Product Test Review: Racingline Front/Rear Endlinks on 07+ Sedan

[One Crazy Max]

Front Endlinks: On monday i got my racingline front and rear endlinks for an 02-06 altima for testing. i installed the front ones yesterday because i thought those would be more difficult than the rears. it turns out that it wasnt difficuly at all and it only took about 30-45 mins to install and they fit up perfectly. i really like the fact that they are adjustable while not even having to take them off the car.

Test Drive: as soon as you take the car out on the road you can feel the difference. the steering feels more responsive and the front end of the car felt even more solid that it was before. i even noticed when i shifted gears that the transition between shifts is even smoother (btw my car is a 6MT). this surprised me because i wouldve never thought that endlinks would be able to do that...but it did. the front of the car just feels more connected and planted to the ground. there is almost no lean at all going through turns, and i can take turns harder now, although i wont until i upgrade from these garbage turanzas. from the drive i can say that these endlinks drastically improve the handling of the car more than i expected. it lets the suspension react much faster than before, than with those wimpy looking stock endlinks, and the ride is a little bit firmer, but nothing you would notice unless you paid attention to it. there is no change in noise, and you will definately notice the change. i recommend this mod to you all, it makes a difference.

here are the pics. the bar is a little scratched up because i had to use a pliers to tighten it because i didnt have the proper wrench, so it doesnt come like that just in case you were wondering

this is how they arrived

stock(left) vs. racingline(right)...you can definately see the difference in size!!

installed on car

close-up

these should most likely fit the coupe as well.

[One Crazy Max]

Rear Endlinks: i was able to install the rear endlinks today without a problem. these actually took about 10 less minutes to install than the fronts, so i was correct in my hypothesis on difficulty. these endlinks, just like the ones in the front, are much more better than stock. they are beefier, adjustable to mount in many different ways, and they look a whole lot better. the rears actually have the racingline logo on them which is pretty cool. it probably took me less than 30 mins to install these, and probably wouldve been even faster if my arms didnt get tired from being up so long. these are also adjustable without removing them from the car.

Test Drive: well the addition of these endlinks along with the fronts made the cars handling improve even more. driving straight, i tossed the wheel side to side to see how the car would react, and there was no delay in movement. everytime i pointed the wheel where i wanted to go, it went there as soon as i turned it. the car feels even more connected now from front to back, and side to side, and it feels even more planted to the ground that with the Front endlinks, and those were a drastic change as well. this is another mod i would suggest to you all as well. i was not able to take the car through turns yet, but i will tommorow when i got to school. i already know that i will feel the difference on the hwy on-ramps.

another thing to note...with all 4 endlinks installed there is less wheel hop, which is a great plus. that means more traction :

soon to complement these two mods, i will upgrade my tires to a stickier compound in order for the car to feel even more planted. also i am looking to upgrade the rear sway bar, which is connected to the rear endlinks, to a bigger one, but i have to do some research still, i was thinking about using the 26.5mm SE-R RSB since the 02+ Altimas are using similar Rear suspension setups. im not sure yet, but those mods will sure make the car handle even better than it is now. and then later on down the road, i will upgrade my springs/struts to stiffer components.

here are the pictures of the rear endlinks, stock and racingline ones.

racingline rear endlinks

stock endlink(left) vs. Racingline Endlink(right)

stock endlink installed

Racingline Endlink installed

these should most likely fit the coupe as well. the suspension setups on both cars are not that differentcontact "taz" for more info regarding info on these and other racingline products. +1 for a great product and vendor.

[leifab]

So...forgive me on my newbishness here...but is this just to make the turn-ins stiffer and provide less body roll during cornering? Are you really going to feel the effects of this unless you have stiffer sway bars installed too?

[mcheddadi]

I don't get it...are those endlinks stiffer or shorter? how could they change the steering feel?

they are filed with gas to expand and contract or something?

[One Crazy Max]

first to answer leifab, these endlinks along with making turn-in stiffer and provide less body roll they also tighten up the suspension. with the stock endlinks, since they are thinner they flex and also allow the sway bar to flex more over bumps and in turns, which means that movement from side to side and front to back go through the sway bar before it goes to the spring and strut. and, no you do not need stiffer sway bars to feel the effects of these. they allow the sway bar to actually use its potential better than the stockers.

now to mcheddadi's questions. these endlinks are not filled with any gas of any sort. instead they are 2 threaded bolts connected in a threaded rod which can either elongate it or shorten the endlink. when they are shortened all the way, yes they are shorter than the stock endlink, but not by much, maybe 5-8mm. and yes they are much stiffer compared to the stockers, and are made with much better material. they are about 3 times the thickness of the stock endlink, so you do the math.

the way that it changes steering feel is simple. it tightens up the front sway bar, which creates less flex in the bar, which then leads to quicker reaction from the rest of the suspension because there is less flex. because there is less flex this allows the springs and struts to do their job properly.

you might not understand what i am describing here or you might, but trust me when you drive a stock 3.5SE and my car with the upgraded endlinks, you will notice the difference. i dont want to say its drastic, but it clearly is!

[mcheddadi]

I like

we need some groupbuy action

[TheBourneAltimatum]

what i cant wait for is the release of the strut tower brace...too bad taz lives in canada and that many people are around where he lives to do R&D [cough]Mehdi[/cough]

[One Crazy Max]

i got them for a reduced price, because i am testing them.

im sure you guys can get something going with him and try to get a group buy. if enough people want them, he can probably work something out with everyone. its and excellent product, and his company provides very good customer service, from what i experienced.
Modified by One Crazy Max at 2:24 AM 4/16/2008

[One Crazy Max]

what i cant wait for is the release of the strut tower brace...too bad taz lives in canada and that many people are around where he lives to do R&D [cough]Mehdi[/cough]

honestly the addition of only the front endlinks was to me equivalent and probably better than only a FSTB. but im sure with the combination of both it will make the car handle better than with only one of them.

i can honestly say this is by far one of the best mods that i have ever done to any of my cars, and it is so simple and improves so much.

