Guest vizcounty Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Hello guys, Please help me out with my ride height, I have a 77 280Z with GC coilovers and UNsectioned strut housing. For the Front = 175 spring rates, 2.5"diameter and 10" height with koni shocks. They fit fine no problem, I still can adjust them. Bought the springs directly from GC. The problem is the REAR= 200 spring rates, 2.5"diameter and 10" height with koni shocks. When I put on the wheels, the rear of the car RESTS on tires and the coilover are already on the top of the sleeves. What is the problem????? Is the problem spring rates or the length of the springs? -Do I need longer springs for the rears especially for 280Z, like 12"??? -Wrong spring rates on the rears? I bought the rear springs from a member here at hybridz and he said that they are 200 spring rates with 2.5 diameter and 10" height, but when the I received the springs, there is no information printed on them, I emailed the seller and he confirm that they are 200 spring rates. Before the swap, I was using F=300, 12" height, 2.5" diameter and R=350, 12" height, 2.5" diameter with blown shocks. I bought the car like that. Please help me out, thank you, appreciated, Tony PS: I just read ON3GO post since he had the similar problem before, but Im not using wide wheels and the strut housing is not sectioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Probably the easiest thing to do is weld another seat for the threaded collar on the tube, higher than the on you have now, so you can regain some adjustability. The softer springs are compressing more, and lowering your ride height. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vizcounty Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Thanks for the recommendations Does people who owns 280Z that runs coilovers uses 10" or 12" springs? Thanks again, Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 I very successfully used 200lb/in springs that were 10" long. I'd do what jt1 suggested and weld a new collar in place (or slip a longer cylindrical type of collar onto the current one to raise the spring perch up higher if you don't want to weld at this time). At 200lb/in, the springs should compress roughly 2.5" depending on the weight of the car. Mine would compress about 2.1", but that was a gutted '71. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Tony, My rear collars were too low too. I ended up getting a steel pipe with a diameter ever so slightly larger than the strut tube and put that between the perch and the GC threaded tube. Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 As said above, your threaded collars are mounted too low. You went from a stiff 12" tall spring to a softer 10" tall spring. The welded ring that the threaded collar sits on is at elast 2" too low for the new springs you've installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vizcounty Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Will it work if I use a 12" and 200 spring rates in the rears instead of installing a new threaded collar? So the problem is the length of the springs not the spring rates right? If I instead use say 10" length and 250 spring rates, it would still TOO low? Thank you for all the help guys, appreciated, Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 move the perch your collar sits on 2" up, or get 12" springs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Just go to the steel yard, get some pipe, and slip it over the strut tube and use it as a spacer to push the collar up by 2 or so inches....why buy more springs, when for about $5 worth of steel it will be fixed..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vizcounty Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 I didn't do the coilover conversion by myself, so Im not very familiar but please tell me, Tim240z, You said "use it as a spacer to push the collar up by 2 or so inches", the threaded collar is welded to the strut housing right? How can I remove it before I can slip a steel pipe underneed it? Thank you again, Tony PS: Anyone have a 200-250 spring rates, 12" long for sale??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vizcounty Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Anyone have pics, Im a little confused with the idea of slipping a steel pipe on to it? Thank you again, Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 The threaded collar should not be welded to the strut housing. Once you take off the gland nut and slide out the strut insert, the collar should slide off.... There are a couple of pics on my site..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 You've got to remove the upper part of the strut from its mounting, remove the upper spring perch (use a spring compressor, or thread the lower spring perch down the threaded tube until tension is removed from the spring), remove the gland nut that holds the strut insert into the casing, and then you will have a clear shot at slipping off the threaded tube, slipping on a spacer cylinder (spacer) onto the welded perch, and then slipping the threaded tube back onto this spacer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vizcounty Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Ok, I think I understand what you guys are trying to say, What kind of steel pipe should I get? any steel pipe? are they strong enough? and what diameter? Thank you very much, Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Tony, the SEARCH function is your best friend. Click here !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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