Springs, Bushings, Misc Suspension Upgrade Options

[Mr.200]

Prothane makes Z31 subframe bushings
84-89 300zx rear subframe bushings - 14-101
84-89 300zx rear control arm bushings - 14-303

[Indecisive]

I created this thread because this info is commonly asked for.  Please keep discussion to a minimum.  I will delete any unnecessary comments.  If you post something, please make it about any product that isn't in the list, or any corrections for the info posted, or any general info on the products.  

I will try to keep updating this first post as much as I can as the thread grows.  

Springs:
1) Tokico/Eibach lowering springs. (you need to use 280zx for the front, 1984-1989 300zx for the rears)
2) King Springs (same as above)
3) Suspension Technique (same as above)
4) AVO (35mm drop: part#:AV60-002) http://www.needforspeed.co.uk/
5) Superior Sport Chassis/Canuck Motorsports (designed and build on an S12) http://www.canuckmotorsports.com
A) These are the stiffest springs for the S12 on the market at 325lbs/in front and 275lbs/in rear.

All springs are between 1" and 2" drop.

The first three sets aren't as stiff as the SSC/CM springs. the stiffest of those three is the tokico/eibach race springs which are, I think, in the 225lbs/in area.

As you noticed, the SSC/CM springs have a heavier front spring than the rear. This will lean the car more towards understeering. However, the 325lbs/in spring up front supporting the VG30E which you have is going to make sure the front doesn't dip down too low. With this setup, you will get a rake, about 5/8's on the second lightest model S12. your rake will be more.

Although the springs are setup to have understeer, you can offset it by getting a heavier rear swaybar by Addco. IF you can find one, there is an adjustable rear swaybar made by Whiteline. This adjustable bar is now discontinued, so you will have a hard time finding it.

Shocks:
1) Koni Red 3 way adjustable bound/rebound
2) Koni Yellow 3 way adjustable bound/rebound you need to use 280zx for the front, 1984-1989 300zx for the rears)
3) Tokico Illumina 5 way adjustable bound/rebound you need to use 280zx for the front, 1984-1989 300zx for the rears)
4) KYB GR2
5) KYB Gas-A-Just (only available in the rear. you need to use 1984-1989 300zx for the rears)

Coilovers:
1) S13 conversion (I dunno much about this, so you'll have to do research)

Sway Bars:
1) Addco Front and Rear
2) Whiteline Adjustable rear sway bar (discontinued)

Control Arms:
1) S14 Control Arm conversion to get more steering lock (you have to do a search)

Strut Tower Bar (There might NOT be enough room under the hood in the SE):
1) Custom made
2) a FULLY adjustable front S13 strut tower bar (length, and mounting plate angle must be adjustable for it to fit)

Bushings
1) Prothane complete kit for 1984 - 1989 300zx (includes bushing for turbo and non-turbo models) (only 90% of the bushings are needed on the S12)
2) MMR Tension Rod Bushings, Front Control Arm Bushings(Nylon or Derlin), Rear Control Arm Bushings(Nylon or Derlin)

[Jsvob03]

Looks Real good indy!

AS far as the Gas-A-Just\'s for the rear, you CAN order them by asking for rear shocks for a 198* 200sx (provided its IRS, i cant speak for solid axle!). from Summit Racing. Thats where i got mine. Just trying to help!

Same thing goes for the front GR-2 Strut Inserts.

[Begger9899]

hey does anyone know where to get some front camber plates at a decent price? ive seen the Techno Toy Tuning (T3) ones but not too many others.

I was also wondering how these would work with Tokico Illuminas and SSC Springs, do i need an [URL=http://www.technotoytuning.com/t3_site_pages/products/upper_hat.html] "upper hat system" similar to the ones from T3 to go between the top of the coil and the camber plates?

And anyone know anything about [URL=http://www.technotoytuning.com/t3_site_pages/products/rca.html] roll center adjusters?

{Sterling edits}

Any S13 camber plates will work.

