NWP Engineering Engine Torque Link Bracing Kit Installation and REVIEW!!!!!
07-18-2009, 10:35 AM
#1
Kevlo for President
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NWP Engineering Engine Torque Link Bracing Kit Installation and REVIEW!!!!!
So I am the first person to try these new engine braces on a 4th gen. This product is suppose to help reduce wheel hop and improve driveability.
That is what comes in the box. Everything is made of very high quality materials and I was very impressed with how everything looked and felt.
Installation
The install is just like the instructions that came with the brace say it is. It is very strait forward. Just be careful when removing the 10mm bolts from the chassis. They might be old and corroding; thus the heads might strip off the bolts. I did not have this problem but others might. We can only use 3 of the 4 bolt holes on the chassis bracket. But this is fine since the hole we do not use is 1in away from the bottom bolt. The brace is still plenty strong and those three bolts that we do use are fine.
I started by hand tightening one of the brackets to the pass side engine mount.
That is what comes in the box. Everything is made of very high quality materials and I was very impressed with how everything looked and felt.
Installation
The install is just like the instructions that came with the brace say it is. It is very strait forward. Just be careful when removing the 10mm bolts from the chassis. They might be old and corroding; thus the heads might strip off the bolts. I did not have this problem but others might. We can only use 3 of the 4 bolt holes on the chassis bracket. But this is fine since the hole we do not use is 1in away from the bottom bolt. The brace is still plenty strong and those three bolts that we do use are fine.
I started by hand tightening one of the brackets to the pass side engine mount.
Last edited by Kevlo911; 07-18-2009 at 10:39 AM.
07-18-2009, 10:35 AM
#2
Kevlo for President
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Hand tighten those three bolts in.
Next you will want to get the brace and adjust the ends so that it lines up with both brackets. Make sure you test fit it in before tightening anything. Once that is done, tighten the bolts to the specified tq in the instructions.
Review
I have only put a couple of miles on the car so far but so far I love it. I used to have a lot of wheel hop and it would make the car somewhat annoying to drive in first gear. But now with the brace in the engine does not move as much and the shifting is so much smoother. This is how the car should have felt from the beginning. Every shift is easier to do and feels better. At WOT, the shifting is nice and smooth.
I would say this mod is a must for anyone who is modding and has wheel hop/jerking. I highly recommend it and it is easily one of the best mods I have bought. I will update the review once I get more miles on it.
**I just put more miles on it. It SEEMS to make the clutch engage smoother, the car doesn't vibrate as much when starting from a stop. Simply perfect! They might seem expensive but you gotta pay to play, this is some real high quality stuff and it really improves the overall feel of the car. I will try to get a vid of it with and w/o the brace eventually to show you guys.
You can purchase it here:
http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...now-stock.html
Last edited by Kevlo911; 07-19-2009 at 07:19 AM.
07-18-2009, 11:43 AM
#9
07-18-2009, 11:51 AM
#12
The Engine Torque Link kit has been released for over a month now and a lot of 5.5 gens have had them installed during most of that time. We spent the last 6+ months doing nothing but testing this kit in a 2002 Maxima. It's way overengineered, which the way I like it.
07-18-2009, 11:56 AM
#13
Kevlo for President
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It even helps when you are driving normally and let off the gas; say in 1st gear you hit like 3k rpms and let off the gas, it is much smoother and does not jerk like it used to.
07-18-2009, 12:03 PM
#14
http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...now-stock.html
07-18-2009, 12:25 PM
#16
A good video of some (rather extreme) wheelhop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGQ6mR7q_o
And another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHlEW...eature=related
Wheelhop in first and second, GTO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anHrv...eature=related
07-18-2009, 02:43 PM
#21
Nice! GJ man! Can't wait to order mine next week!
07-18-2009, 05:14 PM
#23
Yes, he likes them. Read the review! 
...gonna have to go look to confirm.
07-18-2009, 06:30 PM
#25
A good video of some (rather extreme) wheelhop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGQ6mR7q_o
07-18-2009, 06:38 PM
#26
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lowell/Boston, MA
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Too expensive. I'm sorry. Just can't see paying $170 for this(IN MY honest opinion). Maybe like $75 or less then $100 but only if it including one for the transmount. Arron is a good guy and I support his name(and wear his stickers on my car) but I just can't see myself getting these until the price goes down a tad bit. I am also affair of it possibly cracking over time around the treads once that timing cover motor mount gets weak because I drive like an animal.
07-19-2009, 11:59 AM
#28
I think it's interesting how the posted reviews from several people don't talk about upgraded motor mounts. I'm assuming most are on stock mounts, which would make these braces feel like night and day, and in which case I would highly recommend them too. It would also be a great idea for automatic transmission people who are too afraid to unplug the radiator mount electronic control mount.
Dr J
Dr J
07-19-2009, 12:57 PM
#29
I just hope people replace their worn out control arm bushings and mounts before or when they do this mod, cause I can see someone trying to make a thread now bashing this item.
BTW Kev that makes me ask what condition are your bushings in and what is the hardnest of your poly mount
BTW Kev that makes me ask what condition are your bushings in and what is the hardnest of your poly mount
07-19-2009, 02:22 PM
#30
07-19-2009, 03:32 PM
#31
Kevlo for President
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I just hope people replace their worn out control arm bushings and mounts before or when they do this mod, cause I can see someone trying to make a thread now bashing this item.
BTW Kev that makes me ask what condition are your bushings in and what is the hardnest of your poly mount
BTW Kev that makes me ask what condition are your bushings in and what is the hardnest of your poly mount
My control arms are new from nissan with less than 20k on them. Tie rods were replaced at same time. I have ES sway bar bushings.
The only worn bushing is my tranny mount and my rear trailing arm bushings.
The 1-2 shift at wot feeels GRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT now haha
07-19-2009, 07:17 PM
#36
07-19-2009, 07:32 PM
#37
Why do you say that? I am honestly clueless, as I don't know a ton about suspension stuff. After reading Kev's review (thanks, btw!) I was considering purchasing a set next month, since I have some nasty wheelhop myself even at partial throttle in 1st gear, and I'm nearly stock!
07-19-2009, 08:42 PM
#38
Too expensive. I'm sorry. Just can't see paying $170 for this(IN MY honest opinion). Maybe like $75 or less then $100 but only if it including one for the transmount. Arron is a good guy and I support his name(and wear his stickers on my car) but I just can't see myself getting these until the price goes down a tad bit. I am also affair of it possibly cracking over time around the treads once that timing cover motor mount gets weak because I drive like an animal.
07-20-2009, 01:18 AM
#39
Anyways, as others have stated, the $170 is legit. Yes, the parts could be found cheaper elsewhere, but you won't have the R&D behind it. Your parts aren't likely to fit as perfectly as NWP's. You're not gonna have the hours of testing to be sure it works. You're also missing out on having others with the same part for several months and report/review the positive gains. You're taking a huge gamble if you DIY on this. Worth the $170? Better think long and hard...
Dr J
07-20-2009, 07:07 AM
#40
That's the reason why no one makes/sells aftermarket parts for us anymore. Congrats.
