Upside down - Rear Lower Control Arms\Transverse Link

[hawaiiz]

So I was finishing up my brake conversion last night and Im looking at the lower control arms, Im like who crap, what the hello happened to my control arms, they are different. First thought is some had to replace on and could only find the wrong side and flipped it over. It was 12:30pm and I said scew it and went to bed.

 

Looking it up this afternoon I guess its normal.

 

http://www.turbomagazine.com/features/tur0801a01_1972_nissan_datsun_240z/photo_10.html

 

Not my car but its a good pic of what Im talking about.

 

So the question, Either LCA and fit either side???? HawaiiZ

[OlderThanMe]

Nissan was trying to cut costs by making one control arm instead of two different ones. Your control arms are fine. You will notice that the sway bar mounts are directly in the center of the thickness of the control arm.

 

Remember that Zs were ECONOMY sportscars back in the day... no fancy suspension or anything.

[hawaiiz]

Very Interesting - Ok How about this -

 

Do 2+2 use the exact same control arm

240 260 280 use the same arm

 

How about strut assemblys same on 2+2 and coupes??

 

Thanks HawaiiZ

[zcarnut]

Do 2+2 use the exact same control arm

240 260 280 use the same arm

 

How about strut assemblys same on 2+2 and coupes??

 

Because of the heavier weight of the 2+2 260Z, Nissan beefed up the rear lower control arms and made other chassis modifications. Nissan applied these changes to the two-seater as well. The later lower control arms will work on the 240Z’s. On 280Z Nissan also changed the rear strut tube dimension slightly; the insulator on top of spring was modified and the spring perch on the strut tube was repositioned.

[johnc]

Looking it up this afternoon I guess its normal.

 

No its not. There are definate left and right rear lower control arms and the lefts are extremely rare. I happen have one and I'll sell it to you for $250...

[bjhines]

It is interesting that Nissan would design new parts that were nearly always backwards compatable with the older parts.

 

The 1972 240Z is a totally different car from the 1978 280Z. but nearly every part can be swapped from one to the other.

 

Things like the control arms are neat designs.

The corner marker lights and many interior bits fit on many other Nissan cars spanning a decade period.

The brake bracketry and harware can be BOLTED on nearly any Nissan spanning nearly 40 years.

Subaru still uses the Fuji Heavy Industries R-series differentials that were used in the 1970s 240Zs. We have found that many other differentials in many other Japanese cars will fit in the Z cars.

 

I have owned many important Japanese cars including the heavyweight mid 1990s Toyota Landcruiser and the mid1980s Toyota MR2. These too are amazing vehicles to own.

 

I have been so spoiled by these wonderful cars that I cuss my American Chevy Z-71 pickup truck evey day I drive it. I have owned VERY FEW American cars... I have been disgusted by every aspect of the American designs.

My Chevy truck(soon to be replaced by a Titan) is only a few years old with less than 70,000 miles and it has suffered a laundry list of failures that did not occurr in 15 years and 300,000 miles on ANY of my Japanese cars. The G.D. truck has suffered MAJOR FAILURES of nearly every single system. The interior bits have burned out or broken off on a monthly basis since the week I brought it home from the dealer.

 

I will never buy another vehicle made anywhere but JAPAN for the rest of my life. EVER...

[MrFancypants]

HawaiiZ - Search ya lazy bastard

 

J/K.. I had the same exact question a couple months ago and can tell you they are interchangeable. At first, I was scratching my head just like you!

 

 

 

- Greg -