I need suspension advice.

[galloguy05]

So I will be coming into about 2,000 dollars this week that I plan to spend the majority on my z. I will be buying an air compressor first and foremost. I also plan to buy a set of sportmax 002's (probably 16x7 ? to fill in my fender well)

 

With this knowledge I am asking for your guys advice. I have been looking at tokico illuminas strut and spring set but it only lowers the car 1 inch (as it says). I want to lower my car 2 inches though to close the gap between the wheel and fender.

 

I do not have the skill or tools to section the struts (if need be) and don't want to fork over the dough for coilovers. I know that my rear shocks are shot as it is so they need replaced no matter what. So is it a viable option for me to get the new tokico shocks and just cut my stock springs to acquire my ride height? I do not want to buy new springs along with shocks just to cut them because that seems a waste for me. Or are there springs and struts out there that can give me the look I am seeking?

 

I know that by getting the larger rim will help close the gap ( I haven't decided on tires yet) so I'm kinda stuck as what to do and want to make sure I am spending my money correctly. Thanks guy

[ComicArtist]

If you're not wanting to spend a whole lot of money on suspension, and lower it more than 1", your best bet is to go with the Tokicos and cut your stock springs. You don't want to cut the Tokico springs, for a multitude of reasons.

 

The ride will be considerable rougher though. However you should corner better.

[galloguy05]

My car is only driven on the street and never raced or "street" raced. I do a few spirited runs on the highway but that's it. So as long asthe handling stays about the same as it is that's all I care. I'm not tryig to sound cheap though. I mean I will spend over 500 if there is an option out there but I definately do not want to spend 1k on coilovers. This upgrade will be mostlyVfor looks not performance. On that note, however, I still want to do it as correctly as possible. If buying the tokico struts AND springs and then cutting the new springs is my best option then I will do so. But that seems as a waste for me and I figured I might as well just cut the old ones if I'm going to go that route. When I'm driving my car my rear shocks bottom out on nearly every bump so that why I am pretty sure they are shot.

 

Anyone else care to chime in and give me some advice?

[junglist]

Just get a set of Eibachs or other springs. Don't cut the springs, thats just not the proper way of doing anything.

[galloguy05]

do you happen to know which eibach springs I would need to get to achieve the look I am after, that will work with the tokico struts?

 

I have tried searching but cant seem to use the right words to find the info I guess.

[sticky280zx]

First....i would get the 16x8s and stick with tokico illuminas all over and USE their springs. That will give you a big enough drop especially since they are a 16 vs your stock 14s. Any lower whether its tokico or stock springs you cut and you will have camber wear issues. SO then you would be buying 400+ in camber plates lol.Eibach springs will run almost 200, so you need to either be happy with an inch or little more of drop or think about going coilovers, or running camber plates.

[galloguy05]

Thanks for the info sticky280zx. I was only planning in getting the 16x7 because i was afraid that the 16x8 would rub. But you are correct. I will just buy the iliminas with their springs or at the VERY LEAST get the tokco hp with their springs ad just use those with that set up. Does anyone have any advice on which I should buy? I know the iliminas have some adjustment in them IIRC and the HP's do not. Money aside, which would be better for my application? I will research this on my own as well but I thought I'd ask since I'm already typing my response.

 

Thanks

[johnc]

Thanks for the info sticky280zx. I was only planning in getting the 16x7 because i was afraid that the 16x8 would rub. But you are correct. I will just buy the iliminas with their springs or at the VERY LEAST get the tokco hp with their springs ad just use those with that set up. Does anyone have any advice on which I should buy? I know the iliminas have some adjustment in them IIRC and the HP's do not. Money aside, which would be better for my application? I will research this on my own as well but I thought I'd ask since I'm already typing my response.

 

Thanks

 

Read the sticky in the Suspension forum regarding using 280Z Tokico springs on your 240. 16 x 7 wheels are fine for your plans and they will fit easily with 215 or 225/45-16s. Keep your tire diameter at 24" or less.

[galloguy05]

Alright I just read it and I must have read it too fast because it went right over my head so I am goingto read it again to fully understand it. From what I have read though, the main difference between the illuminas and hp's are the adjustablility. Since I never plan to put my car on a track, is the adjustability really needed?. Now do not get me wrong, I am not trying to skimp on the cheaper route. I just don't want to spend the extra money if it's not necessary for my specific needs. Also I originally planned in getting the 16x7 sportmax because I knew they would fit without a doubt, but would it be safe to say that the 16x8's will fit as well? I didn't mention this before but I have a 75 280z.

Thanks guys

[Zmanco]

While I have not tried it, I would be VERY SURPRISED if 16x8 rims with 225 or wider tires will clear stock fenders with a 2" drop. I run 16x7 Panasports with 225 rubber and tokico illuminas and springs and had occasional rubs on big bumps until I trimmed the fender lip. Dropping it 1" further with rims that stick out 0.5" more is bound to rub a lot more often.

Edited May 12, 2010 by Zmanco

[galloguy05]

Well I plan on only doing a 1 inch drop sincerhat is all I will get without cutting the springs. Based on what you said though I will stick with 16x7 to be on the safe side. If I ever decide to go with zg flares then I will look more into the wider rims. Thanks a lot for all the help guys. I have decided on other the illuminas or hp's (haven't decided between the two yet) with the springs as well and am not goig to cut them. I believe that with the larger rim and 1 inch drop, my car should have the desired look I am after.

