For those of you all that have a Stillen front strut brace, did it make much of an improvement in handling is it just more of an underhood eye candy piece? I believe that the sport package models have a built in brace, I may be wrong, but my SV does not have one. I am looking for opinions to see if this is a worth while upgrade.

 

If you have not done the rear sway bar yet that would be a better option as far as handling improvement. I have the Stillen RSB and it is a night and day difference on how the car handles.

 

I agree with the post above. The RSB is an awesome upgrade! The front strut tower brace does absolutely nothing for handing but it does look cool. If you want to spend the money for looks I'd say go for it but if you're looking for performance upgrades is suggest the RSB and eibach springs if you don't have them already.

 

I've got the RSB sitting in the garage waiting to be put on. I plan on going with Eibachs when I order new wheels and tires. So the FSB is more show than go, and not much improvement wise? I am guessing that the front strut towers sit far enough back to the firewall where a FSB is not going to make much difference, right?

 

Yep, completely eye candy, if that.

 

Now if we could get decent struts/shocks I would be all smiles.

 

I hear you on that one. You can get KYB rear shocks and that is about it. Wonder why they do not make a good aftermarket strut for our cars?

 

i bet we can get some front Koni inserts to work....the rears....i dunno... i am sure there is something out there that can be retrofitted...just might take some experiementing...comparing parts...i have recently been comtemplating some upgrades...i am at 120k and parts are needing replacing.....RSB is the way to go and has been on last few gen maximas

 

I have had both the front brace and the rear sway bar on all the Maxima's I've owned. You need both to make any difference. Had them on my 2003, now have it on my 2012 & 2014.

 

Because we drive a fwd sedan with a cvt engine. No one wants to make parts for a car that's been left for dead with a junk trans now. Nissan killed the Max with the cvt. It should have never been put in it and left with the manual 6 speed option. For an engine that can handle 528hp, the stock 290 don't feel much like 290. When my 02 was stock, that felt more beefy than my 14. I've added the AEM cold air intake to my 14 so far and it seemed to make a little difference, noticable at least. Sport mode helps but it likes to stay in cvt mode unless I get on her a bit and sport kicks back in. You can find plenty of 5th gen upgrades, I know cuz I have an 02 as well as my 2014. My 02 has the Injen long ram cold air that almost touches the ground, Megan racing radiator, Megan strut bar, Custom BRM exhaust, performance big brake package, drilled/slotted rotors, sport tuned to red line at 7500, sports fuel rail, upgraded injectors, and a cheap chip that does nothing I believe lol. Clear LED side markers, Halos, RGBW Led parking lights, all LED upgrades in headlights, HID to LED(Much brighter imo) I've been looking for OBX headers for my 14 since March when I got it and I've come to the conclusion they don't exist unless you find a used pair somehow. I might just hollow out my cats and see how that sounds. I'm getting the Shockwave exhaust and ART ypipe in like a month so, I want it to sound aggressive and deep. But yea... cvt killed the interest of the Maxima for car enthusiasts.