Mack Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 (edited) Well, here are some pics of the adapter I made to put a maxima/stanza ball joint on the stock 280ZX control arm. The maxima/stanza ball joint has the proper angle to put 240sx hubs and thus, 240sx coilovers. the only part of the equation I haven't figured out yet is the tie rod end, as I don't think the stock on has enough threads to reach the S13 hubs safely. I am looking into Z32 and S14 stuff. The rears are easy, pretty much bolt in. All you have to do is modify the top mounts to fit in the 280ZX strut tower. I can get pics of that too if anyone wants. Also, I when running the S13/14 front hub, Z32 rotors and calipers become bolt on. There are a few more pics in my photobucket album, and I can get more if anyone needs them. Suspension bits Edited May 14, 2012 by Mack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FricFrac Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Thanks Mack - this is an often asked question from the S130 guys looking for coilovers that don't exist. Another option for adapting the S13 coil overs. I did just notice that Tech Toy Tuning has a front coilover for those who don't have the ability to fab their own up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchetypeDatsun Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I used to have HKS hypermax coilovers for the rear but I was dumb to sell them as they could have been useful all that I needed was make them fit the top mounts. I would be interested in seeing some pics on how they would fit for the rears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 That's pretty awesome. You can also go 5 lug now pretty easy. Have you measured everything out height wise (I think)? I remember thinking when I just had my coilover welded on it wasn't that much different in height from regular shock and spring. The s13 hub will only add like 2 inches to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FricFrac Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I used to have HKS hypermax coilovers for the rear but I was dumb to sell them as they could have been useful all that I needed was make them fit the top mounts. I would be interested in seeing some pics on how they would fit for the rears. The S13 rears bolt right in. You just need to take the top hat from the stocker that is a three bolt and replace the S13 two bolt top hat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstarrocker Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Or you can drill some new holes. Way I see it, 3 bolts are better than 2. Mac, any chance you're good with AutoCAD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macambra Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 maxima/stanza ball joint on the stock 280ZX control arm Are we talking 84-88 U11 Maxima/89-94 U12 Stanza? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share Posted May 15, 2012 Are we talking 84-88 U11 Maxima/89-94 U12 Stanza? Yes! Those are the ball joints I used. As far as the height comment, with the coilovers I used it doesn't matter as they are the good kind of adjustable. When you lower or raise it, the body of the shock is threaded into a sleeve that the hub bolts to, so you can keep all your pre-load no matter what height you set it to. I haven't messed around with autocad much, is there a free version you could point me to that I can play with? I am sure I could pick it up pretty easy. And, yes! I just modified the S14 (S13 and s14 stuff is the same, except the s14 rears coilovers are taller, easily fixed) top hat by re-drilling it for 3 bolts and cutting the shape to fit it into the top of the s130 strut tower. The 240sx stuff has a round top mount vs. the 280ZX flat on 2 sides top mount. I will get some pics of that later in the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forcer Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Also remember that using the S13/S14 parts you can use Skullwerks adapters to get Brembo's. Something that I'm looking forward to doing to mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstarrocker Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 (edited) Mack, what system are you using? Linux, Windows, Mac, etc. Here's one I found with the crack/serial for Windows x32/64. Just be warned: it is a resource HUNGRY program. Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 with cracks/serial Edited May 16, 2012 by darkstarrocker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shuttlefever Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 This may be a goofy question, are the shock/ strut options better for the s13/s14? And are they a cartridge style like our cars are? What's the major differences??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstarrocker Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 All of the answers to your questions are already in this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shuttlefever Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 All of the answers to your questions are already in this thread. well maybe i didn't word my question correctly, (i do that when i am being sneaky looking at this forum while i am supposed to be working!!!) So i see that there are slight differences in height, which doesnt really concern me, my main concern is that the aftermarket offerings for suspension is kinda weak for our cars. Fortunately I am comfortable with adapting and fabricating. I am just wondering if it will be worth the effort. Tokico struts are not the best but they are nothing to skoff at either. Does converting to S 13 stuff give a few more options? I have been playing with cars most of my life (which is quite a while) including being a professional mechanic for my first career. However, this is my first Z car and I am still soaking up lots of info!! Bear with me folks!! D~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mack Posted May 17, 2012 Author Share Posted May 17, 2012 I am running windows xp on an older AMD athalon 2.4ghz processor with 4 gigs of ram, I think it should be able to handle it. no dual or quad core, but still decent. I will give it a shot with the autocad! thanks! There are full coilover kits available for the S13/S14 with ride height adjustment, damper compression and rebound adjustment, as well as a whole host of spring rates. And you can find most of these kits in the sub $1000 range, hell, a lot of them in the sub $500 range. Not to mention the cheap and easy brake upgrades available for the S series spindles, such as 300zx twin turbo calipers and rotors, or if you really want I have heard a rumor that late model (B15) sentra SER brembo calipers and rotors are BOLT ON for the S series hubs as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calico Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 any chance in you duplicating your brackets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forcer Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I am interested aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82 turbo z Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I agree I need these right now lol. I have the s13 front hubs on the car right now with the stock ball joints and that's where I found I will need to get these ball joints. Also have the tie rods hooked up but when one is straight the other has a lot of toe in so if you beat me to finding out what to do with the rack stuff let me know! But if you could either take exact measurements of the bracket you made so we can finally get this done too or make some more to sell that would be AMAZING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
83turbo280zx Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 looks awesome man! i was going to attempt this project a while back and scrapped the idea. FWIW, in case anyone else tries to do it. The S13/S14 front struts will not fit in the 280zx strut tower. The S13 top strut mount is offset in ward, while the 280zx strut mount is centered. The offset makes the strut/spring assembly rub and bind against the inside of the strut tower, so you can only use coil overs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Been awhile since I had strut cartridges in my ZX but can you just swap out the top hat like in the rear for coilovers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forcer Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 Hate to pull up another old thread, but I tried PMing you first Mack. Said you couldn't recieve any more messages. I'm still interested in a set of the adapters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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