Front suspension question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

SkylineDriven · 01-21-2004, 02:12 PM

I'm considering further stiffening of the front part of the chassis, and have come across 3 products that I am deciding between... all of which look different but am wondering if they all do the same thing.

Nismo Power Brace, Tanabe Front Underbrace, and Cusco Radius Rod.

After reading the review of the Nismo brace, I am kind of hesitant to get it because the reviewer said that you need to remove the front sway bar... it took me hours to put my ST bar on and I'm NOT taking it off again... unless the reviewer was mistaken and you don't have to take your entire sway bar off (if its just the end links, I can deal with that.. its the middle part I dont want to touch)

The Tanabe bar appears to just be the middle section of the Nismo brace and well its function and installation seems straight forward.

What does the Cusco bar do? I can't seem to find very much information on it... is it just like the Tanabe Underbace but is a single bar instead? Doesn't this make it weaker?

Any information about these products would be helpful... I'm trying to decide which one to buy and also how the installations are.

Dousan_PG · 01-21-2004, 02:14 PM

nismo powerbrace is best choice imho
cusco and tanabe are same thing
i think cusco is much cheaper too, not sure.

cant use nismo and the cusco/tanabe at same time.

Flybert · 01-21-2004, 02:17 PM

About the powerbrace. Can't you just weld the plates on it and then weld a bar across to affectively create the same exact thing. I know a lot of people don't have the tools or materials to do this but if he does, this is a possiblity.

JasonNagra · 01-21-2004, 02:19 PM

I thought Alex said you cant use the Cusco with the Nismo powerbrace on S13??? Or is there a way to fit it now???

Dousan_PG · 01-21-2004, 02:26 PM

oops
i meant
cant
haha
missed that

about the power brace
yes you can
but there are some differences of the power brace over stock ( ithink materials its made with) and such. but that is one way too. there are lots of DIY jobs you an do with your car if you have the knowhow and time.

JasonNagra · 01-21-2004, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dousan_PG

oops
i meant
cant
haha
missed that

Damnit! i was hoping there was a way now cause I got the powerbrace and the cusco unit is chump change! Double stiff!!! Oh well...

Wei240 · 01-21-2004, 02:47 PM

i was thinking of getting the nismo powerbrace too, but with all other suspension being the same (i don't have coilovers or adjustable anything), would the powerbrace create more understeer?

JasonNagra · 01-21-2004, 02:53 PM

I dont think it will create more understeer. I thik it will just give you more precise and direct steering. I have not installed mine yet, but I'll post a review in a month or so.

SkylineDriven · 01-21-2004, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonNagra

I dont think it will create more understeer. I thik it will just give you more precise and direct steering. I have not installed mine yet, but I'll post a review in a month or so.

Do you need to remove the front sway bar? (i kno u haven't installed it yet, but maybe the instructions tell if u have to or not)

JasonNagra · 01-21-2004, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkylineDriven

Do you need to remove the front sway bar? (i kno u haven't installed it yet, but maybe the instructions tell if u have to or not)

I don't know I got mine used so it had no instructions. I have removed the front swaybar on my friends gold coupe and its not that hard. What problem are you having removing it??

Var · 01-21-2004, 03:58 PM

I've called and emailed a bunch of different places about this same issue. I was thinking about stiffening up the front end until i found out it causes more understeer. I've decided that the front end is stiff enough with the whiteline sway bar and cp-racing triangle stut bar and the springs and the pillow ball mounts, roll cage(overall stiffness). SO---->stiffen up the rear end instead. after i install my tein rear piloow ball mounts im gonna get the solid aluminum subframe bushings.

If someone tell me how to do the washer trick i'll do that instead. i didnt get it the last time. dont mean to hijack though maybe ill start a thread.

SkylineDriven · 01-21-2004, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonNagra

I don't know I got mine used so it had no instructions. I have removed the front swaybar on my friends gold coupe and its not that hard. What problem are you having removing it??

