so this will be my first "performance mod" on any car, ever. i been all around the internet today, first looking in our local forums and for sale forums and then just googling it. ive found a variety of FSTBs at a variety of prices. some say they are better because they are wider and thicker (makes sense) and some say "lightweight" as a selling point. prices range from 50 to 95 bux.

so im asking is there a high quality/reasonably priced FSTB that i should be lookin at? i mean its basically a piece of metal. i cant imagine that craftsmanship makes that much of a difference. seems like it would be more material or quality of material. anyway, just lookin for advice. thanks

 

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/alalstruttow39.html
this is the cheapo one

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/pr...gory=strut_bar

this seems legit

 

They're all the same. Get the cheapest.

 

They all generally do the same thing and you won't notice much of a difference between the high priced ones and the low priced ones. I'd say look for one on ebay or on here. I got mine for 30 bucks shipped.

 

The high priced ones are prettier

 

pretty much get the cheapest unless you want the looks/status of a cattman or stillen.

what car did you end up getting? 42k miles?

 

Ill sell you both of mine (front and rear) for like $75 shipped. Good condition.

Let me know if you're interested

 

^ why dont you want them anymore ?

 

they do the same thing. More expensive is name brand. The don't do much at all unless you are lowered. End this it's been answered before.

 

ive owned a generic and a stillen. the generic one is far easier to setup and remove. the stillen one is much better looking. id say the generic one feels stronger when leaning on them.

just buy one that fits the bill and make sure your evap control valve (2" black disk near the throttle body) is far enough away or else it will break.

 

anyone have this on a stock suspension and feel the difference ?

 

I've had both a front and rear strut tower brace and I can't tell the difference with either one.

Dave

 

yea man. a 90 year old woman sold me her car (through a third party) for $4,500. 41800 miles when i bought it on saturday. less than 4000 miles a year. leather, sunroof, NEW TIRES. i coudlnt believe it. i carfaxed it (she was original owner), ran the codes cuz the cel was on (evap and KS), and did a thorough inspection. thing is barely used. the shocks, exhaust, boots, cvs etc. are all rock solid. paint is spotless and it idles beautifully. the bose system has never been touched.

the interior is filthy though, the steering wheel is losing its cover and the console has stupid stickers here and there, but nothing i cant take care of with a little effort. rotors are warped. bumper and fender have small 1"-3" scratches.
regardless i got a steal. bluebook for this car is $6400+...

i feel way more confident investing $1000 on wheels/tires or $1000 on performance mods into a car thats worth 6-7k as opposed to my old car worth 3.5-4.5k (had 141k, 100,000 miles more).

anyway my first order of business, after cleanign of course, is to get tints. i heard one of you south florida people mention a tinting place in ft. lauderdale. whats its name? any other suggestions on where to go?

next would be rotors and fsts. any suggestions on quality rotors? or pads for that matter? im gettin jackstands so i can start doing real work in my parking lot.
appreciate all ur help

 

what is a rear strut tower bar? is that a sway bar?

wtf is a sway bar?

 

Nope.

They came with the car, and im starting to return my car to stock, as i will sell it before i leave for college.

 

i think the RSTB is inside the trunk and the sway bar is under the car. It's to help reduce body sway.

 

Yep the RSB links the rear beam to the underbody to help keep the rear end flat in the corners. Are you selling both RSB and RSTB? or just the RSTB?

Either way pm sent.

 

told ya everything would work out. sounds like you got a killer deal. what color did you end up with? auto/manual? heads up on a steal on some jdm 3 pc 17" wheels (1/2 price):

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand

as far as rotors go brembo blanks ftw. i use axxis metal masters pads (hawk hps is another popular choice), but i wouldn't hesitate to try these brembo sport pads on closeout:

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/resul...8&autoModClar=

honestly i wouldn't bother with a fstb since i know you're gonna keep the suspension stock.

WIGGAFLY: how's the fitment on that sarona grill? i like the style but it seems a little off in all the pics i've seen.

 

Looks good, but its actually not secured at all right now.
I bought it with the car, and its just being held in by these thin metal brackets that bend pretty easy.

I dont think they come with brackets, i mean theres no holes or anything iirc to mount it with.

I was going to secure it, but it doesnt move around when the hood is closed, so i havent really messed with it.

The only thing i have to worry about is when i close the hood, so i just close it gently.

 

the rear strut bar connects the rear strut mounting points just like a front strut bar connects the front strut mounting points. both are stiffeners to reduce chassis flex.
rear anti-sway bar attaches to the rear suspension beam tightening up the rear under hard cornering. hence the term: anti-sway.

 

Engine bling, I had one from eGay for like $30, Otto Racing.

 

basically there is no point in getting this,

just that Vibrant is going to have a sale on oct 20th at their warehouse, which is close to me, FSTB for $20, i know i can make money on it later, thats they only reason i am thinking of getting it

 

yea i got a 97 pearl white/artic white whatever the fck its called. auto tranny. shifts smoother than any car i have owned before it.

about the rotors tho, you recommend standard brembo blanks? not slotted rotors? i mean im not gonna be racing this thing or whatnot but i do want the best stopping power available. u think slotted rotors are overkill? theres a pretty big discrepancy in pricing. plain rotors are like 30-40 bux and slotted start at 70 and go all the way to 150.
im leaning towards plain brembo rotors, but i would want good pads
do you recommend ceramic? metallic? or hybrid composite? (with the brembo non slotted rotors)

yea i guess ill hold off on the fstb for a while. its useless without lowering is the idea right??

immona get that drop in K&N stock filter tho. only like 40-50 bux and supposedly just as good as an aftermarket cai.

 

Blanks are fine. Slotted rotors tears apart pads quicker. They are supposed to offer better stopping because of the ventilation but blanks are fine for what you're doing. I would get ceramic pads but that's just me. Still with the immona? And k&n filters are great but i don't know where you heard they are like CAI. It's just a better filter.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=540664

mark says the stock intake is a better system due to its design. and the K&N will allow more air than a fram or standard filter

 

I never said it was like a CAI, I just believe that this system is more worth your money, on top of the fact that it only costs half the price of a used PRCAI, normally.

 

I meant that a k&n is a good upgrade for stock box. But also the fact that stock + k&n is not like CAI. They are different and create different effects on the powerband. But yes, a k&n filter is a good idea.