Racingline FSTB Install
10-19-2007, 07:24 AM
#41
10-23-2007, 04:48 AM
#43
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 464
RacingLine Front Strut Bar Installed and Review
Before the bar, I can feel the back being stiff and there is a delay for the front to go into a turn. Then I had to pull the steering wheel back when I'm
into the turn already. This was not only annoying for high speed turns, but also dangerous. After the bar, the response time for going into a turn has improved. However, once in the turn I can feel that there is
a delay before the front sway bar kicks in. Hopefully the front endlinks
will correct this. I feel that the braking has also improved as there
is now less flexing between the two struts. The car is more nimble
and fun to drive. Excellent product from taz!
into the turn already. This was not only annoying for high speed turns, but also dangerous. After the bar, the response time for going into a turn has improved. However, once in the turn I can feel that there is
a delay before the front sway bar kicks in. Hopefully the front endlinks
will correct this. I feel that the braking has also improved as there
is now less flexing between the two struts. The car is more nimble
and fun to drive. Excellent product from taz!
10-23-2007, 05:58 AM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 634
Also, my horrible shimmy has disappeared from the front. I can tell the bar has tightened up the steering as well as the responsiveness. I can tell, too, that rear thrashes about as I have not installed my Progress RSB yet.
Joshua
Joshua
10-23-2007, 08:48 AM
#47
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 464
This link should have pictures:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=400620
And yes, I do have to move my AC line in order to get
the bar installed. I just popped it off of the plastic holder
and moved it towards the driver side. I left the plastic
holder on to push the AC line a bit away from the bar.
No big deal.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=400620
And yes, I do have to move my AC line in order to get
the bar installed. I just popped it off of the plastic holder
and moved it towards the driver side. I left the plastic
holder on to push the AC line a bit away from the bar.
No big deal.
10-23-2007, 08:49 AM
#48
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 464
you'll notice a more balanced steering response.
10-23-2007, 01:21 PM
#51
Unbelievable.
. Seriously. I have complete stock suspension and this is the first modification to the suspension I've done. It is 900% better than before. I was taking turns with confidence and the car was handling like a sports car (finally).
I even let Onilee (my wife) drive the car when we got home and she could tell immediately. In her words "I'm not scared to drive it now" (in reference to the floating around corners).
Sincerely,
Joshua
A Happy Customer
. Seriously. I have complete stock suspension and this is the first modification to the suspension I've done. It is 900% better than before. I was taking turns with confidence and the car was handling like a sports car (finally).
I even let Onilee (my wife) drive the car when we got home and she could tell immediately. In her words "I'm not scared to drive it now" (in reference to the floating around corners).
Sincerely,
Joshua
A Happy Customer
What, just a FSTB did that.
You can't be serious.
Last edited by japmaxSE; 10-23-2007 at 01:26 PM.
10-23-2007, 05:45 PM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 634
I'm dead serious.
There is something very weak about the front of the car without it. First of all, the steering wheel was extremely loose, in that a turn will happen a fraction of a second after it should (if that makes sense). Also, the car would rock back and forth like a boat on the turn, so you have to almost weave the turn with complete stock suspension.
However, now the turn is precise and the shimmy is gone. The car feels much more SOLID for lack of a better term, and much less like a 89 Cadillac.
I can now feel the pronounced weakness in the back, and I look forward to installing the RSB to get rid of that next.
I can assure you, I'm not exaggerating anything.
Joshua
There is something very weak about the front of the car without it. First of all, the steering wheel was extremely loose, in that a turn will happen a fraction of a second after it should (if that makes sense). Also, the car would rock back and forth like a boat on the turn, so you have to almost weave the turn with complete stock suspension.
However, now the turn is precise and the shimmy is gone. The car feels much more SOLID for lack of a better term, and much less like a 89 Cadillac.
I can now feel the pronounced weakness in the back, and I look forward to installing the RSB to get rid of that next.
I can assure you, I'm not exaggerating anything.
Joshua
10-23-2007, 07:02 PM
#53
I'm dead serious.
There is something very weak about the front of the car without it. First of all, the steering wheel was extremely loose, in that a turn will happen a fraction of a second after it should (if that makes sense). Also, the car would rock back and forth like a boat on the turn, so you have to almost weave the turn with complete stock suspension.
However, now the turn is precise and the shimmy is gone. The car feels much more SOLID for lack of a better term, and much less like a 89 Cadillac.
I can now feel the pronounced weakness in the back, and I look forward to installing the RSB to get rid of that next.
I can assure you, I'm not exaggerating anything.
Joshua
There is something very weak about the front of the car without it. First of all, the steering wheel was extremely loose, in that a turn will happen a fraction of a second after it should (if that makes sense). Also, the car would rock back and forth like a boat on the turn, so you have to almost weave the turn with complete stock suspension.
