So I guess I was the guinea pig for these for my 98SE and wanted to go ahead and give a review. The SFCs arrived in great condition and are made with high quality steel; craftsmanship was great. Installation time was a little over an hour and a half. The kit came with written instructions although I will say some diagrams would have helped some. The bars running parallel with the car seemed to be a pretty snug fit however we had to modify the X bracing a little. Basically three of the braces reached their intended tabs on the parallel bars but we had to slightly lengthen the 4th so we had adequate metal to drill through for the bolt. The bars were installed on a 4 post lift as denoted by the instructions.

Now for the performance reviews.......... Ill give you an idea of my previous setup. Handling mods include D2's, FSTB, RSB, 18x8" wheels with 245/40/18s. Ive surprised many many many people on 270 degree entrance ramps with this setup topping out 2nd gear through the turn and entering the highway (still turning) faster than people already going straight on it Needless to say my setup was pretty beefy before these. After installing the SFCs this morning my car no longer feels like a maxima.... I should not have been able to take turns at the speeds I did and not lose traction. These things are un...be...lieveable!!!! At highway speeds theres no vibration or rattling noises anymore. The car feels muuuuuch more planted upon abrupt lane changes. The sidewalls of my 245/40/18 General Exclaim UHPs (which are decently stiff) felt sloppy bc there was absolutely no play anywhere else in the car (chasis)!!!! Basically Im sold on these SFCs, especially at this price!! I lost a liiiiittle bit of ground clearance but it wasnt terrible. IMO you'd be crazy not the try these if youre at all serious about an amazing handling upgrade. I also wanted to thank Dan and everyone at Truax Motorsports, especially for the upgraded X bracing, and for maintaining professionalism by constantly staying in touch.

Grant

Link to original thread --> http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=516058

 

space saved for pics and further reviews

 

Great to hear, and I'll be interested to hear any further impressions you have. I'm a little concerned that the 3 tabs on each side aren't optimal (more would help prevent flex) but then again, pretty much everyone who's ever installed SFCs on a Maxima has had this basic design with the 3 tabs.

Where did you get them installed and how much did it cost?

How much improved is the ride over bumps? Night and day? Does the car feel much more solid and composed over uneven surfaces? That's my number-one complaint with my lowered Maxima. It just feels and sounds terrible over bumps.

 

Everything about the ride has changed VQuick. On the highway the car just feels solid - I really dont know how to describe it other than planted. My D2s are also set pretty stiff so that Im sure helps. Cornering is obviously the biggest noticeable difference. I used to really rely on my Corbeaus to keep me in my seat when cornering; now its like i dont feel that to be as much the case anymore. Now of course these dont instantly allow you to make 90 degree turns at 80 but the improvement is unbelievable. As for bumps, things dont rattle at all anymore, haha. I got these installed at a local exhaust shop for 80 bucks too!! I guess solid is the best overall way to describe everything now.

 

Thanks for the info. $80 seems fair. Since I live close to Minnesota, I asked Dan if he might be willing to install them if I drive up to his shop; we'll see what he says.

Words can't express how excited I am that we finally have a SFC option. I've been waiting for these for literally over 2 years. I was ready to pay a friend to custom fab up a set and weld them, but I think this will be a much simpler and faster option and the GD price will hopefully be good.

 

same here man. Ive been waiting forever for someone to make these which is why i jumped on them as soon as i saw them. good luck with your installation and all; i know youll love them!

Grant

 

Good review. I only have stage 1 on my car currently without the cross bracing, and the change in handling isn't as drastic as yours is. I'm looking foreward to seeing the pictures of your X bracing.

 

do you have some pics of the x bracing?

 

Sorry guys, I will try to get some pics asap!!

 

Sweet, I will be getting these more for the improved ride than improved handling

 

group deal is in the works!!

 

not until they finish the 5th gen ones, I hope.

 

my friend mike (blackmaxx96) is actually going to be the test fit 5th gen verrrry soon. AND hes runnin the group deal

 

Keep your eyes out.
Should be up by tomorrow hopefully.

I'll have pictures/reviews for my SFC's by next weekend HOPEFULLY.

 

 

I'm getting these so I can have as many mods as possible....

Looks like i'm turning into the 5th gen test car for all the new goodies.....

Turbo kits anyone???

 

SFCs > turbo

For me at least. Of what practical use is a fast car if it rides like a piece of ****? I'm embarassed to drive my car around town with friends in it right now.

 

I agree with that ^^. With guys I dont care, but when Im with the lady or other lady-friends..... I always tell them "you're gonna hear some noise on bumps, its just all my tools are in the trunk'... when my trunk has nothing but an amp in it .

Im in on this too! I'll delay my header purchase for SFCs any day. Thank you for bringing this option to us!

 

EXACTLY!!!!!! Even with H&R's and Illuminas there is alot of room for improvement

I can't wait to get these and some new exhaust hangers.

 

I thought the x-bracing weren't fabricated yet? Are these available on ebay now for the 4th gen? And blackmaxx I can't wait to hear your review! I freaking hate the crashing over bumps I get right now...

EDIT: nevermind just read through the whole other thread. Can't wait for the GD for 5th gens!

 

I used to be a test car for alot of new things

I guess I'm not popular anymore.

 

It's cuz your avatar isn't in color.

 

I just hope it's not too hard to get them up here in Canada. I'm supposed to drive out to a local chasiss shop that makes CASCAR tube-frames, but a little skeptical as to whether they'd be interested in makig SFC's for a 4-dr import...

 

Did anyone mention the weight of the SFC's yet?

 

If you want light weight, do chassis foam.

 

I'm sure it's less than 50 pounds, and keep in mind that the weight is all at the extreme bottom of the car, which lowers center of gravity which = teh sexy.

 

if you want light weight, do something that is not a MAXIMA

 

I believe it is 35lbs or so.

 

Blackmaxx is getting everything for the 5.5! I can't wait till the 5th gen SFCs come out.

 

IIRC the 5.5 and 5.0 have the same SFCs...

 

I know that the 5.5 and 5 have the same SFCs.

I'm just saying that Blackmaxx was the tester for the phenolic spacers and now this. Bastard!

 

I'm fairly certain the subframe design is the same between the 5.0 and 5.5 gens. These SFCs will work for all 5th gens

edit: damn I'm late on everything this evening

 

What subframe?

 

Heh heh heh heh heh.

 

My SFC's are getting shipped tomorrow.
I'll have them on by next friday at the latest.

Once the review is posted, I will be posting the group buy for them shortly after that!

WOOHOO!

Mike

 

Unibody FTL....same mounting points?

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....42#post5635242

There we go!

 

BOOOOO!!! Got my hopes up for the 5th gens. DAMN YOU BLACK!!!

 

Compared to the cars coming out these days, the Maxima is light weight.
Still I'll wait until I get an accurate weight on these. I have a hard time keeping in my mats in the car because the extra weight bothers me. I also had to get light weight car seats for the kids. I think I might have problems.

 

You wouldn't happen to be suffering some type of anorexia nervosa to go along with this, do you? Just coincidentally