Xylemer Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I am planning on using lowering springs on my s30 (Coilovers just not in the budget).... and my question is, can i get my car lower by sectioning the shock tubes... of course i would need shorter shocks. It seems like a good way to get lower without cutting your springs... please correct me if i am wrong. if this has been covered please feel free to flame on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buZy Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sectioning would not be the best idea without switching to coilovers. Lower springs are your best coice when it comes to ease and cost. What year s30? Not sure... but I think I read here once that early 240z upper isolators are not as thick as 280z pieces. Can some confirm that? If so it might give you more room for travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sectioning would not be the best idea without switching to coilovers. Lower springs are your best coice when it comes to ease and cost. What year s30? Not sure... but I think I read here once that early 240z upper isolators are not as thick as 280z pieces. Can some confirm that? If so it might give you more room for travel.ive heard that too. i *think* i heard theres about an inch difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Almost sent this one to the tool box, but this situation hasn't really been covered here. Yes, you can lower the car by taking out a section of the strut tube (not shock tube) below the factory spring perch. You will need shorter shocks (Tokico HZ or BZ3099 front and HZ or BZ3015 rear). It will also be difficult to make sure the strut tube cuts are perpendicular to the strut and that the tubes are welded together square. The factory spring perch will get in the way. Check the strut sectioning FAQ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWRex Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 If you're thinking about sectioning,new springs,struts,TIG welding the sections back together,etc,which is a small project in itself,you might as well save up a couple extra bucks and install the coilovers.From adjustability to larger range of tire/wheel combinations,sectioning and not installing coilovers seems redundant,IMO of course.I second that point on searching suspension/strut thread FAQ,and researching,and researching.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xylemer Posted December 28, 2007 Author Share Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks for the response guys... my car is a 73, so the mount thing will not help. I have read the faq and searched but all the info I found out there is about coilovers. I expected the answers you gave, I wanted to get a second opinion. I am glad to find that this had not been covered, it may give people another option. I would love to have a coilover setup, but I would rather save money here than elsewhere. I do not plan on doing any racing, so adjustability is a plus not a necessity. I am building this more for looks than performance. I know that may sound crazy, but i have a 240sx that is built for performance. Now about the fab work... yes it will be a big job, but I could always add coilovers if need be... I plan on cutting the strut tube (sorry johnc, my wording was bad) as if i am going with coilovers. I will try to take pics of the whole process so others may see. I am still waiting on my springs and I have yet to order my shocks. I have plenty of other things to work on in the mean time. rust just doesn't fix itself. I do how ever have another quick question.... how much do most of you guys lower your car with the coilovers... if i take out a 1" section and have 1" lowering springs, then i should get about 2". that should be enough. oh, and I got a killer deal on a set of lowering springs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 There's a subtle difference between the reason you're sectioning the struts and the reason most of the rest of us section struts. You're sectioning your struts because you want to lower the car. Others section the struts because the car is lowered. For your project taking 1" out of the strut tube is fine, but you'll need to get the shorter shocks and fab some spacers to fit underneath. Other folks shorten the strut tubes in front and rear to match the shorter shock and put the shock in the middle of its stroke at static ride height. They remove enough tube length to accomplish that. Its typically 1.5 to 1.75" depending on the shock used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xylemer Posted December 28, 2007 Author Share Posted December 28, 2007 Other folks shorten the strut tubes in front and rear to match the shorter shock and put the shock in the middle of its stroke at static ride height. They remove enough tube length to accomplish that. Its typically 1.5 to 1.75" depending on the shock used. with that said... do you think i need to cut more out... i would like my car to look like it has coilovers, if that is even possiable. and i will be getting shorter shocks, the ones you mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sectioning the tubes to fit the strut you're going to use is the easiest way to go, as it keeps you from having to make a spacer to fit under the insert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjracin240 Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I sectioned my struts to fit a set of Koni 8610's in the front and a set of non adjustable Konis for the rear. Then rewelded my stock spring perches back on and used the AZ Z Car HD springs. Seemed like the car with this setup definitely held it's own against the other Z's at the track event at Daytona. I have been running this setup for several years I strongly recommend it. Since I am interested in becoming more aggressive on track events I am considering several upgrades including following some advice from John Coffey concerning coilovers to increase my spring rate. The HD springs felt great on the street as well as the track. Good luck with whatever chooice you make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 Why not cut some coil off. It doesn't take much and is alot easier than sectioning especially if you don't need a sectioned strut. If you do cut coils do a little at a time, like 1/2 at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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