Who uses shakitto plates? Are they worth the $200? Other braces I should look at?

[az_240]

I basically have some pillowball links, poly bushings, coilovers and a power brace but still get some roll... I def need some more chassis bracing.

Just purchased some NAMS knock-off fender braces for my s14 on ebay and saw these plates called shakitto plates on another forum... searched around and did not find much info on them other than they help reduce flexing under hard braking.

So who uses these and are they worth the money?

Anybody know where I can get these for cheaper? $200 for some sheet metal looking things just does not seem worth it but people say they work...

Anybody know if it would be worth it to get these even after purchasing fender braces?

Im thinking about getting some solid strut braces and a rear cross bar as well but might go with these shakitto before I purchase those....

What other braces actually make a difference as far as stiffening the chassis...? This is my DAILY DRIVER so a cage is out of the question.

Thanks

[silnismo]

shakitto plates are just braces for the shock towers, which like all braces just help strengthening that area of the chasis. The direct benefit from this should be A. heavy braking & trail braking and B. better intial turn in when the front chasis flexes.

not worth it IMO,

my advice would be save up another 200$ and get an cusco 4pt if your concerned about roll & DD.

[az_240]

how are the ladder bars for an s14? I had to search around for some pics to figure out how they attached... Honestly does not seem like they would do much... but they are fairly cheap so they might be worth it?

A 4pt cage doesnt seem like a bad idea as long as I dont have to hack up my panels too much.... I'll have to research it more...

[trsilvias13]

i got mine for $100 or something like that a long time ago. I like the mod a lot and feel some difference, but I wouldnt pay $200 for it.

[Brian]

For what it might be worth


A long time ago Koguchi did a review of a bunch of different bars and shit for s13.
tower bars, cage, stabilizer bars, shakkito plate, fender brace, the do luck bars...

Shakkito plates were rated pretty high on there.

[ayuaddict]

If Koguchi Yoshinori sama wrote in a publication that smearing human feces all over the drivers side fender would make my car turn in quicker and more predictable, i would be out raiding port-o-pottys and smearing my passenger side fender in shit.

[s13coupedrfter]

I got some on my s13. They do add some rigidity to the towers but they also look great. Only thing is the nams are designed for the jdm chassis so if your installing them on the usdm chassis you will have to ditch the wiper motor.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff257/s13coupedrfter/PB040231.jpg

[Aeroscraper326]

They work

They are awesome

the 200 is justified if your at a high enough driving level to ACTUALLY FEEL every little difference and adjustment

They rule

[Def]

No wiper motor = bad news. I couldn't imagine how bad it'd suck to be out on track in misting rain without wipers...


A part of me has always wanted to see eBay knockoffs of these since they ARE really high given the difficulty of making them.

[racepar1]

Weld a couple bars from the strut tower to the firewall. It'll cost you like $20 (plus welding if you can't weld) and take a whole hour or so to make. I wouldn't pay $200 for those personally. Now if I saw a set for cheap on the F/S forum on the other hand..........

[mademedoit]

I have a 92 240sx with the nismo powerbrace, tein front stb, dc rear stb and a megan pilar bar all installed separately over time in that order. So I can tell you that a quality FRONT stb will make the biggest difference, the rear stb did a good job stopping the rattling and the pillar bar only made a slight difference if any. If you already bought some good fender braces that connect to the door hinges then the nams braces might be over kill anyways.

[Dousan_PG]

what racepar1 said
seriously
i wouldnt not pay for this when u could weld some in to do the same exact thing.

[az_240]

The nams knock-off fender braces require removal of the wiper motor? Ive been searching everywhere on these things and nobody has said anything about having to remove the wiper motor....

And unfortunately not all of us have access or the knowledge to use a welder and I just dont feel safe having some random weld things to my engine bay

I actually found some of these plates for $180 shipped and I'm kinda thinking of doing it....

[Dousan_PG]

im assuming u already have raelly useful stuff like oil cooler, good tires, good brakes and pads and decent gauges before u buy stuf flike this.
which is nice but not necessary.