However, now the turn is precise and the shimmy is gone. The car feels much more SOLID for lack of a better term, and much less like a 89 Cadillac.
I can now feel the pronounced weakness in the back, and I look forward to installing the RSB to get rid of that next.
I can assure you, I'm not exaggerating anything.
Joshua
You know ours hasn't arrived yet. Me cries...
10-24-2007, 05:11 PM
#57
I thought it was me before, but now I notice it's not.
For everyone else that posted pictures...on the driver side plastic panel thingy, you don't have a clip to go into that little slot that apparently doesn't even have a hole for it when mine does!
10-24-2007, 05:31 PM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 634
I pushed down hard enough and snapped the clip in. A nice, tight fit.
Joshua
11-03-2007, 12:55 PM
#61
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,336
Any suggestions on bolt torque specs? I took off the three bolts on the strut tower. They were on pretty darn tight but after soaking in Liquid Wrench they came off with a 1/2" rachet and a 9/16th's socket (15mm was too big, 14mm too small, weird cause I thought everything on the car was metric).
I did the three bolts on the strut towers back up to about 90 ft-lbs.
What about the bolts on the bar itself? They came installed extremely loose. Should I do them up to approx the same torque?
The covers cut really really well with a dremel tool using a fluted steel cutting bit.
CM
I did the three bolts on the strut towers back up to about 90 ft-lbs.
What about the bolts on the bar itself? They came installed extremely loose. Should I do them up to approx the same torque?
The covers cut really really well with a dremel tool using a fluted steel cutting bit.
CM
11-05-2007, 10:48 AM
#63
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,336
Feels like the front end is a bit more solid. Might have even reduced some rattles that I had in the dash. Makes sense as the front end shouldn't be flexing as much now.
Good mod for the money. Took about an hour to install including the dremmeling and whatnot.
CM
11-30-2007, 09:44 PM
#64
Racingline FSTB Pics
Just got done installing my RL FSTB and AT Grounding kit. Man all I can say is what a difference it makes in handling. Car feels great in turns now. AT Kit also removed my random headlight flicker when my system is loud. So far so good. Im keeping a close eye on my MPG since I just reset the ECU. MPG was steady at 18.6mpg its currently sitting at 19.4mpg (drove around tonight after install). Not sure if its from the grounding kit or not but we shall see if it works with mpg.
Anyways heres some pics
and one more
Let me know what ya think
Anyways heres some pics
and one more
Let me know what ya think
12-01-2007, 07:08 AM
#67
Just got done installing my RL FSTB and AT Grounding kit. Man all I can say is what a difference it makes in handling. Car feels great in turns now. AT Kit also removed my random headlight flicker when my system is loud. So far so good. Im keeping a close eye on my MPG since I just reset the ECU. MPG was steady at 18.6mpg its currently sitting at 19.4mpg (drove around tonight after install). Not sure if its from the grounding kit or not but we shall see if it works with mpg.
Anyways heres some pics
and one more
Let me know what ya think
Anyways heres some pics
and one more
Let me know what ya think
Man I wish my enginebay was that clean!!! It looks great, I went with the black bar too.
Fastmax05, just get the bar!!! Order now.
12-02-2007, 05:22 AM
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Fort Walton Beach
Posts: 679
Ok guys, I have spent the last 30 minutes or so looking at pictures, looking at Raceingline's website for the 04+ products and it looks like I am going shopping. I was impressed with everyone's detailed instructions, installation pictures with directions, to questions being asked then answered a few posts later, to even a member offering his time to install free of charge. This is becoming an awesome forum. I am going to be ordering the FSTB and the possibly the V2 Rear Endlinks. Since knowone has posted up on the 2008 models, I guess I'll be the first to let everyone know how the install goes and if there are any problems. Torq specs were also awesome. Most people forget to ask about the small stuff like that. Thanks everyone. Everything I needed to know and all I had to do was read for 30 minutes. I did have one question however. I noticed on the chrome (or high luster polish) on Racinglines website that it has a decal on it, but on the install pics, there isn't a decal. Was this decal already on the FSTB when you got it or did you just leave it off?
Last edited by cfr94; 12-02-2007 at 05:25 AM.
12-03-2007, 12:58 PM
#72
12-03-2007, 01:09 PM
#73
02-14-2008, 06:22 PM
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: FL
Posts: 361
: Yes, I'm referring to you TampaSE
03-02-2008, 07:02 PM
#76
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Fort Walton Beach
Posts: 679
Got done installing mine yesterday, definitely a noticable difference in taking corners. Also took the advice of some of the members regarding cutting the plastic. Had to bend the A/C line a bit forward and then inward towards the engine. I have about 1/4" of clearance. Add to the fact I installed Racingline Performances' Front & Rear end links along with TruaxMotorsports Chassis Brace. Definitely be keepin all 4 tires on the ground now.
