Time To Start Making Suspension Goodies!

[Red Lion]

I started some threads on NissanClub, it's only fair I start some here on the new and improved DotNet!

Most of you know me, for those that don't, I've been making my 1st gen Altima turn corners for years, finding new ways to make it faster and better handling. I love all things road racing, rally, auto-x and drift, and I love suspensions. So much, in fact, that I'm getting to the point where I want to start making my own suspension goodies because most of the parts I find are complete shit; either they're poorly engineered, just plain bad at their job, or could have just been better in some way.


So, very soon I'm going to start making my own parts for my Altima, and I thought, if I can do that, why not make them for the community as well? These are some of the parts I'd like to come up with:

REAL strut bars; nice one-piece bars or even triangle bars
Rear strut bars/trunk bars
Subframe/Undercarriage/Control Arm braces
Sway bars with good endlinks
Fender Braces
Engine Torque Dampers
Control arms/links
Solid motor mounts and/or aluminum bushings for the very hardcore.

Some parts I just can't make though or can't make right now, such as springs and struts, I'll leave those to the real experts. But a lot of chassis bracing suspension parts I think can and should be made.

Later this winter or early spring I'm going to mock up some prototypes and see what people think. If you guys like them I'll make more and start selling them. All generation Altimas, Maximas, 240's, Sentras, Z-cars, I'll make them for all cars eventually.

I'm just throwing this out there now to generate some buzz and to see what kind of response I get. If you guys have any parts in particular that you'd like to see or ideas for each part, feel free to PM me or post here.

[Red Lion]

And...no one. Come on SuperNissans, don't make NissanClub look good by not posting here! Give me your thoughts, opinions, ideas, what you would like to see, what you wish you had for your car. Doesn't have to be an Altima because, honestly, the Altima community is partially a stepping stone to help me promote the goodies to other communities like the Z, 240SX, Sentra and Maxima communities. So, if you've got ideas throw them out there!

[sergey85]

i know maxima members were wanting some of the braces cause one of the vendors fell through but a few were interested.im sure some may be interested on the .org. whats Control arms/links, and what would be included in the Subframe/Undercarriage/Control Arm braces(never heard of these is it like a tie bar which connects to the control arm). good to see someone who wants to create parts that are not cheap and make some quality products. thanks and good luck man

[Red Lion]

^Thanks! I hope it turns out well, we'll find out this Spring.

Subframe braces (aka Undercarriage braces) connect along the undercarriage frame rails to stiffen up the middle of the car's chassis (the unibody) and keep it from twisting and flexing. They tend to really help out with a car's handling.

Control arms use rubber bushings that allow the arms to move around and gain unwanted geometry changes during cornering (such as caster, where the control arms moves towards the radiator or back towards the firewall). Arm braces keep them from moving about. Very nice braces keep them from moving about and also tie into other parts of the chassis for more rigidity.


I'll try and be judicious, but I see so many cheaply made suspension/chassis parts that just suck, or that weren't thought out well enough during design process. I tend to stir the pot (as my friend Taz recently said) so maybe I shouldn't say anything, but a couple of .Org parts makers make parts people love and I guess its because they're the only parts available, but I've seen them and they are rather cheaply made. It's my opinion that I'd rather make half as much money and make superior quality parts that everyone can get behind than make cheap costing but cheaply made parts. I want people so say no one makes better parts than Red Lion, both in design and in material quality.

[sergey85]

well if u make some of those parts for a max i wouldnt mind trying them out. never really though about undercar braces and the control arm braces, kind thought the drop was gonna be good enough but wouldnt mind upgrading my suspension a lil more u know. yeah keep me updated if u make any maxima parts, no hurrry my money is tied up right now so...... i have to chill on the mods for now

[mad hatter]

I'm in for 1 of everything. Just tell me the price and when they'll be ready.

[Sf2fan]

I am interested in any simple bolt on mods.