[EDacIouSX]

i have these for my s14, i noticed a big difference. this coupled with a 3 point strut bar made a huge difference.


and about that 4 point roll cage.... think about it. if you divide the car into three parts, front (a pillar and forward) middle (between A pillar and C pillar) and the rear, everything after C pillar, 4 point roll cage only strengthens the center of the car. most people think that slapping on a roll cage will strengthen the chasis so much that they don't have to bother with other mods. but think about it, after stiffening up the center, then now you have a weak front and rear which will flex while the center stays planted.

also BTW

STRUT TOWER PLATES prevent the strut towers from moving up and down. So when you are driving and going over bumps, the tower plates will prevent the shock tower from bending down at the fire wall point as well as bending up. it does a lot more than just stiffening under hard breakin.

damnit, don't have pix of my setup, will post it later.

[az_240]

oil cooler? for a KA? im good....
currently running 225/40 goodyear GS-D3s on some rota p45r rims...
Love this wheel combo! As for brakes 300zx all rebuilt with hawk pads, ss lines, ebrake all that good stuff...

No gauges till I swap the KA... Gonna focus on suspension and paint then some track time for now.


Anybody know about these fender braces tho? I gotta have wipers...

[Dousan_PG]

oh i thought u had an sr haha
save the 180 for the swap
that little shit adds up.

i spent a lot of money on braces when i had ka
ladder bars, cage, arms
its fun and all
but not the smae kind of fun as it is when u have power.

[derek_s13]

^^^
i think dousan was trying to say that although he acknowledges that shakkito plates are functional,
they're not that high on the priority list.

EDIT: fuck. he beat me to it.

[az_240]

I gotta get some chassis stuff... I basically have nothing besides that power brace which is great but I feel its just not enough.... Not only that but I still have other plans... such as paint... my shits been peeling baaaaad. I feel ashamed driving this thing sometimes just because of the paint.

/edit:
I laugh at Dbags that neg rep for no reason at all and are too scared to reveal themselves....

[Dousan_PG]

save the money for paint then
this stuff yeah its nice
but u just want to spend money you have lying around
dont burn it up
save it up
for cool stuff.

[EDacIouSX]

I gotta get some chassis stuff... I basically have nothing besides that power brace which is great but I feel its just not enough.... Not only that but I still have other plans... such as paint... my shits been peeling baaaaad. I feel ashamed driving this thing sometimes just because of the paint.

/edit:
I laugh at Dbags that neg rep for no reason at all and are too scared to reveal themselves....

get sway bars, those make a big difference.

[Def]

The nams knock-off fender braces require removal of the wiper motor? Ive been searching everywhere on these things and nobody has said anything about having to remove the wiper motor....

And unfortunately not all of us have access or the knowledge to use a welder and I just dont feel safe having some random weld things to my engine bay

I actually found some of these plates for $180 shipped and I'm kinda thinking of doing it....


I read it as the Shakitto plates require the removal of the wiper motor. Fender braces don't come anywhere close to the wiper motor.

[zoomswimmer]

I've heard that Shakitto plates don't work as well unless you have fender braces. I'm just waiting to get some fender braces before I install mine. Someone did a thread where you can install them without doing anything to the windshield wiper motor, but i think you have to drill holes.

[!Zar!]

I think if braces are a priority:

1. Front lower control arm brace; something like a nismo power brace or what not.

2. Brake Master Cylinder brace. That's something worth investing in.

3. Fender braces would be a good choice; strengthens the area since it's weak due to being a crumple zone.



For s13, rear subframe brace.

[Brian]

I am going to battle Dousan here.

Look, how much money have I put into MY SR? $0

(well, unless you count all the accessories I bought for it, even though I didn't have an actual engine)


at any rate, PAINT is high on the list.
There is no need to have your car look like garbage.
This idea of drift cars looking like they came from the junkyard has GOT to go out the window. NOW.

So, get some paint.

Keep the KA

Get as many braces and bars as possible.

i LOVE it.


<3 Dousan

[!Zar!]

