Who uses shakitto plates? Are they worth the $200? Other braces I should look at?

[az_240]

I basically have some pillowball links, poly bushings, coilovers and a power brace but still get some roll... I def need some more chassis bracing.

Just purchased some NAMS knock-off fender braces for my s14 on ebay and saw these plates called shakitto plates on another forum... searched around and did not find much info on them other than they help reduce flexing under hard braking.

So who uses these and are they worth the money?

Anybody know where I can get these for cheaper? $200 for some sheet metal looking things just does not seem worth it but people say they work...

Anybody know if it would be worth it to get these even after purchasing fender braces?

Im thinking about getting some solid strut braces and a rear cross bar as well but might go with these shakitto before I purchase those....

What other braces actually make a difference as far as stiffening the chassis...? This is my DAILY DRIVER so a cage is out of the question.

Thanks

[silnismo]

shakitto plates are just braces for the shock towers, which like all braces just help strengthening that area of the chasis. The direct benefit from this should be A. heavy braking & trail braking and B. better intial turn in when the front chasis flexes.

not worth it IMO,

my advice would be save up another 200$ and get an cusco 4pt if your concerned about roll & DD.

[az_240]

how are the ladder bars for an s14? I had to search around for some pics to figure out how they attached... Honestly does not seem like they would do much... but they are fairly cheap so they might be worth it?

A 4pt cage doesnt seem like a bad idea as long as I dont have to hack up my panels too much.... I'll have to research it more...

[trsilvias13]

i got mine for $100 or something like that a long time ago. I like the mod a lot and feel some difference, but I wouldnt pay $200 for it.

[Brian]

For what it might be worth


A long time ago Koguchi did a review of a bunch of different bars and shit for s13.
tower bars, cage, stabilizer bars, shakkito plate, fender brace, the do luck bars...

Shakkito plates were rated pretty high on there.

[s13coupedrfter]

I got some on my s13. They do add some rigidity to the towers but they also look great. Only thing is the nams are designed for the jdm chassis so if your installing them on the usdm chassis you will have to ditch the wiper motor.

[Def]

No wiper motor = bad news. I couldn't imagine how bad it'd suck to be out on track in misting rain without wipers...


A part of me has always wanted to see eBay knockoffs of these since they ARE really high given the difficulty of making them.

[racepar1]

Weld a couple bars from the strut tower to the firewall. It'll cost you like $20 (plus welding if you can't weld) and take a whole hour or so to make. I wouldn't pay $200 for those personally. Now if I saw a set for cheap on the F/S forum on the other hand..........

[ayuaddict]

If Koguchi Yoshinori sama wrote in a publication that smearing human feces all over the drivers side fender would make my car turn in quicker and more predictable, i would be out raiding port-o-pottys and smearing my passenger side fender in shit.

[Aeroscraper326]

They work

They are awesome

the 200 is justified if your at a high enough driving level to ACTUALLY FEEL every little difference and adjustment

They rule

[mademedoit]

I have a 92 240sx with the nismo powerbrace, tein front stb, dc rear stb and a megan pilar bar all installed separately over time in that order. So I can tell you that a quality FRONT stb will make the biggest difference, the rear stb did a good job stopping the rattling and the pillar bar only made a slight difference if any. If you already bought some good fender braces that connect to the door hinges then the nams braces might be over kill anyways.

[Dousan_PG]

what racepar1 said
seriously
i wouldnt not pay for this when u could weld some in to do the same exact thing.

[az_240]

The nams knock-off fender braces require removal of the wiper motor? Ive been searching everywhere on these things and nobody has said anything about having to remove the wiper motor....

And unfortunately not all of us have access or the knowledge to use a welder and I just dont feel safe having some random weld things to my engine bay

I actually found some of these plates for $180 shipped and I'm kinda thinking of doing it....

[Def]

Originally Posted by az_240

The nams knock-off fender braces require removal of the wiper motor? Ive been searching everywhere on these things and nobody has said anything about having to remove the wiper motor....

And unfortunately not all of us have access or the knowledge to use a welder and I just dont feel safe having some random weld things to my engine bay

I actually found some of these plates for $180 shipped and I'm kinda thinking of doing it....

I read it as the Shakitto plates require the removal of the wiper motor. Fender braces don't come anywhere close to the wiper motor.

[Dousan_PG]

im assuming u already have raelly useful stuff like oil cooler, good tires, good brakes and pads and decent gauges before u buy stuf flike this.
which is nice but not necessary.

[EDacIouSX]

i have these for my s14, i noticed a big difference. this coupled with a 3 point strut bar made a huge difference.


and about that 4 point roll cage.... think about it. if you divide the car into three parts, front (a pillar and forward) middle (between A pillar and C pillar) and the rear, everything after C pillar, 4 point roll cage only strengthens the center of the car. most people think that slapping on a roll cage will strengthen the chasis so much that they don't have to bother with other mods. but think about it, after stiffening up the center, then now you have a weak front and rear which will flex while the center stays planted.

also BTW

STRUT TOWER PLATES prevent the strut towers from moving up and down. So when you are driving and going over bumps, the tower plates will prevent the shock tower from bending down at the fire wall point as well as bending up. it does a lot more than just stiffening under hard breakin.

damnit, don't have pix of my setup, will post it later.

