strut bar question

[sf_carfreak]

I'm planning on getting nismo front and rear strut tower bars for my 98 240sx. These are bolt on parts, but i heard you have to install them on a flat place for them to be effective. Is this true? I live in San Francisco and there are way too many hills in my neighborhood. Also if you think your body is already mis-aligned (in japanese we say 'yuganderu' don't know technical term in english...) is it worth installing the bars? Will it straighten the body or keep them mis-aligned? Sorry if I sound anal about body alignment, but I plan on riding this car for a long time and the first thing I want to do is take care of the body before doing enigne mods etc.

Thanks

PS - one more anal point, if I were to use a toruqe wrench, how tight should I tighten the bolts?

[1viadrft]

Flat-Surface-??? The strut-bars are used to make your car more rigid for cornering... hills or flat surface roads have nothing to do with their performance.

[vsiev]

he is talking about installing them on a flat surface but he only has hills, he isn't talking about the performance while driving. I believe he wants to get the best installation of the bars so he has to install them without having the car slanted. Try to find a flat area to install them, just look around hopefully you will find one.

[PureSXyness]

i think he means installing the strut bars WHILE on a hill

don't ask me why

[vsiev]

he wants to find a flat area to install the struts so that it is even or like he says "effective". He doesn't want to install them WHILE his car is on a HILL.

[sf_carfreak]

Sorry if i was ambiguos in my posting. Vsiev is correct, I just want to know the best way to install them. I won't be so anal and try to find a flat parking lot somewhere to install them.

[vsiev]

I say go search for a place even though it might be a long drive. head towards the beach most of the time they are flat and you should bring one of those measures with that water(i don't know waht you call them) to see if you are leveled. Good luck finding a spot. Oh and i think you can go somewhere to check the frame of the car if it is straight or not...forgot where you can do it though...that is if you wanted to know.

[saikou240]

i agree with vsiev...find a day when you're not busy at all and drive til you do find someplace flat. i guess you'll want to start out kinda early in the day, cuz i imagine installin them will take a while. or just find a mechanic in that flat place.
wow, is san francisco that hilly? i went there once, but i can't remember everythin bein on an incline. drivin manual there must be a bitch.

[khfromhb]

try to install them on a hill and you will know why you shouldnt the mounts will be about a 1/4 inch off from body flex but if u can get them on then do it they wont keep your body flexed like that so if u can get them on then do it

[khfromhb]

i went to San Fran just to drift the most crooked road in america and it was almost too crooked even to drift but it was still fun.San Fran rocks!!! oh and driving stick there isnt bad as long is you can heel-toe drive well.

[sf_carfreak]

thanks for all the replies...was this site down for a couple of days? I couldn't connect to the server at all. Driving in SF isn't that bad once you get used to it. I either stalled like crazy or burned rubber trying to start on hills I think there's a mall parking lot that's flat enough for me to install the bars (Although I'll look stupid doing that in a parking lot...). Anyways, appreciate the input.

[Frostbyte]

Are you telling me that all the parking lots are on hills also. I have been to SF there are plenty of places that are flat. Also it is fine if you install them on a hill as long as the car is not leaning to the right or left.

[stealthj]

wait till u go visit relatives out of town or something like that

[PureSXyness]

Originally Posted by sf_carfreak

I'm planning on getting nismo front and rear strut tower bars for my 98 240sx.

where are you getting those from?
i'm interesting in getting some too