Brian hits Dousan with tackle.

Dousan looses -121hp.


Braces and bars do help. When I added the ones on my s13/s14, I loved the feel I got. But you NEED suspension. Like coilovers or something.

No point buying braces while still on shitty oem susp.

[Brian]

Oh, I dream of braces.

I'd like the whole DO Luck setup.
well, except for that fake cage thing they had.

it is cool, but i have a saftey21 sooooo

[!Zar!]

I had all the braces, minus that cage rear thing. Fuck that.

I hate I sold them.

FUCK.

[Brian]

Those floor bars look NIFTY.
the ones that go along the frame rails...

mmm and rear cross bar.

[!Zar!]

Daren has some just laying around the house.

haha. Cop them up. But wait. You don't need any more shit.

[Brian]

yeah true and true

[az_240]

I've already got sway bars with the poly bushings.... as well as a 2 way cusco diff, light flywheel and 6 puck clutch... so for the most part the main suspension stuff and driveline is taken care of...
I'm gonna have to pass on the shakitto plates if they require removal of the wiper blades.... prolly get some decent strut bars instead.

Next paycheck = PAINT and jdm front!

Thanks again for the help guys

[Dousan_PG]

yeah brian
until we ar eon the track
and u cant make it down HTM
you want an SR

running tandem and my car is ripping past yours..yeah
braces vs a SR/power

seriously.
i spot welded my chassis
fuck shitty braces

cost to spot weld? free. just time and energy.
yes i know OP doenst have welding access

im just saying.

[Brian]

No way.... my KA power is high.
like at least 280

[az_240]

^werd... I would LOVE to spot weld... but this is my daily.

Maybe when I get a bike for a DD and swap out the KA Ill spot weld some stuff...

[Dousan_PG]

hahahaha
nice try brian.

[Brian]

Ummmmmm hello!

I got it DYNOtuned.

298 on the dynapack.


shits POPPIN

[az_240]

I think if braces are a priority:

1. Front lower control arm brace; something like a nismo power brace or what not.

2. Brake Master Cylinder brace. That's something worth investing in.

3. Fender braces would be a good choice; strengthens the area since it's weak due to being a crumple zone.



For s13, rear subframe brace.


Where does one purchase this brake master cylinder brace? Also I have a 300zx BMC... Does that make a difference?

I know the carbing front strut bars have them but they are like $250 just for a fuckin strut bar!

[LoanShark]

^look at it like this. You're spending 250 for a nice strut bar AND mc brace.

I have the nams fender brace and want to eventually get the shakitto thangs. heard good things about them when you put those 2 together.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/0nc0M/magazine_02.jpg

[az_240]

do they make a seperate BMC brace for the 300zx BMC?

Will the carbing brace even work with a 300zx bmc?

[pr0ject TRUENO]

hmmm wondering the same thing about carbing bar and Z32 BMC

the bmc stopper on the carbing bar looks adjustable though

[soreballz]

Build your own BMC stopper. Its not hard.

[racepar1]

Build your own BMC stopper. Its not hard.

Agreed, I did it! Pics are in my vb pic gallery, I just need to weld a couple of supports in that run a little further up on the strut tower, probably to the P/S resovoir mounting points.

[INeedNewTires]

Will the carbing brace even work with a 300zx bmc?

yes it was designed by CARBING!!! its adjustable so you can use stock, automatic, Z32, Z33 and both the manual and automatic brake booster and any combination of them all. I have the brace and can say its craftsmanship and design is flawless! aside from its cost its by far the best STB/BMC brace i've seen for the S-chassis. and the BMCBrace is really functional too if you have a friend step on the brake hard while your looking at it under the hood you can see it move!

As far as an independant BMCBrace i dont know of any. I believe if you have fender braces AND shakitto braces your probably not going to notice a huge difference, where as if you had one or the other the difference would be greater

[racepar1]

I really don't like the M/C brace on the carbing strut bars, they're pretty damn flimsy and if you have someone lay into the pedal and watch the brace you can see the whole bar twisting. You are better off building your own, like mine. Especially for like $300 for a fucking strut bar!

