S13 Fender Brace Install
 

I got a set of fender braces today, here's the install.

Tools needed:
Jack
Jackstands
Socket wrench
Socket extension
10mm socket
12mm socket
10mm wrench
Hammer
Phillipshead screwdriver
Needle nose pliers


Attachment 22572
Nagisa Auto fender braces
Attachment 22573
First, jack the car up...
Attachment 22574
and place jackstands in the appropriate places.
Attachment 22575
Next, remove the splash shield.
Attachment 22576
Ah, the old Black and Decker, saves wear and tear on the wrist caused by the turning of the screws. Remove the screws from the clamps holding the splash shield to the fender.
Attachment 22577
Then use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the plastic pins holding the shield to the wheel well.
Attachment 22578

Attachment 22579
Remove the rest of the plastic pins...
Attachment 22580
and you can pull the splash shield. Now you can start removing the bolts holding the fender to the chassis. There are a number of 10mm size bolts peppered all around the fender. I started with the bolts on the bottom of the fender.
Attachment 22581
There are two bolts holding the bottom of the fender to the chassis.
Attachment 22582
If your car is like mine then the bottom of your fenders are all messed up like this because the previous idiot owners didn't know how to use the jack points properly.
Attachment 22582
This is where one of my idiot friends tried to jack up the car when we were doing the frontend conversion. Notice the big dent!
Attachment 22584
Use a set of pliers to bend the fender and the mounting points back into place.
Attachment 22585
If they don't want to move easily then get the "persuader" out!
Attachment 22586
I knew that the extra long extension that I got for changing my spark plugs would be useful for something else. Mine's bigger than yours!
Attachment 22587
Get at the two bolts...
Attachment 22588

Attachment 22589
and you have that part of the fender loose. The rear of the fender has two bolts that need to be taken.
Attachment 22590
You can get at one from inside the wheel well with the socket extension.
Attachment 22591
And the other by opening the door.
Attachment 22592
That part is done.
Attachment 22593
Frankenstension!!! Mine's still bigger than yours!!!
Attachment 22594
Now you need to remove the four bolts holding the fender to the front bumper. You can get at these from inside the wheel well also.
Attachment 22595
I couldn't get to one of the four with Frankenstension because the resonator box was in the way. Just get a small 10mm wrench to remove it.
Attachment 22596
Use a phillips head screwdriver to remove this brace from the fender.
Attachment 22597
There are 3 more 10mm bolts behind the light housings that you need to get to next. This will require you to remove your headlights and corner lights.
Attachment 22598
Remove the screw on the mounting tab to get the corner light out.
Attachment 22599
The harness wires were both wrapped around the fender...
Attachment 22600
so I unplugged them so I would be able to remove the fender without snagging them.
Attachment 22601
Remove the grill next. Now you need to remove the headlight assembly.
Attachment 22602
Two bolts on the front.
Attachment 22603
Two nuts on the side.
Attachment 22604

Attachment 22605
There is one more bolt on the inside of the fender that is quite tricky to get to. Because the space is so small you'll have to use the 10mm wrench but it will take some time, you don't have much room to spin the wrench.
Attachment 22606
Finally you need to tackle the 3 bolts on the top of the fender, pop open the hood and you can easily remove them with the extension.
Attachment 22607
You can pull the fender now...
Attachment 22608
and put it to the side.
Attachment 22609
This is where the fender brace will be mounted.
Attachment 22610
You are about to remove 3 of the 4 bolts holding the door hinges to the chassis so DO NOT open your doors until you are finished!
Attachment 22611
Use a 12mm socket to remove the lower three door hinge bolts so you can mount the fender brace on the door hinges.
Attachment 22612
Take the mounting plate....
Attachment 22613
and place it through the stock opening so that the bolt runs through the stock mounting hole.
Attachment 22614
Now you can mount the fender brace but do not tighten yet.
Attachment 22615
To get the best effect from the brace you need to tighten it at the regular ride height so now you need to put your wheels back on and lower the car then tighten the fender brace. The door hinges are to be tightened to 15-21ft. lbs.
Attachment 22616
The install is complete. From here you just repeat what you did for the other side and then re-install your fenders, splash shield and wheels.

good work.. i just lost my damn camera. .. but no fear ill have another

I was tired yesterday and then had to go to work but I did get up early this morning and went for a test drive and I have to say that there was a profound increase in stability and cornering. I didn't notice much of a difference while driving straight but I could really push harder during turns and remain more stable. Overall, I'd have to say I'm quite impressed with this install. Nothing would beat stitch welding but I'd highly recommend this as an alternative to those who can't do the stitch welding.:bigok:

awesmoe bro

Update!!!
 

I did this install on a 240SX with a S13 Silvia frontend conversion so I have included some info that may help anyone contemplating this install with the 240SX/180SX pop-up frontend.
Attachment 22561
Both fenders are very similiar. The Silvia fender is on the left and the 240SX/180SX fender is on the right.
Attachment 22562
The rear of the fenders are the same with identical mounting points at the door and the bottom of the fenders.
Attachment 22563
The splash shield mounting points are different because the splash shields are quite different.
Attachment 22564
This is where there are slight differences, where the lights mount up.
Attachment 22565
The Silvia fender has 6 mounting points. 2 are tabs/holders from the bumper and 4 need to have screws for mounting.
Attachment 22566
This is the 240SX/180SX fender with 8 mounting points. I just looked at my chuki bumper and there are 3 tabs/holders so there must be 5 screws to be removed/installed for mounting.
Attachment 22567
At the corners the Silvia fender has 3 screws to be removed.
Attachment 22568
The 240SX/180SX fender has 1 screw to be removed at the corner. As far as pop-up headlight removal...
Attachment 22569
If I remember correctly, there are the two mounting points on the bottom of the lights.
Attachment 22570
The mounting points on the top of the lights...
Attachment 22571
and the mounting point where the headlight motor bolts to the chassis. This should help you get the install completed.

btw where did you get the fender brace? i have been looking for one for an s14 but cant find any lol

Yea, where did you pick those up, I can't find them either

I came across a set on ebay. You can also get them from RareTrick and SPLParts.

what does a fender brace to really??

The S13 has a weak point where the firewall of the engine bay and the cabin meet. The fender brace reinforces this area, aids in chassis stability by taking the load off the suspension thus allowing it to do it's thing. It also helps with turn-in response I can tell you from experience.