don't buy it for your Max, each his own. What do I know, I'm just a computer geek who used to race and mod FWD cars.

Solid or hollow determinds the flexilibity of the bar under pressure since it is not perfectly straight.

by the way, I don't know about your SL, but on my 05 SE the strut towers are seperate from the firewall, they're not ON the firewall.

 

From what I have read, this is not really the case. I remember when Roush racing started using a hollow anti-sway bar on their race cars to save weight. They went on to explain that the rigidity of the bar was not hampered by the fact that it was hollow (as long as it was thick enough not to bend) and it saved a lot of weight.

Of course, I'm not a mechanical engineer by trade so what do I know?

 

That's what I meant when I said hollow. I've used some cheap brands for the cars we had, but they didn't improve the handling because they flexed too much under stress. I guess I didn't state my point well.

 

stillen.com

 

I still dont see any word on the results of the cheapo Ebay CF strut tower brace....but I think chernmax makes a persuasive arguement that stillen is a good choice..I guess If I get it ill just hope it dosent hit the manifold. Did you notice a difference when you ONLY installed the FSTB? I take it you installed it before getting the RSB. However im still interested in how the CF Ebay one went.

 

Just get the Stillen and dont sweat it. Its has some adjustment so if it rubs, adjust it til it stops/ My rubbing went away on its own.

 

What the hell is that on your fuel filler door?

 

I have wanted to know that too, but im too polite to ask I guess...but since you mentioned it...my guess is its a ricer decal.

 

I think we can ban for that. I'll look it up.

 

I second that notion.
We have a rep to uphold as 6th Gens. Don't wanna be looked upon like the 4th Gen forum.

 

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

 

Hi,
I'm in the search for a cheap front strut bar, aka Ebay bar. I'm not interested in purchasing the stillen bars. Does anyone know an ebay seller who carries strut bars for '04+ maximas? I only found one for the 3.0L Cefiro

 

1. go to www.ebay.com
2, then in search type "04 maxima strut bar" ???

here's the thread you repost, now as one: ta da!

 

As far as I know, Stillen is the only one for 6th gen. Check on bars for Altima, since Stillen bar fits both(?), same part number.

 

I'll Go For Stillen Front Strut Bar.. Can't Trust Ebay Stuff.

 

Was there a noticable difference with the stillen as opposed to without? Seems like a pretty cheap mod. Just wondering, will it make the SE ride any stiffer (as to me our cars corner very well). If it does make a big differnce then why didn't Nissan put a $25.00 strut brace there in the 1st place?

Taylor (a modding noob).

 

Of course I tried that. One ad was for the '04 3.0L Cefiros and the other did state that it's a FTB for Maximas UPTO '04s. I wondered why it wouldn't fit for the '05-'06. So I sent numerous questions to the seller but failed to receive any response.

 

The effect on handling will not be quite as dramatic as a rear anti sway bar, which is extrememly noticeable. Nissan did not put one on probably because this is allegedly a "luxury car. I see it as BOTH luxury and performance, and my goal is to explore the performance aspect of the car. I believe strut bars have the effect of stiffening the chassis to improve handling. I have one and even if it didnt function, which by the way I believe it does function, I think it looks pretty darn cool.

 

like I said earlier in this thread, no one has made one for us.

Stillen only sells it b/c someone went against Stillen's advice and bought the Altima one. This person told Stillen "ah ha, it worked!" so they slapped maxima on the same bar.

For ebay, they have been listed as 00-04. I also asked questions with no replies. I see no way that a 5th or 5.5 gen could fit ours.

Chris (in this thread) got the CF one that isn't available right now on ebay, but hasn't commented further.

A FSTB is mostly a visual mod anyway with our strut towers so close to the engine wall. I'll only get one if Cattman/Progress designs one.

 

After reading the posts, I'm probably going to order the rears first. If the front is non-noticeable, then why bother, right? I'm not going for the unique engine bay look either. Thanks for the info gents.

 

Good choice, I have both the Front Upper and the rear lower, the rear lower by far offers the best sway advantage, and if you want even more improvement, consider an Eibach pro street lowering kit. Fits awesome and gets rid of the wheel gap with 18's on...

 

Nismo does a good job of listing all of the reasons I have not bought a front strut tower brace. I am very happy with my Catmann rear anti-sway bar, and agree with Nismo -- I'll buy a front strut tower brace when Catmann designs one.

 

I couldn't find the Cattman's RSB. Would you mind me asking where/when you purchased yours?

Stillen has it for around $150.

 

classifieds section. minsbang, you don't seem to know how to search. check the rules sticky.

 

Here is Brian's e-mail address:

Brian C Catts <bcatts@earthlink.net>

Send him an e-mail.

Back in May I paid $148.50 (including shipping cost).

 

I have the Stillen FSB and the Stillen Anti-Sway Bar. The OEM sway bar you can pick up with your pinky. The Stillen is solid and heavy. Yes there is a big difference in the ride.My car handles curves alot better than before.

I do not have a answer to the Nissan question.

 

It does help with the steering response. There are more flexing there than most people think.

 

^^fixed. only the Progress/Cattman bar is solid and the heaviest

RH, good to know you see a difference. Most don't though.

 

Don't forget to pretension the bar by putting it on with your wheels off the ground..

I did it and found it works like a charm ..

However, there was a lot of debate on this concept in the General Forum ...so you all can take it or leave it as you desire.. However, try it and see if it works for you is my recommendation...

 

So you jack up the car with wheel off the ground and install? Since i have mine installed already, I suppose I can just loosen it, and then jack up the car and tighten, correct?

 

Well if your statement is true, than you are only buying for the looks as well? I would still be entertained to see if cattman can do better than stillen, in the end run, it's all about taste...