n3985's review of carnal_c30's subframe collars
03-27-2010, 10:08 PM
#1
n3985's review of carnal_c30's subframe collars
Had my subframe collars installed with the help of member tavarish, whom I highly recommend for any tri-state members for work on their Maximas, very nice and knowledgeable guy! 
My car currently have the following suspension mods:
However one of my biggest peeves was going over a bump or an indented manhole cover I felt the car had some slop/play before the struts did their job. Kind of like drive over a bump and there is a loose-ness feeling before the struts absorbed the bump.
Then carnal_c30 posted the subframe collars FS thread here:
http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...e-collars.html
Which is suppose to alleviate my preceding qualms. After getting them installed, which was much simpler than expected I can say they do what they are said to do. The car going over imperfections is definitely "firmer" (not more harsh) and takes the impact better and everything feels more solid.
Is it a night and day difference? No
Can you feel the change right away? Yes
Worth the $? For $89.01 to stiffen up the noodle chassis of the Maxima? Definitely!
Here are some pics:
My car ready to go under the knife!
My car currently have the following suspension mods:
- Cattman Titanium FSTB
- Progress RSB
- Subframe connectors
- Eibach Pro Kit springs
- Tokico Illumina struts
- ES swaybar bushings
However one of my biggest peeves was going over a bump or an indented manhole cover I felt the car had some slop/play before the struts did their job. Kind of like drive over a bump and there is a loose-ness feeling before the struts absorbed the bump.
Then carnal_c30 posted the subframe collars FS thread here:
http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...e-collars.html
Which is suppose to alleviate my preceding qualms. After getting them installed, which was much simpler than expected I can say they do what they are said to do. The car going over imperfections is definitely "firmer" (not more harsh) and takes the impact better and everything feels more solid.
Is it a night and day difference? No
Can you feel the change right away? Yes
Worth the $? For $89.01 to stiffen up the noodle chassis of the Maxima? Definitely!
Here are some pics:
My car ready to go under the knife!
03-27-2010, 10:09 PM
#2
First collar installed on driver's side:
and 2nd (this is the same bolt as the first, one on top one on bottom)
3rd and 4th collar being installed:
All done on one side!
and 2nd (this is the same bolt as the first, one on top one on bottom)
3rd and 4th collar being installed:
All done on one side!
Last edited by n3985; 03-27-2010 at 10:11 PM.
03-29-2010, 08:14 AM
#9
03-29-2010, 08:15 AM
#10
I have this inevitable looseness from my front passenger side that no1 has been able to properly dianose and fix... ive changed my LCA bushings, endlinks and sway bar bushings...even got coilovers thinking it was the strut. The noise attenuates when theres no weight on the front pass side, weight actually minimizes the noise.
Soft clunk on dips, hard thuds (like the front end is breaking) on bumps. Progressive with speed...
No play in tie rods/bearings. Everything firm. Based on what fixes my solution (to an extent) and what these are designed to do im giving this a shot. Plus like you said, anything that stiffens this noodle of a suspension is worth it!
Lets hope this fixes it...will keep you guys posted.
Thansk for the review bro.
Soft clunk on dips, hard thuds (like the front end is breaking) on bumps. Progressive with speed...
No play in tie rods/bearings. Everything firm. Based on what fixes my solution (to an extent) and what these are designed to do im giving this a shot. Plus like you said, anything that stiffens this noodle of a suspension is worth it!
Lets hope this fixes it...will keep you guys posted.
Thansk for the review bro.
03-29-2010, 08:33 AM
#13
Hard to tell, plus a tech would be able to diagnose that if that was the case... I'll play it out with these and if that fails, give up all together
03-29-2010, 09:37 AM
#14
Awaiting mine to come in! Motor is out now, so install should be even more of a breeze. Funny thing is, I haven't driven my car in so long, I forgot how it felt already, so it's going to be all new to me anyway.
03-29-2010, 09:57 AM
#16
Don't you have a frame brace underneath your car already? I would think that would overshadow something like this, no? Either way, I'm wanting to hear your feedback on this after you install.
BTW, OP... good thread!
BTW, OP... good thread!
Last edited by Rochester; 03-29-2010 at 11:06 AM.
04-02-2010, 01:38 PM
#19
The install on the front part is not as easy as everyone thinks. Control arm and end link had to be unbolted and tucked away from vehicle in order for bump stop to be removed. No other way around it.
Additionally, the C washers on the rear bolt are not snug, causing them to move and fall out of the vehicle. Anyone with a 5.5 gen having this same problem?
EDIT: This problem is easily resolved by installing metal shims above the C washer for the rear. Naturally, they have to be notched. This is definetely something that should be metioned by the manufacturer.
Additionally, the C washers on the rear bolt are not snug, causing them to move and fall out of the vehicle. Anyone with a 5.5 gen having this same problem?
EDIT: This problem is easily resolved by installing metal shims above the C washer for the rear. Naturally, they have to be notched. This is definetely something that should be metioned by the manufacturer.
Last edited by rroderiques77; 04-02-2010 at 03:39 PM.
04-04-2010, 04:35 PM
#21
EDIT: I just looked at your pics again and your car does not have bump stops like mine. I will take some pics so you can understand what I mean.
Last edited by rroderiques77; 04-04-2010 at 04:37 PM.
04-04-2010, 04:36 PM
#22
The suspension assembly is the same between SE, GLE, GXE, minus the front swaybar and IIRC the springs. I have an I35 which is equal to GLE. When the front collars were installed, a simple deep socket was used with a breaker bar.
04-04-2010, 04:41 PM
#23
Well. My front bolts sit above a bump stop, which has to be removed with a large hex. There is no room to squeeze in a wrench in there and worm the sob out.
04-05-2010, 10:37 PM
#28
04-06-2010, 06:53 AM
#30
lol
04-06-2010, 10:20 PM
#35
04-07-2010, 07:04 AM
#36
Has this been adressed by the seller yet?
Or is this problem somehow peculiar to this vehicle only?
04-07-2010, 07:28 AM
#37
04-07-2010, 07:32 AM
#38
Oh wow, that's exactly what that looks like. Stranger things have been known to happen.
Except Roy said he had to remove it for the install, implying he put it back again. So that's probably not a stuck socket:
Except Roy said he had to remove it for the install, implying he put it back again. So that's probably not a stuck socket:
Last edited by Rochester; 04-07-2010 at 07:36 AM.
04-07-2010, 08:32 AM
#40
no^^^^
I guess one could leave these things off. But it sounds like I'm the only one that has them.
EDIT: I just contacted Nissan directly and they also had no idea what I was talking about. Well, it's there and it's factory.
Weird....
I guess one could leave these things off. But it sounds like I'm the only one that has them.
EDIT: I just contacted Nissan directly and they also had no idea what I was talking about. Well, it's there and it's factory.
Weird....
Last edited by rroderiques77; 04-07-2010 at 08:40 AM.