Just installed Nismo Power Brace/Battle Version tension rods...

[Meantime]

...this past weekend. Took me and my friend about 3 hours total. Not too complicated - most of the time was spent getting rusty bolts in the front loosened up. Fortunately we didn't break any, although we did strip out one of the swaybar bolts when we put it back in. Hope I won't have to ever take that one off.

So I've been driving it around with the new parts. First thing that struck me is that the ride is really not anymore harsh upfront than with the stock tension rods. In fact, I'd even say it's better with the pillowball rods. Handling is fab - the front end feels real solid, very responsive to input. You can really feel the limit of your tires in a hard turn now.

Also we put on a GReddy rear STB - that actually worked out much better than I anticipated, really firmed up the hatch area.

So was it worth it? Don't know so much about the Power Brace, that was kind of expensive, plain-looking (I'm vain) and feels pretty much just like a front STB, but the tension rods and rear STB were definitely worth it.

Time for some comp... Peace

[Dori Dori]

Yeah, I tried telling people a while ago that the sphericals in the tension rods don't make the ride any worse...they only time I notice any harshness is when I hit a drunk bump.

And you are lucky you didn't break any bolts...when I did my powerbrace, I broke half the bolts. A sub-1 hour job turned into an all day affair.

[Meantime]

Yeah, I was one of those people you told! I took your advice. Nine months later...

I was nervous getting the front bolts out, they were rusted in there good. We managed to work them all out without breaking any, but they were hot even with the WD soaking in there.

One thing I did notice today, the front end has a bit of a strange feel to it, almost like it's pointed upward. I'm probably just not used to the bracing yet. Either that or I bent something (like the crossmember. Daggone RS*R springs dropped it so low I couldn't get the stands under the frame!)

[Nismo_Freak]

Get Liquid Wrench and PB Blaster, works better than WD40

[S13ChucKAT]

impact wrench owns u

[ruf-jason]

^impact wrench, snaps bolts dead fast.

[unfrgivn]

^impact wrench, snaps bolts dead fast.

Not if you've got game. You have to caress the air tool, be one with the air tool, then it will be good to you.

[Dori Dori]

Get Liquid Wrench and PB Blaster, works better than WD40

I use PB everytime...still always breaking bolts. I have a canadian model though.