i've been reading up a lot lately on some fender braces / cowls for our cars, and i've read nothing but positive reviews. only downside was the cost, although most are cheaper than front strut bars which really don't do much.

so i did my research, and found out that paranoid fabrications (the same guy who sells the homemade grounding kits) has made some sets available for purchase. $65 including shipping! awesome price, a little cheaper than the competition, and better yet, the actual braces look damn good and sturdy. definitely 1000% better than the flimsy stock units. i don't have pics of the install, but i assure you, fitment was absolutely perfect. no problems whatsoever. install was cake, although time consuming.

for those on a budget, i highly recommend these braces. you even get free candy and a decal! A+++++ and two big thumps up for the PARANOID FABRICATIONS FENDER BRACES!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/anthonyrb98/P1010006-2.jpg

hey wait a min! fireball AND a lemon head.. Hmmmmmm
i'm going to have to talk with my lawyer!!!

why didnt you go with the green shane?

ha ha, i don't think the including of candy can be patented, although it IS a classic kartboy maneuver

ha ha, i don't think the including of candy can be patented, although it IS a classic kartboy maneuver

i think he's been hording my candy!!!
Shane used to help me out back in the day. i think he ate more fireballs than he put in the boxes :lol:

Where do you purcahse these at?

www.paranoidfabrications.com? just a guess :)

www.paranoidfabrications.com? just a guess :)

They're not on his site

I wouldn't accept candy from strangers... But then my mom tought me better than most people around here. :D

I wouldn't accept candy from strangers... QUOTE]

Thats the best kind!:banana:

[QUOTE=keaniegenie;17614566]They're not on his site

...and to the OP, where did you get these??

ha, hmm, tom, these i bought on my very own :D next time i am over there i will be sure to eat some of yours :D
Sorry guys these arnt on my site as i make them on a one by one basis. so, i get to make then on my free time :D i am curently looking at getting some of the pieces made by a shop so i can get these done faster for you guys. so keep an eye out.

oh, i am thinking about the green again :D damn flat black is soo much easier and quicker :D hard to find my lime green sometimes :D

I also have these braces, but I haven't had the time to install them yet and I'm a little afraid of removing my fenders and not getting them to line up properly when I'm done. but the braces look awesome, lemon head was delish, and super fast shipping.

I also have these braces, but I haven't had the time to install them yet and I'm a little afraid of removing my fenders and not getting them to line up properly when I'm done. but the braces look awesome, lemon head was delish, and super fast shipping.

Where did you get them?

I bought mine here:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1214425

I guess it was a limited run, though.

I was ripped off, I only got a Lemon Head :)

I agree with the OP - very nice, very beefy braces, very much worth the money.

I will be making more. just going to have the ends cut at the machine shop to make it quicker. as these almost take me an hour to make a set.
so stay tuned :D

Shane

bump for a great set of braces

Agreed, bump for an excellent, beefy, fairly-priced product from a nice, fast-shipping guy.

Driving impressions around familiar turns with everything else staying the same: the whole front just feels more intact, I feel the tires tracking better, and there is decreased lean. I am wary of the placebo effect, and I feel that these are notable improvements over the stamped metal stock pieces.


http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6660/img0949hu8.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2854/img0948ts5.jpg

bump again for some feedback!

well, heres my feedback. these things rock :D best out there. sooo cool :D i give them 5 stars :D
yes, buy these. lots more in stock :D yes, you know you want to. free candy from strangers is good :D

Shane

i just received mine in good shipping time.

+ packaging
+ quality of the color and welds.
+ stickers!
+ quick communication between emails

- car in dealership
- missing fireball candy (unless its lost the box of peanuts!)

I have posted in the classifieds about these, but I guess I should post in the review as well. Great fitment, and the front end feels so solid now. any wagon owner will have to remove the fenders to install btw. I was a little intimidated going into it, thinking that I wouldn't be able to get the fenders to align properly when I put them back on. But it was so easy, the plastic clips that hold the fender liner are the biggest pain in the ass though.

i just received mine in good shipping time.

