90 to 96 Front Strut Tower Brace

[Jeff Williams]

Hi guys! It has been a while since I was here. Lola is running great. I still ahven't installed the upgraded transmission or the 4.08 rear end. I kinda got side tracked with work and other things lately (Corvettes).

I have been lurking here some, and still get the notices about the threads just about every day. Love the turbo stuff and 5-speed stuff.

Lately, I have gotten a few emails abot the strut brace I made for a couple hundred of you guys, and I thought I would order another batch of them for old time's sake.









I have 3 or 4 guys on the list, and was going to buy parts to make 20 strut bars. Whatever doesn't get picked up here, I will put on eBay.

If you are interested, please send me an email at [email protected]

The shipping costs have risen, so I had to go up to $55.00 on the bars, which include shipping to the 48 US States. Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and the rest of the world, I will have to get a shipping quote.

These are 00-03 Maxima bars that I cut, drill out and re-tap to fit the Q45. I pay about $30.00 each for them, then spend aobut 2 hours modifying them, and then pay about $8.00 in freight to FedEx, $5.00 to Chevron in gas, and $2.00 to PayPal just for being there.

The extra $10.00 goes to pay for my new TIG welder and Powdercoating equipment.

Thanks guys,

Jeff

[d3funct]

Guys, where is the enthusiasm!!!

This is a fantastic and cheap product.

Jeff is extremely friendly to deal with and I had no hassles what so ever getting this product shipped to me in Australia.

Order your own RIGHT NOW!

[TBrack]

everyone needs to buy one of these!

[Q451990]

Ditto... this is an excellent mod, and Jeff is a great guy!

Heath

[96Qowner]

Yep!

Anyone who doesn't have one of these yet needs to email Jeff and get one.

Instant improvement in steering response!

[sijoko]

If you have a Q, then you should get one. I use to have a Stillen strut bar which was much more expensive. I sold it after I bought the one from Jeff. You won't be disappointed.

[ncxj]

What's the status?

[Jeff Williams]

Thanks guys!

I got the parts in last Friday, and spend Saturday assembling the parts and cutting the aluminum bars to length. I will get the threads cut this weekend and the hats drilled to fit the Q bolt pattern. I should have them test fit on Lola and packaged up by Sunday.

I will send each of you that have sent me emails with payment instructions on Sunday or Monday.

I have more available, if you are interested.

[captainluigi]

Hi Jeff, Was wondering if you have an extra hat available. I emailed awhile back about a bent one I have. It maybe I am overdriving the engineering.

So I would buy another if available. I may modify to prevent that from happening again. Any input on that idea will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[jjbuzzman]

Hello Jeff,

I should be on your list from a previous email, but one question - I want to install this strut bar on my recently procured 1994 Q45a. The top of the strut tower is quite different on an "a" model. I have read in searching that these bars can be modified to fit an "a" model - is this correct? Any comments on the modifications? Can you do the modifications for me (at extra charge)?

Thanks, Jim

[Jeff Williams]

Yes and Yes.

I will get you a complete new bar to replace the one you have. Just ship the old one back to me, if you will.

I can cut the hats to fit around the active lines. You will have to loosen the top bolts and rotate one of the lines just a bit to clear the strut bar.

I am heading to the fab shop tomorrow and I should knock these out and have them ready to ship on Tuesday.

Be looking for an email from me with the payment information, if you are on the list.

[captainluigi]

Hello again Jeff, Was that a yes & yes to me & jjbuzzman? Or was that a yes & yes to jj only. He writes he has one question but wrote three questions.

I'm so confused these days.

Hat or no hat?

[jjbuzzman]

Hello Jeff,

I should be on your list to buy a new strut bar, but to fit my recently procured Q45a. I have had one of your standard bars on my 1990 Q for over a year and will leave it there, so I have no need to ship any bar back to you (if I read your response to apply to me).

Let me know how much I will owe you for the "a" model modified bar, as I have not yet paid you.

[email protected]

[Jeff Williams]

captainluigi,

I will send you a complete new bar. Just send me the old bent one back in the same box.

jjbuzzman,

I will modify the bar to fit your car like the pictures I submitted.

All the rest of the bars are done, and ready to ship.

[captainluigi]

Jeff, just for clarification. Only the passenger side hat is bent, not the bar.

[Scotte123]

Hi Jeff,

I should be on your list for the bar as well. If they are ready let me know.

[SUB ZERO CAR FANATIC]

Jeff, i would like to be on your list. How is payment arrangement done,would you contact me when you have it ready and then i pay palyou or what? Please let me know,im very intertested in buying onefrom you, so give me a total shipped to 99705(NORTH POLE ALASKA)Thanks very much and look foward to hearing from you! OH........by the waymy Q45 is a 93 base model. thanks, SUBZEROCARFANATIC

MY EMAIL IS [email protected]

[Jeff Williams]

Sub Z, i am sending you a quote for the bar.

Everyone else:

I have 5 shipped, 4 ready to ship, one on hold for a gentleman, and 9 people committed but not paid. If you are still interested, let me know.

Whoever pays frist gets them at this point.

Thanks a bunch.

[Jeff Williams]

I have shipped 11 units. 9 have arrived, 2 are being delivered today. I ahve 2 goinig to FedEx this afternoon for delivery.

This leaves 7 still for sale. I have 5 people that have expressed interest, but not paid yet.