[palauoriginal]

get 16x8's and the compressor and call it a day

then save for coilovers

one and done

Edited May 12, 2010 by palauoriginal

[galloguy05]

You know I thought about that. Technically they aren't all that much more than the illuminas. From what I've seen , the illuminas are about 700 or so for the set and I have seen SOME coilover kits for around 950. So that's only really 250 more which isn't all that much I suppose. My only issue with this is that I have not researched which ones I would need and how much (if any) modification I would need to run the coilovers on my car. Also I plan on putting all the extra money I have left after buying the wheels and tires and compressor and suspension toward my paint job.

 

I will look into the coilover option and see what that all entails but honestly I am just more comfortable with the spring and strut option at the moment since it is what I have been leaning toward since buying my car. It also fits my budget plans a little better and leaves me a little wiggle room because as we all know, these cars' budgets never go according to plan. Thanks for the idea though. I am going to look into it right now and see if there are any viable options for me.

[johnc]

You know I thought about that. Technically they aren't all that much more than the illuminas. From what I've seen , the illuminas are about 700 or so for the set and I have seen SOME coilover kits for around 950. So that's only really 250 more which isn't all that much I suppose. My only issue with this is that I have not researched which ones I would need and how much (if any) modification I would need to run the coilovers on my car. Also I plan on putting all the extra money I have left after buying the wheels and tires and compressor and suspension toward my paint job.

 

I will look into the coilover option and see what that all entails but honestly I am just more comfortable with the spring and strut option at the moment since it is what I have been leaning toward since buying my car. It also fits my budget plans a little better and leaves me a little wiggle room because as we all know, these cars' budgets never go according to plan. Thanks for the idea though. I am going to look into it right now and see if there are any viable options for me.

 

The parts for a coil over kit are only part of the expense. You also have the labor involved and the cheapest I've heard for that is $300 with $500 as a more typical price for the cutting and welding involved.

[ComicArtist]

I wouldn't opt for cutting springs either way, BUT if I did, I would prefer to cut stock springs over Eibachs.

[Zmanco]

Is there any performance reason to prefer to cut stock springs instead of shorter/stiffer aftermarket springs? Or is it just an economic issue (better to cut up something you already have vs. having to pay for it)?

[galloguy05]

I agree with cutting up the stock springs rather than new ones, and that was my original plan. But i don't think I will be going that route anymore. I looked into the coilover option and it is not really viable for me since I do not have a welder readily available. I have a friend that has one but I just do not feel comfortable welding the suspension, hence why I did not consider sectioning the struts as an option. The only way I would consider coilovers would be if they were direct bolt on.

 

I doubt there is any performance reasons for cutting the springs though. In my experience, it is simply aesthetic and can actually produce a rougher ride. I knew this coming into this discussion as well. I have decided (I THINK) that since I am getting the larger diameter wheel and the 1 inch drop that the tokico HP's and springs, I will get the look I am seeking.

 

If not then I will cut the stock springs and install them and see how that goes but still have the new springs that are uncut.

[palauoriginal]

you will be much more satisfied with coilovers.

even if they a softer rate and not dampening adjustable

the improvement is worth it

especially if you get pillowbal upper mounts.

i've done cut springs.

then aftermarket springs and shocks.

then coilovers.

and i wish i just first did coilovers.

cut springs cause more problems then they solve

[galloguy05]

I am aware that the cut springs cause problems and ruin the struts. That is why it is a last resort for me at the time being. The whole coilover option is over my head atthe moment and I have noT welded anything in a number of years and do not trust my welds on anything structural. Nor do I trust any of my friends welds, seeing as I am the best welder amongst us. If I am missig something please let me know but from what I have read, the cheapest route are the s13 coilovers. But as I read more into it, I see that they do not work with 280z struts as they are 1/8 inch too big IIRC. I know that ground control sells a set though. I am going to look into the instilation of these after I post this but those may even be out of my grasp at the moment, both monitarily and as far as my abilities and availible tools. Sorry if this sounds at all redundant, I am trying to sort through all my options while typing this at the same time and this is probably running together.

 

I am going to clean this up.

 

My car: 75 280z.

Wheels I plan to buy tomorrow are:16x7 sportmax 002 or 16x8 depending if I go coilover or not.

Suspension budget: $700

 

options I have narrowed it down to:

Tokico illuminas with cut stock springs

Tokico HP's with cut stock springs

Tokico illuminas with eibach springs that they supply forthe 1" drop

Tokico HP's with eibach springs for 1" drop

Ground control coilovers with a stut that I have yet to look up and decide on.

 

Uses for the car: street driven only, going for aesthetics only with decent ride not for performance.

 

NOW......with this information, i am pretty sure that eeryone is going to say forget about the first 2 options. But I'll leave them there as they are still options nonetheless. Given that information, with my budget. What does everyone say?

[Silver Mine Motors]

you haven't said if you have a 240z or 280z suspension but in-case you have a 280z top hat, you have the option of switching them for 240z top hats. the 240z ones are 3/4 of an inch shorter than the 280z. with the tokico illumina kit and the 240z top hat you will drop your car about 1 3/4 of an inch. i think this is a good way to solve your problem.