[az_240]

Ill have to look into making my own.... is there a writeup somewhere or pics of these homemade BMC stoppers?

As for the shakitto plates is there some way to make it so you dont have to remove the wiper motor without cutting the plate or anything like that?

The guy said hed sell them for $160 shipped.... not too bad

[Def]

I am going to battle Dousan here.

Look, how much money have I put into MY SR? $0

(well, unless you count all the accessories I bought for it, even though I didn't have an actual engine)


at any rate, PAINT is high on the list.
There is no need to have your car look like garbage.
This idea of drift cars looking like they came from the junkyard has GOT to go out the window. NOW.

So, get some paint.

Keep the KA

Get as many braces and bars as possible.

i LOVE it.


<3 Dousan

I love my $50 Rustoleum paintjob. It looks ok from about 10 ft away, up close it's obviously not bling-bling, or even a single stage urethane at that(no clearcoat). When I come in off the track and have rubber marks all the way up the hood, and have swathes of corrosive brake dust all over the car, I can't help but be happy that I can just not give a crap.

It even gets a few compliments here and there funnily enough.


More power or better suspension is way more fun than a baller paintjob...

[!Zar!]

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=121817
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=93699

There you people go. Read up. Thought most people knew about it already.

As for the OP.

You don't have shocks+spring/coilovers.

That's WAY too important to not have.

[Brian]

lol


ahhhhh already hassled!~

[!Zar!]

I wish I had crabs.

I would use them to save the world from evil.

[az_240]

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=121817
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=93699

There you people go. Read up. Thought most people knew about it already.

As for the OP.

You don't have shocks+spring/coilovers.

That's WAY too important to not have.


ahhh man.... I really just need to post pics or something... I have KTS coilovers:bigok:

I get compliments all the time even though the paint is fucked and people are always jockin my shit just because around here koukis are very rare...

Oh and thanks for the links... I woulda searched but I'm at work and my time on the internet is limited.

[!Zar!]

My crabs say make your car look less like shit then and get moar powar!

[racepar1]

Look in my VB pic gallery. I have a pretty good pic of mine there.

[az_240]

^thats awesome... def going to do that soon

I broke down and bought the plates:)

/end thread

[EDacIouSX]

found the pic....


http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c390/edaciousx/car%20pix/S5000925.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c390/edaciousx/car%20pix/S5000925.jpg

[mademedoit]

These braces with a full triange design look far superior... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GTSPEC-FENDER-BRACE-95-98-240SX-S14-GACCHIRI-GT-SPEC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42609QQihZ021QQite mZ310022015565QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW to bad I only see them for the s14 and don't know where their made.

[EDacIouSX]

These braces with a full triange design look far superior... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GTSPEC-FENDER-BRACE-95-98-240SX-S14-GACCHIRI-GT-SPEC_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42609QQihZ021QQite mZ310022015565QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW to bad I only see them for the s14 and don't know where their made.

those do look superior, i've seen em before.

[Def]

The Ultra Racing braces look like the strongest to me, although those ones just linked could be pretty strong depending on the welding done. The UR braces seem like they link further up the frame, so you get more resistance to bending.

[racepar1]

I love my $50 Rustoleum paintjob.

Rustoleum rules! I painted my engine bay with the "professional" semi-gloss balck. No primer either, just rough up the old paint with a wire wheel, clean the rust off, and 2 coats of paint. That shit is tough man! Brake fluid hasn't hurt it (yet), the heat by the exhaust hasn't hurt it, off track/canyon excursions have barely chipped it.

The Ultra Racing braces look like the strongest to me, although those ones just linked could be pretty strong depending on the welding done. The UR braces seem like they link further up the frame, so you get more resistance to bending.