+ packaging
+ quality of the color and welds.
+ stickers!
+ quick communication between emails



+1
+ lemon head for me

I got the lime green and they are beefy! Thanks Shane for fast, convenient shipping and a cheap price. They will be installed within two weeks.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/john_matrix/DSC_7198.jpg

Anyone want a free pair of these? Shane at paranoid is sponsoring the CNY subies meet/show and gave us a pair of these to put into the raffle/prize box. Just goes to show how cool of a vendor he is.

man, that paint looks goofy :D

pm sent to paranoid fabrications

ok, just so people know, these are now $70 shipped :D sorry for the price increase. usps new charges and machine shop charges are a little higher. i should be able to keep this price for a wile :D

Shane

Shane, I placed an order and was charged $5 extra for shipping ($75 total)? :(

Receipt Number: 1246-4635-8391-6970

fixed, i send you 5 bucks back :D paypal as this setup wrong. sorry about that.

Shane

No problem... thanks for super fast shipping!

just out of curiosity, what's the weight difference from stock? I'm not psycho about weight savings, but haven't seen it mentioned with fender braces.

when I get some expendable income, I'll be all over the bright green!

the pf braces are slightly heavier, but it's worth it. the stock ones are really flimsy. hulk green ftw!

just came in the mail today; installing friday

I will post pics when I install mine.

not sure the difference, but these are a shade under 3lbs. (man i need to go weigh these :D )

just out of curiosity, what's the weight difference from stock? I'm not psycho about weight savings, but haven't seen it mentioned with fender braces.

when I get some expendable income, I'll be all over the bright green!

not sure the difference, but these are a shade under 3lbs. (man i need to go weigh these :D )
sweet! so if I go lose 3 lbs, then the weight savings is like just removing the stock braces, but with the added benefit of extra strength!

I wonder ... how many drivers looking to save weight are overweight themselves? hmm ...

Do you have to remove the fenders to install these? I had looked at the TIC page and their instructions just talk about pulling the fender liners. Have an 06 TR btw.

most people install these with out taking off the fender. you just pull back the fender liners and go in from the under side. it makes it way easier if you have some offset wrenches.

Shane

I installed these today. You can pull out the fender, but it requires you to take headlight housing off in order to reach one bolt. In total it took me two hours to install a pair which is much longer than I had anticipated.

As is the case with many people I ended up scratching the paint on passenger side door when pulling out the fender. :(

Fitment and quality of brace was A+. Front end feels tighter with these installed.

I had no problem installing them without removing the fenders. Used a 14mm close ended wrench and took my sweet time. Car handles great and no scratches.

installed them today, i couldn't put a cheater bar in my 14mm wrench so i had to use my socket and ratchet, which means i had to take my fender off, which isn't hard at all.

you have to take off 4 10mm bolts off at the top, then 2 10mm bolts in the door jamb, there's 1 more underneath the sideskirt. after you take all those bolts off you should be able to push up on the fender and it should swing out. it's not going to come completely off because i think there's 1 behind the headlight you need to take out that i didn't. also be very careful when you pop the fender off, the tab on the door jamb that the bolt holds down will scratch your door if you're not careful like me. i made sure to put some painter's tape on the door on the other side when i did it. took me about 1hr 40mins to do both

you're going to need a cheater bar to break loose the bolts that hold on the stock fender brace...

initial impression after driving it around the block: steering response feels improved, before there was sort of a delay between steering input and when the car would actually start to turn; and also the generic "front end feels a lot more solid" response. pretty hard for me to describe. price is definitely right gonna autocross it this sunday and i'll be able to write up a better review. this does take you out of street modified though

this is one of the best suspension mod IMO...

just ordered mine!! Paypal sent.

thanks.

and yes, i really really think people should buy this :D

Shane

i don't understand why everyone is so afraid to take off their fenders, its just like 10 bolts and it pops right off

i havent installed yet, but i look forward to installing the brace soon ;)

i don't understand why everyone is so afraid to take off their fenders, its just like 10 bolts and it pops right off

I was slightly intimidated because I was worried that the lines of the car wouldn't match up when I put the fenders back on. But it was uber easy, and I wish I installed them earlier. Great Product and Great Results.

id be nervous takin em off just because they dent REALLY easily...

once i get some spare cash, im def buyin these...cant wait!

