Nismo Subframe power-brace...Worth it?!?

Post by **MarkEmark** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Hey guys,I'll be replacing my tension rods over xmas vacation because they're starting to "ooze" all over the place.

However, while under there I noticed that my front subframe (I think that's what they call it), where the tension rod connects to on the passegner side was bent. It's not bent that bad and I have no alignment trouble at all, but I don't want to experience problems once I replace the tension rods, especially if they are costing me $140.

My question: HeavyThrottle sells a nismo power-brace for $179. This will completely replace the existing one and will have the tension rods bolt right up to it, correct?

Does anyone have one of these/know someone who does? Is it a worthy upgrade? Does it stiffen anything up? I'd only replace it because mine is midly bent, but if it's not worth it, since I'm having no alignment trouble, etc, I'm not going to waste my money on it...

Here's some pics of the damaged passenger subframe side vs. the normal drives side one..

http://www.eniety.com/pichost/pic/123-2 ... 62_IMG.JPG

http://www.eniety.com/pichost/pic/123-2 ... 65_IMG.JPG

And here's a pic of the $180 one Heavy Throttle sells...

Anyway, thanks for any advice,Happy Holidays,Marc

Post by **barrigas14** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

go to this website. that only costs 121.

http://www.performancenissanparts.com/

from the guys that i know that have it say it is worth it.

Post by **MarkEmark** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Beautiful! That's a lot better than $180--man, heavy throttle's a rip off.

That subframe combined with project silvia tension rods should definitely make an improvment up front

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

try calling our sponsors and seeing if they'll price match that, I'm pretty sure they will, and you'll be supporting nico(ding!)

just a thought. also, the NSIMO power brace is a very nice peice...

definately worthwhile if your curretn t/c frame is busted.-chet

Post by **MarkEmark** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Chet, do you have the nismo brace? What are the typical "gains" from such an upgrade?

Looking under the car, I'll have to take the swaybar "d" mounts/bushings off to remove the subframe...I'm thinking since I'm replacing them (the tension rods/subframe) all at once that I should be able to just undo those D mounts (and possibly the endlinks if necessary), unbolt the tension rods from the FLCA's, then just take off the entire subframe assembly, with the tension rods still attached to it...Where should you jack the car up when taking off the tension rods? Is it alright for them to just be "hanging" in the air, or should I put jack-stands underneath the front brake rotors to keep the suspension compressed?

I can't wait to have all this blingage on the underside of my car

Marc

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

I do not, you'll gain some stifness and better"feel" similar to when you put in a strut tower bar, and your steering will firm up a bit(in a good way).

I'm going to give tanabe's 'drift spec' tensionb race a shot and see how it does, its only like 90 dollars, and my sub frame isnt bent

-chet

Post by **yeswepromise** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

i have the cusco one. i installed Tension rods and the cusco tension bar at the same time and they make the front end very responsive. you get a better feel of the road.

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

I considered cusco, but I figured I'd give tanabe's stuff a try, im weird like that. We'll see how it goes once it ships. -chet

Post by **dr!ft** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Look here for some reviews on the Nismo Power Brace...

http://www.zilvia.net/reviews/...at=10

The last review (chineseb0i's) said the welds didn't look "professional"on the Power brace. Any thoughts?

Post by **MarkEmark** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Are the cusco/tanabe units a full subframe or just the brace?

I read the reviews, everyone gave it a positive one; even the one who criticized the welds on it still gave it two thumbs up. I'm not doing this upgrade because I have money burning a hole in my pocket and want a suspension upgrade; my existing subframe is slightly bent on the passenger's side where the tension rod mounts, presumably from bottoming out on a friends driveway pretty hard when there was ice build-up (another reason I don't drive my car much in this bloody winter).

For $120 I figured it couldn't hurt. I already ordered it and will be getting it not wednesday but the one after that (DAMN holiday season).

I'm looking forward to some more responsive steering/a stiffer rear end; seems like it will eliminate some understeer (even though my car is pretty neutral at the limit).

I'll let you guys know how it goes when I do it.

Yeswepromise: Do you think I can remove the whole subframe, tension rods still attached, by just disconnecting the swaybar d-mounts and unbolting the tension rods from the FLCA's? Should the suspension be compressed when I remoe the rods from the FLCA's? If it needs to be, I can just put jackstands underneath the brake rotors.

Thanks guys!Marc

Post by **dr!ft** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

MarkEmark wrote:I read the reviews, everyone gave it a positive one; even the one who criticized the welds on it still gave it two thumbs up.

Funny how that works out, eh? Seems like all of them were pretty happy with their purchase...

So Exar, did you purchase the Tanabe unit through Phase2? ($90.25 now) I'm interested in hearing your thoughts about it, once you get it installed.

