Front Strut Bar for "00" I30

[keystone]

Where can I get a Strut Bar for my "00" I30? Looked at previous post and no help. Is it worth installing? I'm not a racer but thought it might help.

Tks

[Jeff Williams]

I boght one from Directcarparts and installed it on my wife's car. I makes the car handle better. I like it, and it was cheap. I got it on eBay for $17.00, but they have them on their web site for $45.00 Their web address is:

http://www.directcarparts.net/

Jeff Williams

[keystone]

do i buy the one for the Maxima?

[PalmerWMD]

do i buy the one for the Maxima?

Yes, the Maxima bar will fit perfect.

Fred...

[1qckser]

Who other than Stillen makes one for the Q?

[Mayhem_J30]

I'd rather go with the rear sway bar mod than the FSTB. Results will be much more noticeable and rewarding.

[szh]

Jeff,

Does the Maxima bar from the web site you mentioned fit the Q (with mods, of course for the mounting bolts)? Is that the one that AZHitman and you have modified?

Z

[Jeff Williams]

Yes. i bought mine from eBay, but it came from Directcar parts. You can go to their website at http://www.directcarparts.net The STB is from Bomz racing. It is cheap, but my cars don't seem to mind.

Jeff

[Jeff Williams]

Here is a picture of it from their web site:

Jeff Williams

[szh]

Here is a picture of it from their web site:

Jeff Williams

Hmmm. That looks a tiny bit different from the one they show for the "00-Up" Maxima bar on their web site. Am I looking at the wrong one?

Z

[szh]

Here is a picture of it from their web site:

Jeff Williams

By the way, Jeff, thanks much for the pictures you sent me of your mods!

Z

[Jeff Williams]

It's probably because I had to reduce ths size of the pic to 300 wide from 500 wide.

This distorted the image. It is actually the correct one. The brackets are round and flat, with 3 holes to fit the I30/Maxima. I had to drill an additional hole for the Q, since it only has 2 bolts holding the spring bucket.

Here is a close-up of one side of the bracket on my '00 I30:

[szh]

By the way, Jeff, do you experience the plenum rubbing that AZHitman and Dennis talked about?

Z

[AZhitman]

I'd rather go with the rear sway bar mod than the FSTB. Results will be much more noticeable and rewarding.

You'd be surprised, Chris - I'm TOTALLY sold on this modification. I'm putting the rear sway bar on as soon as I get the bushings from Sope...

[Jeff Williams]

I have never heard or felt a rub, but I also don't take my Q autocrossing. By the shound of it, the bar I got actually has more clearance than the Stillen one. I am not sure I mentioned it, but I did have to cut the tabs a little shorter, and re-drill the holes, because the struts are closer on the q, than on the I.

Here's a pic of the clearance:

[Jeff Williams]

Here's a pic of the modified tab, for the Q:

[szh]

I have never heard or felt a rub, but I also don't take my Q autocrossing. By the shound of it, the bar I got actually has more clearance than the Stillen one. I am not sure I mentioned it, but I did have to cut the tabs a little shorter, and re-drill the holes, because the struts are closer on the q, than on the I.

Here's a pic of the clearance:

Two questions:

1. How much is the actual clearance on the Bomz bar? Is it at least the 1.25" that Dennis mentioned as being needed?

2. I had assumed you had to drill new holes on the shortened tabs - the adjustability was insufficient, right? Did you also have to drill an additional hole in the "seat" part too, since the Q only has two bolts as opposed to the three on the Maxima?

Z

[Jeff Williams]

1. It clears the runners by about 1/2", and clears the plenum and throttle cables, by about 3/4". I ahve about 25,000 miles on the car, since I put it on, and there are NO rub marks on anything.

2. I did have to drill a single hole in the "seat" part. I rotated the seat, until the bar was positioned in front of the plenum. The golden rule is , measure twice, and cut once. Try to put the second set of holes in the tabs, as high as possible, to maximize your plenum clearance.