I have the ultra racing braces on my car. They are absolutely AWESOME! SUPER beefy and light since they use pretty thinwall tubing. I tack welded them on at the front mounting points. Too bad I can't get a hold of the guy anymore to buy their front strut bar.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj283/racepar1/atiannahhalloweenthanksgiving007.jpg

[mademedoit]

The problem with ultra racing... "Established in 2002, Ultra Racing is a Malaysian-based specialist manufacturer in Chassis Handling and Tuning components". http://www.ultraracing.com.my/ultraracing/AboutUs.asp They don't tell you what kind of steel they use(probably shit quality mild steel), ideally it should be 4130 chromoly that high end freestyle/dirt jumping bikes are made out of which. Huffy's use mild steel to give you an idea. But anyways FUCK SENDING MONEY TO MALAYSIA, theirs my .2

[az_240]

UR looks the best to me since it extends farther out but I didnt want to pay for that ish and the GTSPEC one is also just way too much money and does not extend out like the UR and ... I went for the NAMS knockoff ones since people seem to like the original NAMS braces....
the full triangle should have nothing to do with how the brace functions.

and only $100 shipped for mine... cant beat that.

What is that green firewall brace thing in Edaciousx's post? They any good?

[racepar1]

The problem with ultra racing... "Established in 2002, Ultra Racing is a Malaysian-based specialist manufacturer in Chassis Handling and Tuning components". http://www.ultraracing.com.my/ultraracing/AboutUs.asp They don't tell you what kind of steel they use(probably shit quality mild steel), ideally it should be 4130 chromoly that high end freestyle/dirt jumping bikes are made out of which. Huffy's use mild steel to give you an idea. But anyways FUCK SENDING MONEY TO MALAYSIA, theirs my .2

Once you see their catalog you will change your tune my friend. They actually do engineer their products. They do a torsion test, a flex test, and they test how much their parts deflect under load. For the money you can't beat their shit. The only problem with UR is their US distributor. You can never get a hold of the fuckin guy!

[Brian]

Good luck with that

I'm still owed parts....

[tacotacotaco]

Yeah i had a UR brace on my fastback i like how solid it felt and the fact we had to push it against the front rails to drill it in. Anything will help upfront since the firewall to the strut towers isnt exactly a strong point with our cars.

[BobbyDigi]

lets be honest, they might work, they might not work... sthey still look cool, and thats why 50% of the people that "use" them buy them, hooray for style.

I mean, we could all rock 18x10 -2 DR wheels right? but who'd want to

[racepar1]

Good luck with that

I'm still owed parts....

It took like 2.5 months to get my last order from them. Now the guy won't even return e-mails.

lets be honest, they might work, they might not work... sthey still look cool, and thats why 50% of the people that "use" them buy them, hooray for style.

I mean, we could all rock 18x10 -2 DR wheels right? but who'd want to

I hope you are reffering to the shakitto plates, not the fender braces. Fender braces make a HUGE improvement. The shakitto plates do help, but not to the same extent that the fender braces do IMO. When you combine the two braces I am absolutely positive that it will make a GINORMOUS (LOL) improvement. The worst braces you can buy are the bolt together style strut bars. I don't care what company made them, ANY brace that has a pivot point is marginally effective at best.

[Brian]

thats because he basically disappeared into San Diego.
I'll never get my parts.
Oh well.

[94_240sx]

I have shakkito plates and I love them. You don't have to remove anything. All you need to do is make existing holes bigger for the bolts.


It's not my car, but I already have same factory fender braces on my car.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112/sxj6151/NICO/100_2857.jpg

[Brian]

what is THAT?

S15 or something?

[ilia]

13 convertible.

And brian is right. A good driver can drive a car with any amount of power and make the driving look awesome. It's more important to spend money on making the car itself look awesome.

[BobbyDigi]

It took like 2.5 months to get my last order from them. Now the guy won't even return e-mails.



I hope you are reffering to the shakitto plates, not the fender braces. Fender braces make a HUGE improvement. The shakitto plates do help, but not to the same extent that the fender braces do IMO. When you combine the two braces I am absolutely positive that it will make a GINORMOUS (LOL) improvement. The worst braces you can buy are the bolt together style strut bars. I don't care what company made them, ANY brace that has a pivot point is marginally effective at best.

I was referring to the shituko plates