Oh, well removing it was easy. Putting the stock one back is easy.. the hard part, is that I have a Suspension Techniques bar and that mother is HARD to put in... well it isnt hard, two of the bolts just aren't made with the right head (all of them are like that) and it takes forever to get it in.

JasonNagra · 01-21-2004, 04:05 PM

OHHH I see. Ya that kinda sucks. I'm personally going to get the Works Yamaguchi sways because I think they will use stock type endlinks which is nice.

Replicant_S14 · 01-21-2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flybert

About the powerbrace. Can't you just weld the plates on it and then weld a bar across to affectively create the same exact thing. I know a lot of people don't have the tools or materials to do this but if he does, this is a possiblity.

I'm gonna do it this weekend.

Wei240 · 01-21-2004, 04:19 PM

so in conclusion, it does cause more understeer with all other suspension components being equal?

THX1138 · 01-21-2004, 06:06 PM

I don't think the Nismo Power Brace would cause more understeer in and of itself. It doesn't stiffen the suspension, it stiffens the chassis, ie the structure of the car. Think of it kind of like a strut tower brace, but tying the ends of the frame rails together. By reducing flex in the chassis, it lets the suspension do its job more effectively. I hope to have mine in a couple of months...

HiPSI · 01-21-2004, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Replicant_S14

I'm gonna do it this weekend.

this is what i figured too. the nismo power brace just looks like it's the diagonal braces plus a crossbar tying them together. i'll just weld in a nice little crossbar and be done there

Var · 01-21-2004, 06:54 PM

Yes it does increase understeer

adey · 01-22-2004, 12:26 AM

I'd imagine it would give you marginally more understeer, too.

Les flex in the front end of the chassis means more of the lateral energy is put to the wheels/tires rather than absorbed by flex in the chassis - this would put more load on the tires, possibly exceeding their grip levels thus causing understeer.
Same concept as if you only install a front strut tower bar.

Honestly though, the increased understeer will probably be unnoticable, whereas the increased steering/front traction feedback would be noticably improved... I'd say go for it.
Worst case scenario, you have a beefy + triangulated front STB, Nismo power brace (or similar), NAMS triangle bars and spot welded front chassis, and stock rear half of the chassis... THEN you might feel that understeer...

Var · 01-22-2004, 12:33 AM

shit man i felt the understeer stock. put the cp-racing strut bars on, felt it more. Got the whiteline sway bars, felt it more..got 3 degrees camber, felt it less. Roll cage made no difference. understeer scares me more than anything. i hate plowing especially when im driving down a road so narrow that understeering a foot is eating the wall.

01-21-2004, 02:12 PM	#1
SkylineDriven Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 67 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Front suspension question I'm considering further stiffening of the front part of the chassis, and have come across 3 products that I am deciding between... all of which look different but am wondering if they all do the same thing. Nismo Power Brace, Tanabe Front Underbrace, and Cusco Radius Rod. After reading the review of the Nismo brace, I am kind of hesitant to get it because the reviewer said that you need to remove the front sway bar... it took me hours to put my ST bar on and I'm NOT taking it off again... unless the reviewer was mistaken and you don't have to take your entire sway bar off (if its just the end links, I can deal with that.. its the middle part I dont want to touch) The Tanabe bar appears to just be the middle section of the Nismo brace and well its function and installation seems straight forward. What does the Cusco bar do? I can't seem to find very much information on it... is it just like the Tanabe Underbace but is a single bar instead? Doesn't this make it weaker? Any information about these products would be helpful... I'm trying to decide which one to buy and also how the installations are. __________________ TractionOptional (dot) com

01-21-2004, 02:14 PM	#2
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	nismo powerbrace is best choice imho cusco and tanabe are same thing i think cusco is much cheaper too, not sure. cant use nismo and the cusco/tanabe at same time. __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

01-21-2004, 02:19 PM	#4
JasonNagra Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,349 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I thought Alex said you cant use the Cusco with the Nismo powerbrace on S13??? Or is there a way to fit it now??? __________________ http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f9dc7664.jpg Edit: check your link.

