Suspension Upgrade: New Sway bars or stay Stock?, and another ?

[280z1975]

I have a 75' 280z that I am going to do a suspension upgrade, but I am torn between if I should buy new performance sway bars or I should stick to the stock ones. I don't feel like dropping the extra 300 bucks. I won't be doing much if any racing with the car, just want the car to drive nicer ... I am already putting on Tyko HP and Edinbach Springs and new urethane bushings.

 

Also, I have the option to pick up some Edinbach Springs and Tokico HP struts from a friend that are used and only have a couple thousand miles on them. Is it a good idea buy used or just go new?

 

Thanks for the help...

[A. G. Olphart]

Why didn't your friend like them? Do they fit your Z?

 

If they truly have only a few thousand miles and he didn't blow the struts jumping railroad grades or such, they might be a screaming deal... IF THEY ARE WHAT YOU NEED/WANT.

 

Why not rebuild/upgrade springs, struts and suspension bushings before deciding on sway bars? When a person has learned the handling characteristics of their new suspension, then a change in sway bars might be indicated. Any changes should be well thought out, so as to modify current handling in a predictable manner.

 

 

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[280z1975]

Why didn't your friend like them? Do they fit your Z? If they truly have only a few thousand miles and he didn't blow the struts jumping railroad grades or such, they might be a screaming deal... IF THEY ARE WHAT YOU NEED/WANT.

 

I am not 100% on the condition of the springs and struts, so I will go new.

 

Why not rebuild/upgrade springs, struts and suspension bushings before deciding on sway bars? When a person has learned the handling characteristics of their new suspension, then a change in sway bars might be indicated. Any changes should be well thought out, so as to modify current handling in a predictable manner.

 

Thank you very much for you comments. I will delay any sway bar upgrades untill after my other suspension upgrades.

 

-Gregg-

[A. G. Olphart]

If you can get your buddies setup cheaply enough, the springs should be useable; struts are replaceable if bad (not likely to be bad if the mileage claim is close to accurate).

 

There is a ton of stuff in this forum on Eibach springs... Here's one thread:

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=113711&highlight=Eibach

 

(I put Eibach in the "search this thread" block and got 170 hits).

 

Good luck.

 

 

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[datsunlover]

Here's my opinion; The stock sway bars are pretty weak, but if you're getting those (almost) new struts and springs, I guess I'd wait to see how the car behaves. I have the stock 280z springs (need to replace those...) and KYB GR2 struts, but when I changed the struts, I also put on a larger aftermarket front sway bar and WOW what a diffrence.. I got it cheep (along with a bunch of parts I scavenged from a guy up north.. So sad about that old 240..probly still rotting in his back yard.) but I don't know what make it is. Definatly keeps the front end planted better during those 'ya hoo' moments.

 

Interestingly enough, a 240 rear bar doesn't work on a 280 (search and you'll probly find my post from 2 years ago.. oops..) so I've run withOUT a rear sway bar. To be honest, I prefer the way the Z handles now, as oposed to with the stock rear bar on, which was a tiny little thing anyway.. (FYI; I took off the stock rear bar when I did my frame rails/sub connectors and they ended up in the way.. I havn't got around to making provisions for a rear bar again.) Just a thought..

[280z1975]

Thank you for all the replies, I am just going to take my suspension upgrade one step at a time ... this time around will be the spring/strut upgrade and the urethane bushings ... then see how I like the set up and go from there.

 

Thanks for all the help ...

[Cal Poly Zmanaustin]

I agree with the suggestions above. Are you lowering the cars ride height? If you are then you are much better off adding bumpsteer spacers before sway bars. Also, if lowering you may want to cut the rebounds down 1/2 inch to return travel back to the strut. I will echo the other thoughts above and suggest you play around with your suspension a bit. For instance an easy change is to add a washer or two to the radius rods and bump up the caster. I think I was running 3 degrees and my 240Z felt more stable and turn in was better also.

 

Good luck.