Also, what about the Kazama front under brace? Albeit it lacks the side supports of the Tanabe or Nismo unit, but it is adjustable and fiddiling with things can always be fun... (that wasn't meant to be perverted;))

$120 at Phase2 - http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

yeah, I got it through phase-2, wayne's been kleeping my addiction fueled for about a year now. I got the tanabe unit becaue its not threaded in the middle and seems to have a better construction(I-beam..), but Im sure the kazama is a nice peice also, and that adjustable thread would probably help you pre-load it if you needed to...

I'll definately throw up a install and review for everyone onc i get it.-chet

Website · Post by **s13sr20chris** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

it might be a good idea to get out of the habit of using the term subframe. that term is generally understood at my shop to be the engine cradle on a 240. you may get some wierd looks if you say that you are replacing your subframe to the wrong people. another name? i dunno. just trying to help you avoid confusion.

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

but the peice we're refering to doesnt support the engine, its not a "sub frame" so to speak, our cars have REAR sub-frames, which supports the differential and other componenets...

I call it the tension rod bracket...thats what it is as far as I can term it.-chet

Post by **yeswepromise** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

FYI n00bs, the cusco and kazama ones are the same thing but different color. hmmm maybe ill go take pictures of mine...

Post by **S14Life** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Any input on these?

http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html

Under $90 for front and rear..

Website · Post by **s13sr20chris** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Exar-Kun wrote:but the peice we're refering to doesnt support the engine, its not a "sub frame" so to speak, our cars have REAR sub-frames, which supports the differential and other componenets...

I call it the tension rod bracket...thats what it is as far as I can term it.-chet

yeah, i assumed that you have a full working knowledge of all this stuff. the guy asking the question may want to refer to it as a tension rod bracket as well. i think that is a good name for it.

Post by **Exar-Kun** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

thanks for the compliment.

s14: I dislike any pilot or OBX stuff, from a personal standpoint, its all cheap stuff, my pilot shifter broke and I havent gone bkac since(no cheap-way-out ideas).

-chet

Post by **MarkEmark** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

s13sr20chris wrote:yeah, i assumed that you have a full working knowledge of all this stuff. the guy asking the question may want to refer to it as a tension rod bracket as well. i think that is a good name for it.

It makes absolutely no difference to me what its technical name is, it's not like I'm gonna drop it off at a mechanics shop and have them install it; I've NEVER taken my car to a mechanic's shop.

The only reason I called it a subframe powerbrace is because that's what heavy-throttle refers to it as. Drop them an email and tell them they're wrong. I am aware of the difference between the subframe and the two things that the tension rods bolt up to but figured you'd all know what I was talking about (and indeed you did) if I called it by the name heavy throttle called it by.

Anyway, we're just wasting space talking about this...

Post by **yeswepromise** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Post by **dr!ft** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

Ah, I like the blue on that Cusco bar!

Plus, at $81.82 (Nukabe Automotive) it defeneitly seems worth it. Are you happy with yours? Any complaints?

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

I was also very confused by the term subframe...probably because I spend way too much time reading in the Engine Mechanical section of the shop manual and not the Suspension section. Those powerbraces do look very nice though, when I do my front suspension bushings I'll look into one as well. I crawled under my car and the bushings are just horrid

Website · Post by **s13sr20chris** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

yeswepromise wrote:

purdy

Post by **tex240** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

could you post a picture of where that one mounts on the sides. i am looking at the nismo one because it looks simple to put on. thanks.

Post by **yeswepromise** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

it mounts on same location where your TC rod bolts on to.you simply put the bolt through this bar and through the rest of the traction rod brace as normal.

i dont have any complaints about it.i would rather have the nismo unti though.

Post by **tex240** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

thanks for the info. i think i am going to get the nismo unit over the b&m shifter i was thinking about.

Post by **whiterps13** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

i agree with chet, do it right the first time. if you go cheap, you end up spending more than it would be to get the pricier part in the first place. never let money influence your part decisions. just my 2 cents

Post by **Hellion240sx** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

so whats the benefits of fideling with these braces??? is that much better to get the adjustable one over o say the nismo or tanabe unit??? i cant remember who but someone should be getting it this or next week right??? thats the next piece im getting and i'll have it in time for the autox event to come. thanks

Post by **MarkEmark** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

I'm getting mine Wednesday, and my project silvia tension rods on thursday. Hopefully I'll be able to take it out thursday if enough of this bloody sand has washed off the roads from rain...although it's starting to get cold so I'm feeling they're gonna dump some more sand on the surface on account of the ice.

We'll see. I'm hoping for a noticeable improvement. I'll keep ya guys posted. The thing that's nice about the nismo unit is that it's one piece, all welded together, so it seems like it'd be structurally stronger. Plus, the brackets the tension rods mount to AND the brace are nice and stiff/stronger, not just a bar that runs between the brackets.

We'll see.

Post by **Hellion240sx** » Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:50 am

kool keep us posted! thanks

Nismo Subframe power-brace...Worth it?!?

Nismo Subframe power-brace...Worth it?!?

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