Here is a pic of the seat:

[1qckser]

Hi Jeff, sorry to take your idea but its a great one, anyway I purchased the bar and was just wonderin what you did to the tabs, di you cut them and then put new holes in theme also? Thanks and cant wait for the bar to arrive, im gonna do my shocks, the bar, and bushings at the same time:D

[Jeff Williams]

I pre-fitted the plates on the strut towers, to determine whether I could use any of the holes. and found I could use 1, and had to drill a second.

Then I layed the bar across the car, and adjusted the hyme joints all the way in, then backed them out about 2 turns for adjustability.

I then marked where I needed to drill the holes in the tabs, and cut the ends off (All I had was a hack saw) I then drilled the new holes in the shortened tabs, always checking for length and clearance on the engine.

Once I had all the holes drilled, I used a grinding wheel on my drill to clean up the tabs, and painted them.

I did all this one Saturday morning, before the wife even got out of bed.

Look at Azhitman's post about his "low-budget FSTB project a success". It has some more pics.

I think its great that someone else used my idea. That is what this Forum is about!

Jeff

[1qckser]

Thanks Jeff, man your Q looks great, love the silver

[Jeff Williams]

Keystone, to answer your original question, YES, addint the strut brace helps. It increases the steering response, tremendously.

We kinda steered the thread towards the Q45, but it helped the I30 just as much.

1qckser, thanks for thh compliment. I rather enjoy the car, and since I bought Silver, I have changed my mind about Black being the only color for a vehicle. And that is a big change for me. I have had: 3 black Maximas, 1 Black I30, and 1 Black Frontier.

[1qckser]

My Q puts my White car ownership to # 3, My wife wanted a black G20T but ended up with a dark blue almost purple one. Ill keep ya posted on how my strut bar turns out, I purchased it yesterday on EBAY directparts for somethin like $12.99.:chef

[AZhitman]

Jeff - Your Q is BEAUTIFUL! Man, I love that color on a Q.

My STB had far less clearance than yours did, and I'm not sure why. However, as I type this, my buddy (who is an aircraft parts machinist) is FABRICATING new "feet" for my STB. It'll be a little beefier and he will add a little more (.75")clearance.

I disagree with the need for 1.5" of clearance. Mine actually touched the plenum in the very center, but even at WOT around a sharp corner (both ways) and a massive brake stand burnout, there are only two tiny scuffs on the bar (of course, I have brand new motor mounts, too).

All in all, this is the BEST mod for the $$$ that I've EVER seen. $8 and an hour of my time (+ a sixpack for the machinist), and it totally transforms the car.

[Jeff Williams]

Thanks for the compliment.

I tilted my bar towards the front about 15 degrees, and it gave me more clearance. It clears the plenum completely.

I would like to see your "beer-made" brackets, when you get them.

[AZhitman]

Roger that.

I'm still in the hunt for a digital camera. Frustrating when you don't have much $$$ to spend.

[DenverQ]

I have that exact same color!!!!!!!

One of these days ill take pix of the new paint!

[DenverQ]

I got mine in today and i didnt modify the tabs i just have the bolts in and its preloaded, it clears the plenem by about 1.5-2in . Very easy!! yay!

[1qckser]

Put mine in today, what a nice difference, best $12 mod so far.

[DAEDALUS]

Roger that.

I'm still in the hunt for a digital camera. Frustrating when you don't have much $$$ to spend.

Hitman, you might want to consider this deal:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...41431

It's a Canon digital camera for $190, with free shipping and (I think) no tax to you in AZ. It doesn't have an optical zoom, but it is 3.2 MP, which is nice. Preorder it today (Monday, 4/14/03) and they will begin to ship them out tomorrow. I don't have much in the way of feedback on it (too new), but you know how everyone just loves Canon's Elph line.

BTW, you need to make use of your machinist buddy a lot more often! Hell, he could fab the mounting bases from scratch using some good stuff...7075 Al or magnesium!

Careful with the plenum touching the bar. As an extreme analogy, have you ever stood on an empty soda can? It's possible until you put a tiny dent in the side--then the can collapses. I have no idea how strong the bar is, but hopefully there's no chance of it giving while you're deep in a fast corner.