Performance benefits from front dampener?
 

Does anyone know what it does exactly and how much of a performance increase does the nismos get just from having that front dampener that blocks most/all oil cooler kits?

I believe it is there to make the frame (unibody) more rigid. There is one in the rear also. I think vipor has a DIY oil cooler kit thread where he just rotated the dampner to the other side so he could clearance the cooler. When I do mine I will do the same and keep the dampner on.

Based on a Nismo website...its actually to cut/dampen vibrations. Not really for rigidity....but rather to help offset the fact that the car might be too rigid.



"Features

Even if the car body is reinforced and made more rigid, road surface input through the tires and load shifts during cornering make the entire body act like a spring, causing the occurrence of micro vibrations. The performance damper acts to control the transmission of micro vibrations to the body. During circuit driving, micro vibrations from the car body are transmitted through the steering system to the driver, resulting too often in unnecessary steering corrections. With the performance damper installed, however these micro vibrations are eliminated and excessive steering wheel handling is no longer needed, resulting in more stable handling. Also, in normal driving, the micro vibrations are eliminated, as well providing a much more enjoyable and comfortable ride."


Pictures are for a GTR...but technically the same application.

In other words the chassis is not rigid enough and it needs these to make a unibody car feel more stable rotating in corners. Which makes perfect since. Man I wish they made these Z's with a tube frame. LOL!!