The upper hat system is needed when building coilovers, so the spring can pivot independently of the camber plate when the steering wheel is turned.

The roll center adjusters are basically bump steer spacers, machined spacers that are designed to eliminate bump steer by returning the control arm to its original angle AFTER you've lowered the car.

[Mr_Furious]

MSSC (MeanStreetSpeed&Custom) will be making adjustable oil or gas filled coil overs for the S12... Testing has started on a few completed sets; Gas filled with 450 lbs sprngs and oil filled with 350 lbs springs for the front.

We also have access to 2 inch drop springs for the rear for solid axle cars with a 285 lbs spring rate up to 500 lbs. Prices vary.

Designs for "bolt in" rear coil overs are in prototype stage and testing will comence soon (next two weeks or so).

The fronts will range in price from 450CDN(+shipping) for a pair of basic steel constructed gas filled, 450lbs spring coil overs to 2800CDN(and up) for race sets; oil and gas charged, external resevior, stroke adjustable, valve adjustable with custom to client spring rates with full aluminum construstion.

There are always exceptions and some things can be done cheaper... contact AlexFrost or Mr200/DoriToad or myself with any questions.

[sterling edits, I don't think this ever went anywhere, try contacting Alex Frost, as he is still active}

[Red_Z31]

For Z31 rear springs (ride heights are for Z31, not 100% sure about S12):

Z31 88SS 224lb/in
Stock height

Tokico 165lb/in
.75\" drop

Eibach (progressive) 183-254lb/in
.75\" drop

ST 226lb/in
1.0\" drop

MSA: 168lb/in
.75\" drop

The illuminas/konis will hold all of these. KYB/ Tokico Blues(HP), etc won\'t hold ST/SS springs in my experience.

[Eddy]

just felt like adding this so that when poeple read it easier isntead of finding it in the search button...


\"The MMR subframe bushings will not fix excessive negitive camber, but they will reduce it. How much? Well that depends on the condition of the original subframe bushings and how much the car is lowered. There are two ways to install them. You get four pieces with the bushing kit. Two bushings with a thick lip and two with a thin lip. If you install them with the thick lip on top of the subframe then the subframe is held in its original position. If you install them with the thin lip on top then the subframe is moved up, closer to the floor pan. The higher the subframe is in relation to the axle center, the less negitive camber there is. The bushings can\'t compensate for a car that has severly sagging springs or has been lowered a lot, but they help.\"



here\'s how to slot the subframe as well:

[url]http://www.az-zbum.com/modification.adjustable.camber.shtml[/a]

[shifter]

Hallo

I am reading that the white-line sway bar is only ad the rear and discontinued but way can i buy them ad there site :biggrin:  FRONT AND REAR

partnr: BNF37Z Sway-bar-heavy duty Blade adjustable = for the front

and BNR34Z Sway bar-heavy duty Blade adjustable   = for the rear.

And both adjustable. mmm i don\'t get it  :confused:  :smile:

[G-E]

the koni rallisport rear springs are 12.5" free height, and much stiffer than stock, somewhere between 300-400lbs

[Jsvob03]

Which bushings out of the Z31 kit won't fit? I'd like to know so I can order the correct ones, as I am doing a full bushing replacement upgrade soon.

Sway Bar Bushings, Front - FIT w/ minor modification.
Sway Bar Bushings, Rear - FIT
Control Arm Bushings, Front - FIT
Control Arm Bushings, Rear - Have not installed, appear to FIT.
Strut Rod Bushings- FIT
Sway Bar links, Front - FIT
Sway Bar links, Rear - FIT
MARKED AS 87-89 300zx Strut Rod Bushings = Rear subframe mounts appear to FIT.
Tie Rod Boots - FIT.

EXTRA:
22mm Front and Rear Sway bar bushings
23mm Front and Rear Sway bar bushings


I need someone to verify that the subframe and Control arm bushings fit..but like i said, they look identical, i just havent installed them!

to make it anymore complete, all you need is the MMR differential Carrier Bushing/Support, MMR Solid Eng & Trans Mounts, and The MMR Steering Rack Mount.

