TRD Door Stabilizer Set

[ZZT86]

True & that's fair enough.

[Nezz]

I'm putting the door stabilisers in because I've owned plenty of cars with frameless windowed doors (Toyota TA46 Celica, RA40 Celica, RA60 Celica, Nissan Silvia S13) and a few with framed windowed doors (Nissan Gazelle S12, Accord, few others) and dealt with a few more (AE86s for instance) and frankly, frameless windowed doors sag. They sag like a bitch. The hinges wear out-- Then the catches misalign and it's an arse bastard to close the doors... Anything that will help stop them twisting against the hinges? I'm all over that.

[Hawk77FT]

How much are they?

[davey90]

Originally Posted by Hawk77FT

How much are they?

i got mine for AU$160 (excl. delivery)

[Skorov]

I got these door stabilisers in the mail earlier this week. Before I go on, I would to strongly suggest that:
No one try to install these themselves unless you have the proper tools and experience.
This is definitely not a DIY job as I quickly found out.

First off, I was this close to fucking up so bad to warrant a $500 repair job. I used an electronic impact driver as suggested to loosen the very tight screws. This did not work. What happened instead, was the bracket that's welded on behind the panel bent backwards! =S

I noticed this and thought, "Ok enough, I'm going to the shop." Tried to screw the bottom screw back in but it wouldn't catch on to the bent bracket. Tried to close the door and the door wouldn't close. I was sweating buckets by this point. I managed to bend the bracket back in to place enough so I could just barely get the screw in. The door closed (just...) and I drove to my local panel beater.

After leaving the car there for a few hours, he calls me back and tells me just how close I was to not being able to drive it all weekend. =( They managed to repair the bracket and install my new TRD stabilisers. He didn't even charge me! I bought him a 6-pack on the way back there.

If anyone's looking for a Smash Repairer around the North Shore area, I recommend AutoTech Artarmon. Good bloke there.

With regards to the actual effects of these things, the door does feel more solid. The door closes very firmly without shaking as it hits the body. How much has the handling improved? Very slightly if anything. But this could just be my wishful thinking.

Bottom line: My suggestion would be to avoid this whole mess. For the same price, go and buy yourself a strut brace.

[ZZT86]

Geee, they must tighten the fuk out of things @ the factory, it shouldn't be that hard !

[tibsy92]

It's hard.. even removing the stock exhaust was a bit*h for them due to how tight it was bolted.. but it does show the cars sturdy..

[Ben Stef]

Originally Posted by Skorov

I got these door stabilisers in the mail earlier this week. Before I go on, I would to strongly suggest that:
No one try to install these themselves unless you have the proper tools and experience.
This is definitely not a DIY job as I quickly found out.

First off, I was this close to fucking up so bad to warrant a $500 repair job. I used an electronic impact driver as suggested to loosen the very tight screws. This did not work. What happened instead, was the bracket that's welded on behind the panel bent backwards! =S

I noticed this and thought, "Ok enough, I'm going to the shop." Tried to screw the bottom screw back in but it wouldn't catch on to the bent bracket. Tried to close the door and the door wouldn't close. I was sweating buckets by this point. I managed to bend the bracket back in to place enough so I could just barely get the screw in. The door closed (just...) and I drove to my local panel beater.

After leaving the car there for a few hours, he calls me back and tells me just how close I was to not being able to drive it all weekend. =( They managed to repair the bracket and install my new TRD stabilisers. He didn't even charge me! I bought him a 6-pack on the way back there.

If anyone's looking for a Smash Repairer around the North Shore area, I recommend AutoTech Artarmon. Good bloke there.

With regards to the actual effects of these things, the door does feel more solid. The door closes very firmly without shaking as it hits the body. How much has the handling improved? Very slightly if anything. But this could just be my wishful thinking.

Bottom line: My suggestion would be to avoid this whole mess. For the same price, go and buy yourself a strut brace.

A six pack? gee i thought i was going alright when i bought them a slab haha

[Panman]

Originally Posted by Skorov

I got these door stabilisers in the mail earlier this week. Before I go on, I would to strongly suggest that:
No one try to install these themselves unless you have the proper tools and experience.
This is definitely not a DIY job as I quickly found out.

First off, I was this close to fucking up so bad to warrant a $500 repair job. I used an electronic impact driver as suggested to loosen the very tight screws.

Actually all of the DIYs I've seen recommend an impact driver (not an electronic or electric impact driver), and having done this install myself I would say if you have the right tools its very doable. An electric or electronic driver will do exactly what you've described.

Personally I think it's a good little mod, in conjunction with some other stiffening - engine bay bracing and underbody.

I installed a set of these last night. Not too difficult with the right tools and I am no mechanic. I found the screws came out fine with a phillips head bit used in a socket wrench. Much more gentle than an impact driver too so less chance of screwing things up. Can't imagine doing it with just screw drivers though.

[Ben Stef]

Originally Posted by Panman

Actually all of the DIYs I've seen recommend an impact driver (not an electronic or electric impact driver)

The panel beater i went to tried an impact driver and had no success, he was banging it really hard too, in the end he had to use a ratchet with a long arm for more torque, surprised he didn't strip the bolt this way though.

[Panman]

Impact driver to loosen them (2 hits each bolt) then driver bit in a socket with a longish handle. I agree you can bugger them up - but impact driver is only to get them started turning not to get them all the way off.

It's understanding how an impact driver is supposed to be used.

[Nezz]

Originally Posted by Panman

Impact driver to loosen them (2 hits each bolt) then driver bit in a socket with a longish handle. I agree you can bugger them up - but impact driver is only to get them started turning not to get them all the way off.

It's understanding how an impact driver is supposed to be used.

Impact drivers don't provide more constant torque, they provide hard, sharp blows of it, that's why they work, and that's why they're less likely to twist the bracket behind out of shape.

[Turdinator]

Originally Posted by Nezz

I'm putting the door stabilisers in because I've owned plenty of cars with frameless windowed doors (Toyota TA46 Celica, RA40 Celica, RA60 Celica, Nissan Silvia S13) and a few with framed windowed doors (Nissan Gazelle S12, Accord, few others) and dealt with a few more (AE86s for instance) and frankly, frameless windowed doors sag. They sag like a bitch. The hinges wear out-- Then the catches misalign and it's an arse bastard to close the doors... Anything that will help stop them twisting against the hinges? I'm all over that.

You owned a TA64? With a 4T-GTE? That's a rare car!

Back on topic now.