01-21-2004, 02:26 PM	#5
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	oops i meant cant haha missed that about the power brace yes you can but there are some differences of the power brace over stock ( ithink materials its made with) and such. but that is one way too. there are lots of DIY jobs you an do with your car if you have the knowhow and time. __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

01-21-2004, 02:53 PM	#8
JasonNagra Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,349 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I dont think it will create more understeer. I thik it will just give you more precise and direct steering. I have not installed mine yet, but I'll post a review in a month or so. __________________ http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f9dc7664.jpg Edit: check your link.

01-21-2004, 02:17 PM	#3
Flybert Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: none Posts: 3,862 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	About the powerbrace. Can't you just weld the plates on it and then weld a bar across to affectively create the same exact thing. I know a lot of people don't have the tools or materials to do this but if he does, this is a possiblity.

01-21-2004, 02:47 PM	#7
Wei240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: socal Posts: 1,778 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i was thinking of getting the nismo powerbrace too, but with all other suspension being the same (i don't have coilovers or adjustable anything), would the powerbrace create more understeer?

01-21-2004, 03:58 PM	#11
Var Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Norcal Age: 43 Posts: 5,032 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Var Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've called and emailed a bunch of different places about this same issue. I was thinking about stiffening up the front end until i found out it causes more understeer. I've decided that the front end is stiff enough with the whiteline sway bar and cp-racing triangle stut bar and the springs and the pillow ball mounts, roll cage(overall stiffness). SO---->stiffen up the rear end instead. after i install my tein rear piloow ball mounts im gonna get the solid aluminum subframe bushings. If someone tell me how to do the washer trick i'll do that instead. i didnt get it the last time. dont mean to hijack though maybe ill start a thread. __________________ Hi

01-21-2004, 04:05 PM	#13
JasonNagra Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,349 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	OHHH I see. Ya that kinda sucks. I'm personally going to get the Works Yamaguchi sways because I think they will use stock type endlinks which is nice. __________________ http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/f9dc7664.jpg Edit: check your link.

01-21-2004, 04:19 PM	#15
Wei240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: socal Posts: 1,778 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	so in conclusion, it does cause more understeer with all other suspension components being equal?

01-21-2004, 06:06 PM	#16
THX1138 Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Clemson, SC Posts: 264 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I don't think the Nismo Power Brace would cause more understeer in and of itself. It doesn't stiffen the suspension, it stiffens the chassis, ie the structure of the car. Think of it kind of like a strut tower brace, but tying the ends of the frame rails together. By reducing flex in the chassis, it lets the suspension do its job more effectively. I hope to have mine in a couple of months...

01-21-2004, 06:54 PM	#18
Var Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Norcal Age: 43 Posts: 5,032 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Var Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yes it does increase understeer __________________ Hi

01-22-2004, 12:26 AM	#19
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'd imagine it would give you marginally more understeer, too. Les flex in the front end of the chassis means more of the lateral energy is put to the wheels/tires rather than absorbed by flex in the chassis - this would put more load on the tires, possibly exceeding their grip levels thus causing understeer. Same concept as if you only install a front strut tower bar. Honestly though, the increased understeer will probably be unnoticable, whereas the increased steering/front traction feedback would be noticably improved... I'd say go for it. Worst case scenario, you have a beefy + triangulated front STB, Nismo power brace (or similar), NAMS triangle bars and spot welded front chassis, and stock rear half of the chassis... THEN you might feel that understeer...

01-22-2004, 12:33 AM	#20
Var Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Norcal Age: 43 Posts: 5,032 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Var Feedback Score: 0 reviews	shit man i felt the understeer stock. put the cp-racing strut bars on, felt it more. Got the whiteline sway bars, felt it more..got 3 degrees camber, felt it less. Roll cage made no difference. understeer scares me more than anything. i hate plowing especially when im driving down a road so narrow that understeering a foot is eating the wall. __________________ Hi