I just installed these today on my wag and the front end is noticeably stiffer. What a bargain for $65 shipped. Yes, I had to move the fenders but once you get the first one done, the second goes smooth as butter. It always works like that with every job. Just take your time... no big deal.

The PF fender braces did fit on my 2000 RS. I just unbolted some of the bolts on top of the fender to move it out a bit to get more clearance since its a tight fit to get a wrench up at the top bolts. After that its easy. This is by far the best upgrade for the front end. The stock braces you can twist by hand even,lol.

A+ For Paranoid Fabrications fender braces!!

Received mine today and installed in 1.5 hrs +/-. Did not completely remove
fenders either. Pretty easy install, FANTASTIC product, and NOTICABLE results. By far worth the $$.

Thanks, Shane, for the fast shipping, great product and the extras. The little alien candy didn't taste very good though!!:lol:

As Boost_RS said: "A+ For Paranoid Fabrications fender braces!!"

yea, dont eat the alien :D
glad you guys liked it. now tell your friends :D

Shane

Did the install today. Even being tired from work, took only 1.5 hrs to do. Did not pull fenders. Love the new feel. I have no other suspension mods. Front end has a more confident feel. Well worth the money. When yall gonna make some other suspension products?

cant wait to get these when i get a sti!!

glad you guys liked them :D

Shane

i think i need to get compensated for starting this thread- it probably boosted your sales! ha ha.

um, i can send you a sticker :D :D

Shane

a measly sticker? i want a lemonhead!

sorry, still waiting for my candy shipment to come in :D

the braces have been sitting around in my room for a while now and they are finally going in tomorrow! can't wait. the little alien that came with mine has given me nightmares.


r!az

haha. i like those little aliens. they are nice :D

Shane

I got a fireball and a rubber alien with mine !!

These braces make a killer difference in front end confidence. It's really unbelievable how much better it feels.

Thanks dood !!

I just installed these yesterday, you can acually feel the car is alot stiffer, feels like it isnt flexing anymore..

Only thing is that the install is a PITA....The bolts from the factory are on tight and have been painted over which makes it worse, and its in a cramped spot which makes it frusterating..once you eventually get those off its pretty easy

Overall this is a great affordable mod thats worth getting

I ordered a green set, and in two days they were at my door! Here's how the two compair:

http://mysite.verizon.net/respfhm9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/DSC00090.jpg.w300h225.jpg

Install was pretty easy, 45 minutes on the first side and 30 minutes on the other. I didn't take the tire off, and I only took the inner liner off halfway:

http://mysite.verizon.net/respfhm9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/DSC00091.jpg.w300h225.jpg


These are the only tools I used, and it only required taking off six clips:

http://mysite.verizon.net/respfhm9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/DSC00095.jpg.w300h225.jpg

I like the green!

http://mysite.verizon.net/respfhm9/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/DSC00093.jpg.w300h225.jpg

Pointers:

1) Bottom bolts are easy to take off & put on, the top ones are a little tough. Just interlock two combo wrenches together to break all the bolts loose. 75% of the work is getting the stock braces out. Putting the new braces in takes all of 5 minutes a piece.

2) Be careful removing the front top bolts. These things are long, and the top front ones touch the inside of the fender when they're backed out all the way. You wouldn't want to ding that thin fender metal.

All in all...great mod. Front end feels more solid now, and I'm still running the stock suspension & springs.

:disco:

I just got a set of these from another member locally, and I don't even know if you make these ones anymore, but they are a great product. The fit very well, and they really tightened up the front end of my car. I was actually surprised at how well they work. My car has had a horrible clunking problem lately whenever I take my foot off the gas pedal, and these actually somehow dampened some of it. I have no idea how that's possible, but I don't mind!

still selling these?

^ yes they're on his website www.paranoidfabrications.com go get some! you will not regret it.

i want a mini alien!