Evaluation of my Adjustable Tension Rods (Stillen)

[redmanfx]

Well I've had my Stillen Adjustable tension rods in for some time now and I want to tell you what I think about them, mainly for the folkes who haven't tried them and might be curious enough to read this.

After installing them, which took about 15 minutes, I got another alignment to make sure all was ok. I didn't want to run the tread down on my front Pirelli PZero Nero's. You can definetly feel a difference right away! First off, I'm running 17x8.5" O-Z Aluminum Forged MSW Racing wheels (Front) with Pirelli P-Zero Nero 245-45/17 M+S tires in front. I have the Cali-custom springs with Tokico blues and I've put subframe collars and spacers in the rear, so my car is a bit stiff and doesn't have the "original" Luxurious feel that it might otherwise, especially since I've converted from the active suspension and the 275K miles haven't helped either. I also have Jeff's latest Front Tower Brace. ECU and TCU's have been reprogramed as well.

Needless to say I've stiffened the car a bit due to my preference of "spirited" driving which I thoroughly enjoy and practice every day! The tension rods are metal with no rubber or polly bushings so they make the car feel even more stiff and rigid. During normal driving I feel (and hear) more of the road and the bumps through the front end right up through the steering wheel. It's not bad mind you, but it's not the original feel the car used to have after I converted the suspension and had the 15" BBS rims on. It reminds me of driving my friends older 300Z and older Firebirds and Trans Ams. It's most noticable when braking.

I'm finding that there is no need for the adjustable tension rods for what I use my vehicle for and that, to me, it's a tad bit to rigid at this point. Very drivable, but I feel I could revert back to OEM tesion rods and bushings (maybe polly bushings) and still have all the stiffness for my prefered comfort level. I often hit speeds of 80, 90 and even more on nice smooth twisting NC black top (....Tarheal State) roads. I guess I want to get back to a little more "Luxury" when I'm driving and not feel the road as much.

If I didn't have the set up I have now I might feel different about it, but as it stands, the current combination actually takes a little of that nice Q comfort I'm accustom to away. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't get Adjustable tension rods, I'm saying for those who have stiffened the Q up a bit, .. you WILL feel even more stiffness and depending on what you want you'll either like it or, if you are like me, it will wear on you and you'll eventually want a bit less rigid a ride.

I can hang until I get new OEM tension rods and decide if I want the polly bushings or not, but these Stillens did wear on me and I don't feel they are something I have to have for my "rocket pants" attitude towards driving.

Had to post something because I don't want you thinking I've gone away.!!

[elwesso]

i agree on your sentiments... its amazing how much the Tension rods absorb as far as bumps. I found that the ride didnt change a whole lot, but you hear every bump, and you feel them a little more in the steering wheel...

[maxnix]

Thank you for your informative posts.

I have the NISMO inserts on OEM tension rods on my 1995 t, and I don't think they add much in handling, but they do add a little in harshness.

Best part is fewer change outs. Best would be adjustable with the silicon filled stock bushings. They are not that difficult to change, and the ride and noise is superior.

[lino]

I also have Jeff's latest Front Tower Brace. ECU and TCU's have been reprogramed as well.

*Are there different versions of the brace? I've seen different colors.

ECU and TCU's have been reprogramed as well.

*What programming do you have on for your TCU?

Thanks for posting this thread and sharing your experience. I really appreciate it. It's good to hear first hand, real experiences with those kinds of upgrades. For me, I enjoy the comfort in my Q and will only comprimise it for something extraordinary, considering my driving habits, which are basically spirited city driving. That's why I'm enjoying my ACTIVEness, minus the leak I have in my rear left actauator.

[Jeff Williams]

I changed suppliers about 3 times throughout the 6 batches I made.

I am still looking for a new supplier, to make some more.

The later ones had beefier ends.

[lino]

Thanks Jeff. I wonder who made the brace for Stillen?

[maxnix]

I wonder who made the brace for Stillen?

Not much of a consideration after Jeff made his conversions as the Stillen FSTB sat so low that it's only additional benefit was it served as an indicator for worn engine mounts when the plenum hit it.

[redmanfx]

*Are there different versions of the brace? I've seen different colors.

*What programming do you have on for your TCU?

Jeff had several versions of his brace. I had the first version, but it bent up on me so I waited until he had one with more "beef" as he put it.

My TCU is a JWT TCU (Jim Wolf Technologies) and at the time of purchase I got a sweet deal on it from Rob, so I bought it. In my personal dealings with JWT I've found that they don't make me feel like a valued customer and that they are doing me a favor or something. For the money you spend for their stuff they should clean up their customer service. The JWT TCU's and ECU's are expensive and they tend to loose Ecu's when you send them one. They claim they are backlogged all the time so when Robert started on the ECU's himself NICO (Q members) gave a collected sigh of relief and so did I. The TCU however is still a JWT monopoly (I think) as far as reprograming goes and it's very expensive for what you get. You can get a 93 OEM TCU and "almost" get as much.

As far as the Adjustable Tension rods go, you can really "hear" the bumps in the road a whole lot more then you feel them and I think that's what really started wearing on me more than anything was the noise from the bumps in the road and such. The "feel" isn't my main concern as much as the noise is. But I can tell you that I feel as if I could take a moderate curve in the road at 110 MPH with no problem!

Yeah, I think I went "ONE MOD TOO FAR"

[Q45tech]

Handling is 90-95% tires and the rest the suspension..............now steering feel and body roll are subjective and are another matter.

Nothing one can do to a Q suspension of any vintage will change the peak handling ability by more than a few percent............not lowering, not sway bars, not shocks..................alignment can make things worse if camber gets excessive [>-1.0 degrees static].

[DrewQ45]

I didn't feel much difference when I installed mine. To be honest, if someone wanted to go this route, I'd advise them not to buy Stillen. A cheaper brand should do just as well.