When installing the S&B Intake, or any intake at that matter, is it really necessary to disconnect the wires to the battery and all.. the instructions make it seem so difficult.

 

Almost any job you do on a vehicle these days will ask you to disconnect the battery, if nothing else as a precaution against idiocy.

For a CAI install I would advise it, as leaving the battery disconnected for a period of time will cause the vehicles computer to re-program itself for the new driving conditions after you fire it up again.

 

I agree. The change in air flow when you start it up for the first time with the intake will affect your fuel maps. Its a good thing to do.

 

Best off disconnecting the negative terminal for the above stated reason for fuel and air re-learning, but you should definitely have a custom tune to back up the re-learn of the MAF and to get full advantage of the intake.