[az_240]

oil cooler? for a KA? im good....
currently running 225/40 goodyear GS-D3s on some rota p45r rims...
Love this wheel combo! As for brakes 300zx all rebuilt with hawk pads, ss lines, ebrake all that good stuff...

No gauges till I swap the KA... Gonna focus on suspension and paint then some track time for now.


Anybody know about these fender braces tho? I gotta have wipers...

[derek_s13]

^^^
i think dousan was trying to say that although he acknowledges that shakkito plates are functional,
they're not that high on the priority list.

EDIT: fuck. he beat me to it.

[Dousan_PG]

oh i thought u had an sr haha
save the 180 for the swap
that little shit adds up.

i spent a lot of money on braces when i had ka
ladder bars, cage, arms
its fun and all
but not the smae kind of fun as it is when u have power.

[az_240]

I gotta get some chassis stuff... I basically have nothing besides that power brace which is great but I feel its just not enough.... Not only that but I still have other plans... such as paint... my shits been peeling baaaaad. I feel ashamed driving this thing sometimes just because of the paint.

/edit:
I laugh at Dbags that neg rep for no reason at all and are too scared to reveal themselves....

[EDacIouSX]

Originally Posted by az_240

I gotta get some chassis stuff... I basically have nothing besides that power brace which is great but I feel its just not enough.... Not only that but I still have other plans... such as paint... my shits been peeling baaaaad. I feel ashamed driving this thing sometimes just because of the paint.

/edit:
I laugh at Dbags that neg rep for no reason at all and are too scared to reveal themselves....

get sway bars, those make a big difference.

[Dousan_PG]

save the money for paint then
this stuff yeah its nice
but u just want to spend money you have lying around
dont burn it up
save it up
for cool stuff.

[zoomswimmer]

I've heard that Shakitto plates don't work as well unless you have fender braces. I'm just waiting to get some fender braces before I install mine. Someone did a thread where you can install them without doing anything to the windshield wiper motor, but i think you have to drill holes.

[!Zar!]

I think if braces are a priority:

1. Front lower control arm brace; something like a nismo power brace or what not.

2. Brake Master Cylinder brace. That's something worth investing in.

3. Fender braces would be a good choice; strengthens the area since it's weak due to being a crumple zone.



For s13, rear subframe brace.

[az_240]

Originally Posted by !Zar!

I think if braces are a priority:

1. Front lower control arm brace; something like a nismo power brace or what not.

2. Brake Master Cylinder brace. That's something worth investing in.

3. Fender braces would be a good choice; strengthens the area since it's weak due to being a crumple zone.



For s13, rear subframe brace.

Where does one purchase this brake master cylinder brace? Also I have a 300zx BMC... Does that make a difference?

I know the carbing front strut bars have them but they are like $250 just for a fuckin strut bar!

[Brian]

I am going to battle Dousan here.

Look, how much money have I put into MY SR? $0

(well, unless you count all the accessories I bought for it, even though I didn't have an actual engine)


at any rate, PAINT is high on the list.
There is no need to have your car look like garbage.
This idea of drift cars looking like they came from the junkyard has GOT to go out the window. NOW.

So, get some paint.

Keep the KA

Get as many braces and bars as possible.

i LOVE it.


<3 Dousan

[Def]

Originally Posted by Brian

I am going to battle Dousan here.

Look, how much money have I put into MY SR? $0

(well, unless you count all the accessories I bought for it, even though I didn't have an actual engine)


at any rate, PAINT is high on the list.
There is no need to have your car look like garbage.
This idea of drift cars looking like they came from the junkyard has GOT to go out the window. NOW.

So, get some paint.

Keep the KA

Get as many braces and bars as possible.

i LOVE it.


<3 Dousan

I love my $50 Rustoleum paintjob. It looks ok from about 10 ft away, up close it's obviously not bling-bling, or even a single stage urethane at that(no clearcoat). When I come in off the track and have rubber marks all the way up the hood, and have swathes of corrosive brake dust all over the car, I can't help but be happy that I can just not give a crap.

It even gets a few compliments here and there funnily enough.


More power or better suspension is way more fun than a baller paintjob...

[!Zar!]

Brian hits Dousan with tackle.

Dousan looses -121hp.


Braces and bars do help. When I added the ones on my s13/s14, I loved the feel I got. But you NEED suspension. Like coilovers or something.

No point buying braces while still on shitty oem susp.

[Brian]

Oh, I dream of braces.

I'd like the whole DO Luck setup.
well, except for that fake cage thing they had.

it is cool, but i have a saftey21 sooooo

[!Zar!]

I had all the braces, minus that cage rear thing. Fuck that.

I hate I sold them.

FUCK.