FGY33 (1997-2001 Q45) rear shock tower bar installation on a

[Infinitiguy19]

OK I want to update you on my success with the Rear Shock Tower Bar for the G50 Q45.

So far the bar will clear the tank but the bar is and inch too short and either needs to be stretched by a welder. If I can't find anything I will just get a right threaded bolt and weld that to the right threaded part of the stud.

And the bar sticks too far out so either cut it or cut the wall (the plastic wall that protects the tank and covers it as well) its self. As if I were to cut the wall I may just cut up and cover the bar with the broken wall (Which is currently on the car).

But other the two above problems it should work out nicely.

[Trumpkin]

Where can I get one? Sign me up!

[MinisterofDOOM]

What was necessary to stretch it out? Just the center adjustment bolt?

Sounds like this should be my next mod.

[Infinitiguy19]

Well to let you all know that it does clear the tank but it will make the back wall stick out a little bit, Unless you cut it which is what i might do.

And yes the center bolt needs to be adjusted to make it fit wide enough because the FSM states there is a 4 MM difference in the shock tower between the G50 and FGY33.

And sadly I might not notice much a difference because i have snow tires on.

I will be glad to announce tomorrow that I am the first person on NICO and maybe the world to have a FGY33 RSTB.

[MinisterofDOOM]

And sadly I might not notice much a difference because i have snow tires on.

I hear you on that one! I cannot wait to get some real tires back under my car. Unfortunately it's generally not safe to do that until the end of March around here.

[Infinitiguy19]

We both have traction control, which is better than any tire Mine are Michelin X-Ice I think.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Except that my traction control is disabled thanks to the 4.08.

[Infinitiguy19]

So its one or the other unless you find a solution to speed up the front wheels.

[maxnix]

Except that my traction control is disabled thanks to the 4.08.

Why would that make a difference? I thought TCS was measured at each rear wheel or out put shaft?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Why would that make a difference? I thought TCS was measured at each rear wheel or out put shaft?

Since TCS and ABS share sensors, I assumed all 4 wheels were compared for TCS purposes.Honestly, though, I never looked into it too far as the first thing I do after starting the car is hit the TCS off button.

The reasons I came to the conclusion that the diff was the cause are:--"False" codes showing various TCS components being bad when they're known to be good.--Multiple other 4.08 users reporting the same problem (and even the same or very similar TCS error codes that did not exist before the swap).

By my reckoning, TCS would see "slip" constantly due to the rear sensors not matching expected (wheel) RPM at a given speed.

Whatever the cause, TCS fails and shuts off after a random but generally short period of driving, so I removed the fuse to disable it. It annoyed me when it did work anyway. I dislike the Q's crude throttle-modulated traction control and find it to be dangerous at worst and irritating at best. VLSD+TCS is a bad combo, as the VLSD leads to inside slip under power, but TCS puts a stop to that, so you just end up being limited to the traction of the slowest tire.

[Infinitiguy19]

OK to get this topic back on topic:

OK today I got around to installing the shock tower bar hats, But the adjusting stud is not long enough because it is about 1 inch short, and the shock tower bar sticks out signifantly making it verry hard to install the wall unless you cut it.

And my batteries died in my camera.

But I am going to a place that specialiese in metric bolts, screws and really all things metric to see if they can hook me up with something.

And If anyone is interested in the stud that I will use to install the bar let me know ASAP.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Sorry for the thread-jack.

And If anyone is interested in the stud that I will use to install the bar let me know ASAP.

Definitely let us know. If that's all it takes to get this working, I'm still interested.

[maxnix]

I thought the rear tower brace bar in the FGY33 installed over the tank.

My memory being what it is may not be correct.

[MinisterofDOOM]

It sort of wraps diagonally, following the top rearward corner of the tank:



The G50 must have the tank mounted farther forward in relation to the strut towers.

[Flagship-Q]

Can't wait to see the finished product. Wonder if Jeff is gonna start making these?!

[Infinitiguy19]

I am and always will be the father of the rear shock tower bar for the G50.

But here are some pictures for you guys:



More to come.

And yes I know I need some zip ties.
Modified by Paul Wall at 5:02 PM 3/7/2009

[maxnix]

Never have seen the sony mounted up there. Maybe that is where Infiniti mounted the early ones.

[Infinitiguy19]

Yea but I have some rubber gomets between the metal and plastic mounts for less shock reaching the CD changer.