One of these is on hold, another is waiting a response on shipping.

I will send out an email to those on the list for first dibbs.

If you think you want one, let me know. I will put the remainder on ebay to sell for the highest bid (I have sold them on eBay for as much as $100.00).

Thanks again for everyone's support and interest in this strut bar. If you miss this batch, I will do another one in a few months, when the interest is back.

In the meantime, keep 'em between the lines!

[slybydesignq45t]

If you don't mind me asking what is this bar used for? And did the Q's come with one already installed?

[Jeff Williams]

That is a good couple of questions.

Q. What is this bar used for?

A. The Q45 is a unibody construction, which means there is no frame connecting the front suspension to the rear suspension. If you have ever tried to jack up the car from what looks like frame rails under the car, yourealize they are just sheet metal boxes. What that means, is that the inner fenders, firewall, and floorpans are part of the structural integrity of the car. Any flex in these areas changes the geometry of the suspension in cornering, stopping, and acceleration. Now, some flex is calculated in the design of the car under normal operation. Some people push their cars a little bit in cornering, lane changes, and hard driving. When this is done, the body flexes, the tires no longer are fullly contacting the road, and you hear tire squeal, and feel the body of the car roll.

Some of this can be fixed with wider tires, stronger struts and springs, sway bars, and suspension adjustments. The flex of the body increases as the suspension is stiffened.

An easy way to improve the stability of the front suspension, is to "complete the loop". If you look at the front suspension, you will see spindles attached to the struts. The struts connect to the body high by the hood. The spindles connect to the lower control arms, low on the front subframe. The front subframe connects the two lower control arms. This makes a big "U" shape. This strut bar connects the upper strut mounts, to makean "O" shape. Forces from the left strut tower are transferred to the right strut tower in cornering. These forces are not that big, and the aluminum bar does a great job of transferring them. The amount of body flex is greatly reduced in hard cornering and lane changes. It is an immediate difference.

Q. Did the Q's come with one already installed?

The 1990 to 1996 did not come with them from the factory. Infiniti saw the need, and added a strut bar on the 1997 and up Q's. Stillen saw the need, and built one for the G50 design. It was around $200 when they made them. They were a good design, and really helped tighten up the car. They stopped producing them, so they are hard to find.

Back when I bought my first Q, I realized there was a need. I checked into the Stillen product, but was too cheap to buy one. I had been fabricating race car parts for years for other people, and decided to give it a shot. After much searching, I cecided I could not make one for less than about $150 from scratch. That is where eBay came in. I bought a cheap $30 strut bar for my wife's I30t. When it came in, I was going to install it. I had the hood open on the Q right next to the I, and thought, "I wonder if I can jsut modify this bar to fit on the Q." After about 1 hour of drilling, cutting, and test fitting, it was on the car. "Sorry honey, the I will ahve to wait for the second one."

I went for a test drive, and was flabergasted at the improvement. The car felt 1,000# lighter! I could change lanes without the threat of oversteer. It really tightened up the front end in hard cornering.

I shared my find with the club, and a few tried their hands at it. Some bought the wrong bars, and a lot asked if I would make them one. I striked a deal with some of the suppliers to buy in bulk, and started doing them for NICO members. That was about 5 years ago, I think.

Over the years, I have improved the product, and tried to keep my costs down.

Anyone is welcome to build their own, and it can be done in a few hours. All you need is a LH tap, a RH tap, a drill press, a chop saw, and some patience. I can hook you up with the supplier. He sells them for about $36.00 each with shipping. I can modify 20 bars in about 12 hours in the shop. That makes my cost about $51.00, not including the gas and packaging materials to ship tehm to you. I keep my cost at $55.00 because I don't consider this a money-making business. It is a service to the Infiniti community, and the owners that like to push their big fat cars a little more than the little old lady from Pasadena (no offense, my aunt lives there, and she used to race dune buggys!).

I have a few left from this batch if anyone is interested.

[slybydesignq45t]

Wow, super great write up. I strongly appreciate your openness and honesty. I do feel heavy body roll when having to merge during rush hour traffic where people don't like to let you get in. This is a nice product. I can't say I will buy one right this minute, as I have allot going on but wow, what a great product improvement.

[maxnix]

For the price, skip a couple racks of beer and buy it while it is available as Jeff mainly plays with his Corvette's now.

[Dtrnql]

If you do not have one of these, get you 1 !!! I got 2, Jeff can make one for your Q45a !!! Thanks Again

[Kiven422]

Just got one of these and it makes all the difference. Gives you a better feeling of control and steering... I don't have to turn the wheel as much either on tight turns and less feeling of understeer, more precise. If only there was a rear strut bar to match the front.

Thanks Jeff Williams!

Now I can't wait to get the Tokicos on. I recommend this mod to everyone whether your into comfort or sport.

[Q45tech]

There is a oem rear bar [metal frame] to hold the rear shock towers apart and protect fuel tank.................something stiffer would of course be better.

[maxnix]

There is an actual RSTB on the FGY33. Rather doubt it would be adaptable to the G50, but haven't compared the tower spacing and room side to side.

[captainluigi]

Would really like to have a rear bar. If only did 1/2 as much as the fr. bar it

would be worth while.

[sebvox]

Jeff....

When is the next batch going to be ready? The suspens(ion) is killing me!

[unknown007]

^^^^SAME!!!Take your time though no rush.