So how does the car feel with the braces? Im looking into getting them if it's worth it.

IMO I think lack of advertisement and no group deal made these braces fall into obscurity. Up until 2 weeks ago I didn't even know they were making these.

 

i'm still wanting and waiting for a set for my 07. anytime soon? would be a good match along with the chassis brace i have on.

 

It feels good. I thought maybe my expectations were too high, but so far I'm satisfied. I'm afraid that some of it may be placebo, so don't read this like a bible...

First thing I noticed was ride quality improved a little. With GCs and no chasis bracing, bumps killed me. The little bumps are less noticeable and the big ones aren't bone jarring anymore. Not a HUGE improvement, but it's there...and I'll take anything I can get in this department!

The car also feels more stable and planted in higher speed turns. Previously, a bump or dip in the middle of a high speed turn just about threw my car off the road. Now, the car is less disrupted by them. Obviously I still feel them, but it's much easier to keep control of the car and it's a little more predictable too.

At lower speeds, the difference is apparent. I didn't expect lower speed turns to be affected, but they have been. I was going around slow, *sharp* turns faster than I ever do and the car just stuck. Roll was almost non-existent. The car just sat flat, kept the tires planted and turned. I was like this is FWD, why didn't the front end push?

My current mods are GCs on Illuminas, an Ebay FSTB, and 255/40-17 on 17x9 wheels. Seems like this would KICK ASH with an LTB-II. Too bad I have headers

Also, not sure if the difference would be as apparent if you already have SFC and or LTB-II. But, IMO, one should utilize all the chasis bracing he or she can. This should be a nice addition to SFCs and LTBs....

I've only put about 40 miles on the car since the install...so I'll update this is my experiences change.

 

Quite to the contrary, mr bond. Max drivers who have LTB2, SFCs etc won't notice much flex from those parts of the chassis and firewall flex will be more prominent. They should notice a greater effect when that flex is reduced or eliminated.

 

How was the installation? Any hangups? Still waiting for my set, I think I paid back in May.... Sean said he was out of town and will be sending mine sometime....

 

Installation wasn't too bad, just time consuming. The only real downside is the fact that you have to disassemble the whole freekin front end basically...but I didn't have any hang ups or anything.

One piece of advice though: when you drill holes on the brace and the car, make sure the car is on the ground (chasis loaded) and make sure you drill the holes *almost* as far apart as you can. Basically on the ends of the tab. If you try to drill holes towards the middle of the tab, you'll run into a piece of angled metal inside the frame that likes to snap drill bits. ask me how I know...

I will add that they definitely make a difference. I've got over a hundred miles on them now and I can say with certainty: the ride quality has improved (bumps are less harsh) and the front end is more stiff/stable. It acts very proper. You tell the car to do something and it does just that; very predictable and controlable. Loving these things...just need to get the SFCs on!

 

So I have to say, I'm still loving the braces, they really do make a difference!

I have been having some noise from them though...so I'm thinking of welding them on eventually. Would there be any reason not to do so?

 

now....for 5th gens...

 

Instead of welding them maybe use some thick 3M double sided sticky tape to fill in the gaps and quiet down the noises?

 

why use bolts at all? I'm sure 3M tape will adhere just fine...

Seriously you don't expect that stuff to last... maybe if you can find some thin rubber at a hardware store...

But I wouldn't be too adverse to welding them... as long as you don't screw anything up

 

Thought the braces are all bolted down when installed? So what causes them to make noise? If there are some gaps you could fill them with some good 3M tape or some rubber. I've used a large inner tire tube cut up into pieces on my GC setup with some luck.

Though the spare tire on my truck made alot of noises until I used a bunch of doublestick tape with the covering still on. It stuck to the frame and stopped the noise the tire was making moving against the frame.

The 3M tape would be easier to work with instead of having to cut up a tube into strips. Also some 3M tape is pretty durable, they use it to hold windows into buildings.

 

I'd just think to get some thin gasket material to put between the bars and the frame...

Now that I have real springs rates I'm becoming pretty interested in these...

 

lol. 450/350 isnt stiff enough.

 

psh... I think the default rate should be more like 365 in the rear....jeez
and at least his boat anchors aren't staggered!







But seriously, I'll add some usefull thoughts here...

Mine is noisy, but only on the left side. The only thing I can think of is the fact that on the right side, I drilled holes all the way through, and on the left side, I essentially used a big nail and "poked" holes because my drill bit had broken by that point.

Because of this, the left side didn't have a nice clean hole....the metal basically split and peeled back...kinda hard to explain, but go poke a hole in some metal, you'll see what I mean.

Nevertheless, still a good idea to put some gasket material or 3m tape or rubber in there. It's not fun to do the install once...so you sure as heck won't want to tear it apart again!

One last comment....why the heck is nobody buying these?!?!?! These are great! The front end is much more well mannered and predictable. It soaks up bumps a little better, reduces body roll a little, and makes the front end more compliant over rough roads! Just get some....you won't be sorry!