But the dealer must have drilled the holes to fit the changer.

[maxnix]

But the dealer must have drilled the holes to fit the changer.

They were all dealer installed before 1994.

[apossiblehybrid]

nice i cant wait to see the finished product.

[Infinitiguy19]

OK just an update.

I have had no luck finding another stud with a bolt with a nut in the middle to adjust it, and I have not had any luck just finding a simple right threaded bolt that is 14 MM by 1.5 MM fine thread. So as you can see this is anything but easy.

I am sure Jeff Willaims encountered problems like this but he found a way.

And another thing I have wondered was to cut the elbows, would it decrease the integrety of the bar?

[bullittandy]

OK just an update.

I have had no luck finding another stud with a bolt with a nut in the middle to adjust it, and I have not had any luck just finding a simple right threaded bolt that is 14 MM by 1.5 MM fine thread. So as you can see this is anything but easy.

I am sure Jeff Willaims encountered problems like this but he found a way.

And another thing I have wondered was to cut the elbows, would it decrease the integrety of the bar?

Sleeve it. Buy a hollow round bar (maybe 12") with an inside diameter (I.D.) that is slightly larger than the outside diameter (O.D.) of the bar. Cut one side of the strut bar and install the sleeve over the cut-secure it at the right distance and then have it welded.

[Infinitiguy19]

Way ahead of you, I found the bolt that I needed in my spare bolts from my 1991 Q45 part out. The bolts is a heat treated 14x1.5MM fine thread from the differential.

So for those of you with part cars you are about to have people asking you for these bolts.

So I cut the bolt and I am going to butt weld it to the other stud that came with the bar and weld a sleeve over it for added strength.

Pictures tommorow.

All that is really left to do is cut the wall or put it and see how it looks.

[apossiblehybrid]

Way ahead of you, I found the bolt that I needed in my spare bolts from my 1991 Q45 part out. The bolts is a heat treated 14x1.5MM fine thread from the differential.

So for those of you with part cars you are about to have people asking you for these bolts.

So I cut the bolt and I am going to butt weld it to the other stud that came with the bar and weld a sleeve over it for added strength.

Pictures tommorow.

All that is really left to do is cut the wall or put it and see how it looks.

sounds good. i cant wait to see the pictures!

[lino]

Nice! Keep up the great work Paul. I really appreciate the pics; thanks for sharing. I hope it works out for you exactly the way you want it.

[Infinitiguy19]

Thanks, I have come to a cross road.

1. Keep the bar the same and cut the plastic trunk wall and lose trunk space.

2. Cut the bar and lose only a 1/2 inch max and have a straight bar, but have a machine shop do that work.

Either way progress has beeen haulted because I need to do some work on my car to get it running right (nice and quiet).

[Infinitiguy19]

Just a question for Q45tech before I proceed by custom making one $30,

Does the current (thin metal on the lowest part of the shock towers) Rear shock tower bar in the G50 make any difference in the rear?

I have been told by some that it is a good bar, But despite all the strength too it I think its too low on the towers to make any effect, What are you thoughts?

And after reading your posts you say that tires are 80% of the grip/feel of the car the rest is in the suspension set up. so would this yeild the same effect as the FSTB or the Q45a rear sway bar?
Modified by Paul Wall at 5:51 PM 3/16/2009

[goody90q45]

Does the 97+ Q45 come stock with a RSTB? If so wouldn't that be a better candidate for this mod rather than the shorter Maxima bar?

Once you weld on a hardened part it loses its tensile strength. Is the butt weld in the center of the bar going to hold up to the lateral forces the first time you drive over a speed bump a little fast? Unless I'm not seeing the big picture I think the weld may snap the first time it sees a hard jolt.

If you're going to use a machine shop, ask if they can make you up an opposite threaded bolt on a lathe and get it hardened. Probably a bit more cost but better to start with the correct part.

How much clearance between the bar and the gas tank? Can you show a close up of the bar attached to the bracket? Looks like a fun project and you're paving the way for future NICOnauts.

[bullittandy]

I can't really tell where you're at with this but wanted to clarify what problem you're solving-making it fit, or making it fit within confines of trunk carpeting.

I don't think you need to mess with the bolts and jam nuts and the like, all you need is for one side to be a bit longer and the easiest way to do that is to cut one side of the bar and put a sleeve over the cut. Or am i missing something?

[Q45tech]

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