[mcheddadi]

well I just sent him an email to try out the endlink on my 08 3.5 Altima Coupe.

Hope he accepts, since I'm soo close to him

[adidas2go]

Nice Mehdi! Pre-welcome to the prototype group

[TheBourneAltimatum]

taz? whats his email?

lol taz is his Screen name..i dont think he's a member here but if you go to racinglineperformance.com and hit the "contact us" button his email should pop up...he started his business back when he had his 1st gen altima i think. and he's been selling his products to the former altimas.net and then just started making products for all nissans...any way i think his endlink will totally complement your RSB

[TheBourneAltimatum]

Nice Mehdi! Pre-welcome to the prototype group

ninja edit FTL lol you made feel like i posted in the wrong thread, i was like WTF? and then i realized what you did

[adidas2go]

ninja edit FTL lol you made feel like i posted in the wrong thread, i was like WTF? and then i realized what you did

Haha sorry dude, I was gonna hit him up for the prototype if he was in cali, but I read Medhi's post after I posted, so i had to ninja edit

[mcheddadi]

Finally a company in Canada lol! I was thinking I'd never get some sweet prototype action with you snatching it all lol

[leifab]

hmmmm.....Coquitlam, BC....thats only about 3 hours from me...maybe i should hit him up!

ROFL Adidas...you realize you that Mehdi is over twice as far from Racingline than you are!!

Camarillo, CA to coquitlam, bc = 1,293 mi or 2081 kmMontreal, QC to coquitlam, bc = 3 038 mi or 4,890 km!!

[mcheddadi]

Well taz who works at racingline is located in toronto, and he has the endlink, so that makes him closer to me

[leifab]

Nice!! Go beat on his door! Get some new stuff for our cars...the pickens are gettin slim!!

[TheBourneAltimatum]

Well taz who works at racingline is located in toronto, and he has the endlink, so that makes him closer to me

taz owns the company

[ursus]

soon to complement these two mods, i will upgrade my tires to a stickier compound in order for the car to feel even more planted. also i am looking to upgrade the rear sway bar, which is connected to the rear endlinks, to a bigger one, but i have to do some research still, i was thinking about using the 26.5mm SE-R RSB since the 02+ Altimas are using similar Rear suspension setups. im not sure yet, but those mods will sure make the car handle even better than it is now. and then later on down the road, i will upgrade my springs/struts to stiffer components.

Hey Crazy Max,the 26.5 mm RSB you're talking about, is that also from racingline? is it hollow? or solid? thanks.

[tarek]

hmmmm.....Coquitlam, BC....thats only about 3 hours from me...maybe i should hit him up!

According to google maps to the postal code on their website the distance is "6.0 km – about 14 mins". lol I live in Coquitlam myself. Too bad I don't have my coupe yet so I can hit 'em up That's awesome that there's someone in Coquitlam working on stuff for the altima though!

[Italianbulldog85]

I have to ask because i dont know too much about handling upgrades...

If they were to fit on the A/C would they be the same for the 2.5 and 3.5?

[One Crazy Max]

ursus...the RSB im talking about is the OEM sway bar from the 05-06 SE-R's. i was comtemplating the fitment before because of the endlinks mounting angles, but now im more than certain they will fit. people are saying that its hollow, but i wont know until i get it. and no racingline doesnt sell it.

Italianbulldog85...if they fit either of the models of the A/C they will fit all of them because the setup of the suspension is relatively the same, with the exception of larger diameter sway bars on the SE models.

[Racingline]

I don't get it...are those endlinks stiffer or shorter? how could they change the steering feel?

they are filed with gas to expand and contract or something?

They are shorter and stiffer. for the front, your endlinks are attached to the strut, therefore they must rotate while turning. Being slightly stiffer generates slightly more feedback into the steering wheel.

So...forgive me on my newbishness here...but is this just to make the turn-ins stiffer and provide less body roll during cornering? Are you really going to feel the effects of this unless you have stiffer sway bars installed too?

They will work and be felt with both stock and aftermarket sway bars

Groupbuy----------- very possible

FSTB---- starting soon, 2 possible testers have been found...Tarek you have email

TAZ=RACINGLINE= BC........formerly of ON

[mcheddadi]

Did you get my email taz?

[mcheddadi]

Nice Mehdi! Pre-welcome to the prototype group

Oh yeah I'm officially part of the prototype group as of now
Modified by mcheddadi at 8:04 PM 4/16/2008

[spockrock]

Too bad raceline are not in TO I would of let you guys prototype my car as well...... being a TO resident and all.

If you guys are looking for another 3.5SE you can email me.

[razah9]

Oh yeah I'm officially part of the prototype as of now group

Sweet.

So any word on how much this might run? Rough ball park, less thana $100 or what?

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Racingline, I would be happy to set you up at a Vendor. Typically group buys are reserved for Sponsors of Nico but I have an email in to Greg (AZHitman) who can make the decisions for you on this.

Thank you for your support of our community! Its much appreciated

-Tyler

[mcheddadi]

I don't know yet. I'll email taz for some general ideas on price

I hope we can have a nice big groupbuy if they work on our coupe.