It's too bad that a good portion of the maxima community would rather be slammed on s-techs with stock struts, riding on bumpstops with 50lb wheel/tire combos...

 

lol thats still kinda soft. technically, his arent boat anchors and i dont have to worry about losing traction in the rear

too bad i went the other way tho. if i still had my LTBII and Enkei's i wouldve picked up a set of these. i probably still should for chassis reinforcement. i still have my front and rear strut bars tho. a lot of vibrations still travel through the chassis...creaks and squeaks. well when things calm down and money isnt as tight, ill def grab a set later down the road if still available.

 

If they were made for 5th gens.......

 

what up Law.

 

anyway, I was wondering the same thing. I would think the mounting mounts are the same...or at least very close. see if TMS will send you a pair to test fit. then they can start marketing them to 5th gens if they fit!

 

why don't you guys measure the spacing between the door hinges on a 4 and 5 gen. that'll be the easy first thing to check.

 

I did buy them, back in early May. Still waiting for shipment. I really want them but I'm very busy until next summer so that's why I've sort of let it go. If you ask me it's a supply problem. Truax seems to have other priorities and every time I PM them they say "they're on their way to the powdercoater"...

How many hours did it take to do the install, start to finish? Is the front bumper removal and reinstall pretty quick?

 

Since May??

I would like a set of these, and another set of SFC's. But now I'm hesitant.

This is Earth calling Truax. Come in Truax.

 

Hey guys Its been awhile since I have posted on here. For the last couple of months honestly I have not done much of anything with truaxmotorsports at all. Orders got really slow and I left three people hanging so I am taking care of them first.

I am trying to regain the "swing" of things so please accept my apologies while I try to get stuff back up and running smoothly again.

Thanks,

-Sean Truax

PS
I will be using my personal cell for business now my number is (320) 469-2608 if anybody has any questions.

 

Spoke to Sean today. He is sending my set now. Hopefully I'll have time to install them in March. By the way, I will be FULLY WELDING them on to my car. Welds only in front, and bolts + welds if feasible at the rear mounting points.

For anyone interested, I would give Sean a call and see if he's ready to make more braces. He said the set he's shipping to me is the last one he has around.

By the way Sean, you said that it takes you less than 45 minutes to take off both fenders. Does that mean you removed the front bumper or not? If it's possible without removing the bumper that would be excellent.

 

I agree with your decision to weld them. Mine are still making some squeaks here and there....so as soon as I get time to rip off the front end, I'll be welding mine too. BTW, still loving them. and STILL need to weld on the sfcs

Be sure to give us an update once you get them on

Also....where did everyone go on this, did all the interest die? I understand where Truax went, but I can't blame them for having higher priorities when it seems like nobody even wants these things anymore!

 

Well, if they make a real difference in chassis strength and handling I will post a very positive review thread that will hopefully generate interest. Last summer I tore out my interior (except for dash and headliner), injected structural foam everywhere I could, and applied sound dampening and insulation. And yet my car is still noisy over bumps, especially from in front of the dash area. If the firewall area is truly a weak point, these braces should be a real improvement.

 

I was extreeeeemly interested, and said numerous times I would buy a set in all the various SFC/fender brace threads over the last 6 months or so. Unfortunately, my interest had died. See my response in the Group Deal forum. Now I'm motivated to just make my own set, and a little bit different to boot.

I'm gonna have to bite my tongue and not comment on that one.....

 

Soooo...it's been almost a year. I would really like some braces to finish out the car, has anyone fabbed up any new ones?

 

I made some a over the summer....but, umm...they're for the subie

 

Damn Josh, I didn't expect you posting back here. How's the subie dude?

 

Hahaha, I still lurk around here a bit...posting once in a while

The subie's good. I was really looking forward to some DIY chassis bracing on the thing after I got so interested in it during my Maxima days. Then, come to find out, the GD chassis doesn't need a whole lot of help Therefore, the fender braces are one of the few mods I've fabricated so far, lol. I did also make a simple little LTB to go between the LCAs, though

How's the bimmer? what ever happened with teh motor swap?

oh, and umm, ya know, maxima...stuff....vq30. fwd. Fender Braces... and uhh, Truax motorsports. SFCs. err...umm, understeer?
(had to keep it on topic... )

 

Oh, poor you! We're all jealous.

I still really want fender braces; pretty much the last mod I want for my Maxima. I think it would make the car much more solid and enjoyable on the rough roads I'm often stuck driving on. I care about that more than handling at this point!

 

^^^Last mod. LOL

 

Motor swap's still in progress, hoping to finish it up this week. I don't think the E30 needs much bracing either, plus if a cop ever pops my hood I don't want it to have the mad tyte modded look under there (fstb), so they'll overlook the stock looking dirty motor that does not belong.