[Empedocles99]

I got Summit Racing to add prothane eurethane bushings to their online catalog for us.

These are the front bushings for the 280zx:
PTP-14-1202    STRUT ARM BUSHINGS      $23.69
PTP-14-203     CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS    $20.69


It takes a week or two for them to send them though.

They also have the rear control arm bushings for a 300zx (z31) that should work for us too.

I haven't installed these yet, but I bought them with the intent of doing so.

** UPDATE ** I couldn't figure out how to get the front control arm bushings to work. I tried pressing them in to the metal collars on the stock rubber bushings, but they do not fit. Some people said to install the bushings without the metal collars... I just got some fresh Moog ones instead, non-poly, but at least they were new rubber.

[speeddevil]

I want my S12 low like the white one  
http://www.geocities.jp/silvia_gazelle/s-series.htm

[asparagus]

For Z31 rear springs (ride heights are for Z31, not 100% sure about S12):
Z31 88SS 224lb/in
Stock height
Tokico 165lb/in
.75" drop
Eibach (progressive) 183-254lb/in
.75" drop

ST 226lb/in
1.0" drop
MSA: 168lb/in
.75" drop
The illuminas/konis will hold all of these. KYB/ Tokico Blues(HP), etc won't hold ST/SS springs in my experience.

so KYB's wont work with canuck springs?

[Indecisive]

the kyb oem replacements(GR2 and gas-a-just) are designed for a stock system.  same with the tokico blues.  They will blow out fairly quickly with the lowered spring and increased springrate.  

If you go to a performance oriented shock/strut insert, they'll last much longer since they are geared more toward this type of application.

[brents12]

can someone who has these springs on their car post a picture of it for me??thx

Superior Sport Chassis/Canuck Motorsports (designed and build on an S12) http://www.canuckmotorsports.com

[jlozano180]

Canuck springs on a:

4cyl car


V6 car



edited by sterling 1/7/09

[demonic s12]

i emailed whiteline about the front and rear adjustable swaybars...

"Our new online part catalogue (located at www.whiteline.com.au ) is constantly being kept up to date and is the best source of product information.
The listing for Nissan Gazelle (with IRS) still has the front and rear sway bars catalogued as being the part numbers that you are enquiring about, so I would have to say that these sway bars are still available."

to get these bars in the us, we have to go here....

Global Performance Parts
4554 - 128th Ave
Holland. MI 49424.  USA
Ph: 616 399 9025
Fax: 616 399 9174
Web: www.globalperformanceparts.com

[Empedocles99]

Ok so I was just on Summit and the only bushings for the 300zx I saw were rear sway bar, not whole kit...

If you want to order those parts, you have to enter the part numbers in manually in the search field.

However, I don't think that the control arm bushings for the 280zx I listed fit our cars (I tried to install them today, they look like they're the wrong size and shape). The strut arm bushings appear to fit though (I won't know for sure till I put the suspension back together).

I believe though that PTP-14-2004 is the whole-car kit for Z31s at Summit that others were talking about.

- Chris

[demonic s12]

*****

an r200 rear subframe (turbo/V6) WILL swap no problem into an r180 equipped (CA20) xe model

BUT

the driveshaft flanges are different. so consider a custom shaft into the swap cost

[JuneBug]

If you want to order those parts, you have to enter the part numbers in manually in the search field.

However, I don't think that the control arm bushings for the 280zx I listed fit our cars (I tried to install them today, they look like they're the wrong size and shape). The strut arm bushings appear to fit though (I won't know for sure till I put the suspension back together).

I believe though that PTP-14-2004 is the whole-car kit for Z31s at Summit that others were talking about.

- Chris

When you do a search for PTP-14-2004 on summit it gives you two choices PTP-14-2004, and PTP-14-2004BL, both the same price and without description.  Is there a difference between the two?