Kinda a dumb question, I know, dont flame me. Just got my Blox spacer and havent picked up a aftermarket strut bar yet. Really wanted to throw this thing on, for regular street driving, no heavy cornering etc, will i be ok without the front strut bar for a bit? Do you really need it? Whats the car like without it? Again sorry its probably a dumb question but im curious. Thanks!

 

You can drive without the front strut bar but your car will handle like crap.

 

If you haven't installed the spacer already, just wait until you get a new strut bar.

You can accomplish both installs at one time.

 

Ok, next question, is there anybody in SOCAL thats selling an aftermarket strut bar?

 

Are you sure you can't just use spacers to lift up your strut bar enough to clear? It would just be simple washers...

What size spacer do you have?

Front strut bars are not included in 99% of the cars on the road, it is merely a handling upgrade that is standard on this particular car. You can drive without and may not even notice a difference depending on your driving style. You may not even create a mushroom cloud and put a giant whole on the earth, who knows.

 

Oh good! I was afraid my car would transform into a nuke and turn socal into a big wasteland! Its a 5/8 spacer so its a little taller than average i think. I was reading that you might be able to use washers, ill give that a try. Thanks!

 

I thought I read on here that the 5/16 spacer is actually better that the 5/8.Any comments?

 

The 5/8 has been proven to give more (but minimal) gains over the 5/16. Most people go for the 5/16 because it can retain the stock strut bar.

The cost of buying a new strut bar just for the diminishing returns of a larger spacer is not worth it.

 

OK, reality check - who among all the Nuclear Blasting has ever actually driven their Z for any significant length of time w/o the front strut tower brace on the street?

I bought both a '03 350Z and an '04 Infiniti Coupe, the latter does not come with a strut bar, has very similar front end construction w/re to rigidity, and no, it does not "handle like crap". Despite the exterior sheet metal differences, the car from the firewall forward is nearly identical. Under extreme loads and track use, w/o out a doubt I notice the FSTB and upgraded sways.

After 2 years I bought a Stillen FSTB and it's pretty good, but it did not have excessive front end flex, and honestly the beefy Front Sway bar (Hotchkis) did more to impact handling. The FSTB was just icing on the cake.

These cars are not noodles, and in normal street driving, I defy anyone to measure the deflection with and without the FSTB in a quantitative manner. If the man wants to drive it w/o one, it's not going to automatically pile into a wall or implode into a world-devouring black hole along with the Large Hadron Collider...

DUDE! IF ONLY HE HAD HIS FRONT STRUT TOWER BRACE! WHAT WAS HE THINKING ROLLING WITHOUT ONE???




The only person making sense here is the one suggesting don't waste the effort of doing a double installation. Now THAT makes sense!

 

I have driven the car without a strut bar. The only thing I noticed was turn was as crisp....not quite as sharp as normal.

 

Who'a da man? ^+1

 

Finally! A good answer.

 

If you drive without the strut bar, your sense of humor will not be able to withstand the shearing forces.

 

Three regular washers under each bolt and your golden, why drive without it?

 

Hey man, it could happen.







It's so easy, and no need to buy an aftermarket strut bar. I'd be very skeptical of any strut bar claiming to dramatically improve handling because the stock one is designed fine. Best case scenario you shave 5 pounds from the factory piece and shave $100+ from your wallet.

 

check out my new post guys, i botched that blox install last night and ended up getting a kinetix today. Kinetix works with the factory strut bar so im all good. I did do a quick run without the bar installed though just for ***** and giggles and im happy to report that me and the car are just fine.

 

I drive with it off all the time. The car will NOT handle like crap, what a common misconception.

 

I probably just wouldn't hit the track without it , hmmm , well if it was the only think keeping me from going to the track , f it , i would hit the track without it.

 

It's not that bad without the strut bar. If you track the car at all I'd recommend putting it on but it's barely noticeable when it's off.