z guy Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 i just picked up a 79 zx the other day and am looking for a way to get maybe 3" lower than stock height. dont want to clip springs and dont have 900 bucks for coilovers. and ideas? and most lowering springs iv found only lower 1 inch all way around Quote Link to comment
Dirk Diggler Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Get fat girlfriend, be moar lowar. 3 Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Microsoft Paintbrush. Photoshop is too expensive. 1 Quote Link to comment
tdaaj Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Drop an ecology block on it, might be more than an inch though. Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Measure the spring diameter and see what you have for style of loop end. Go to Day Motorsports online and search for circle track springs slightly shorter than your springs. OR just cut about a half coil off, will work fine and won't be overly harsh. Especially not considering they're probably sagging from being original. Also, lowering three inches will probably be more than the strut can handle on compression, which means you'll blow your strut if you go that far down without adjustable perches. Perhaps a better idea is to get a set of ebay cheap coilovers, or get the coilover kit from Day Motorsports or other circle track catalog, or get some 27" mud tires and go bogging!!!! :D Quote Link to comment
FiveTenzo Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 cut half a coil or one coil on springs and get the cheapest smallest tires/wheels you can get. Quote Link to comment
Ratty260z Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Concrete bags, Lots of concrete bags. Might make it slower though. Quote Link to comment
metalmonkey47 Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Get some cheap 2inch coilover sleeves and springs from eBay. Cut spring perch off of the strut, weld collars on the strut tube and Bam. Cheap coilovers. Quote Link to comment
jdmdime Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Torch the springs :D Quote Link to comment
metalmonkey47 Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Torch the springs :D That's probably the worst thing you can do to lower it. Spring rate would be all sorts of fucked between each tire. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Remove strut and dismantle. Cut about one spring coil off. If worried cut 1/2 coil and go to no more than one later. When done, you will be able to get at the spring to cut it more very easily, you'll see. Now. keep in mind that just lowering but keeping the same soft spring will simply hit the ground easier on bumps because you are lower by 3". Removing one coil will increase the spring rate and stiffen or reduce suspension travel. Desirable when you are sitting closer to the ground. Most stock springs are too soft anyway. Cut lower spring perch off the strut ...... Nick carefully all the way round with 6" angle grinder and cut off disc... Also good for cutting spring too. Tap off... ....and grind the weld off smooth. Buy two 2" split collars, about $10 each. Install split collar loosely, then the spring perch you cut off, then spring, top hat and install in car. I used a hydraulic jack to push the split collar up against the spring perch to compress the spring, tighten the split collar and let down to check the ride height. Don't forget that changing one side will affect the other. BTW the 2" split collar will hold up 6,000 pounds or 2 zx cars EACH!!! OPTIONAL While apart, remove the gland nut and fish out the rubber O ring inside the strut. O ring... Empty out thin 5W shock absorber oil ...and lift out the valve assy. Clean and install, filling with 20W motorcycle fork oil. (less than $20) The thicker oil will resist flowing through the valves and will renew the damper action. I used 20W to match the increased spring rate but you may find 10W more to your liking. Do not go above 30W if driving in the winter as it it too thick and may tear out the valving. Fill, leaving about 1/2" for heat expansion and instalO ring and tighten gland nut. Hold upside down and pull strut out to full extension, place right side up and compress fully to bleed out any air in the valves. Remove gland nut, and add if needed. Maxima strut ready for the car. (without the split collar) Weld must be ground off so collar and perch can slide up and down smoothly. Split collars, 20W fork oil under $50. Stiffer springs, like new damping action, adjustable ride height on the front struts... priceless. . Quote Link to comment
z guy Posted January 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 http://thmotorsports.com/i-150708.aspx?utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=CSE&utm_content=1507081981NISSAN280ZX&utm_campaign=GoogleShoppingSeanVehSpec i will probably get something like this, but iv also heard that scion tc lowering coils fit this car. Quote Link to comment
z guy Posted January 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 heres a pic of the car, to me its just monster truck height Quote Link to comment
Hardwyre Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Mike, what is your suggestion for a 280Z? The gap between the fender and front tires is nearly 5 inches and looks all sorts of silly. The rears seem more appropriate, but over all, it seems like the springs themselves are just squishy. I probably just need new springs; I have a tendency to hit the bump stops if I hit depressions in the road. Is there a cheap alternative to spending $500+ on Tokico springs and shocks? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Mike, what is your suggestion for a 280Z? The gap between the fender and front tires is nearly 5 inches and looks all sorts of silly. The rears seem more appropriate, but over all, it seems like the springs themselves are just squishy. I probably just need new springs; I have a tendency to hit the bump stops if I hit depressions in the road. Is there a cheap alternative to spending $500+ on Tokico springs and shocks? Well since you have to take apart to replace the insides with a cartridge anyway why not try the thicker fork oil? this will firm up the damping on mushy shocks. This only applies if you have the stock valving in the struts. If too high the spring can be cut judiciously. This will drop the height and increase the spring rate. It's all in my post above. Quote Link to comment
Hardwyre Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Well since you have to take apart to replace the insides with a cartridge anyway why not try the thicker fork oil? this will firm up the damping on mushy shocks. This only applies if you have the stock valving in the struts. If too high the spring can be cut judiciously. This will drop the height and increase the spring rate. It's all in my post above. Okay. Wasn't sure if the ZX and the Z springs could be worked over the same way. Very nice to know. Know of any write ups on DIY'ing coil overs for the Z? Quote Link to comment
Ratty260z Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Hybridz.org has all you could ever want for suspension upgrades purepontiackid on hybridz did a write up on custom coilovers for a s130. Zccjdm.com sells a nice adapter kit for s30's that uses s13 Meagan coilovers. All of which has been documented on hybridz plenty of times. Quote Link to comment
Guest kamakazi620 Posted January 2, 2012 Report Share Posted January 2, 2012 Let the air out of the tires DONE!!!!!!!! :lol: Quote Link to comment
boonedock saints Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Remove strut and dismantle. Cut about one spring coil off. If worried cut 1/2 coil and go to no more than one later. When done, you will be able to get at the spring to cut it more very easily, you'll see. Now. keep in mind that just lowering but keeping the same soft spring will simply hit the ground easier on bumps because you are lower by 3". Removing one coil will increase the spring rate and stiffen or reduce suspension travel. Desirable when you are sitting closer to the ground. Most stock springs are too soft anyway. Cut lower spring perch off the strut ...... Nick carefully all the way round with 6" angle grinder and cut off disc... Also good for cutting spring too. Tap off... ....and grind the weld off smooth. Buy two 2" split collars, about $10 each. Install split collar loosely, then the spring perch you cut off, then spring, top hat and install in car. I used a hydraulic jack to push the split collar up against the spring perch to compress the spring, tighten the split collar and let down to check the ride height. Don't forget that changing one side will affect the other. BTW the 2" split collar will hold up 6,000 pounds or 2 zx cars EACH!!! OPTIONAL While apart, remove the gland nut and fish out the rubber O ring inside the strut. O ring... Empty out thin 5W shock absorber oil ...and lift out the valve assy. Clean and install, filling with 20W motorcycle fork oil. (less than $20) The thicker oil will resist flowing through the valves and will renew the damper action. I used 20W to match the increased spring rate but you may find 10W more to your liking. Do not go above 30W if driving in the winter as it it too thick and may tear out the valving. Fill, leaving about 1/2" for heat expansion and instalO ring and tighten gland nut. Hold upside down and pull strut out to full extension, place right side up and compress fully to bleed out any air in the valves. Remove gland nut, and add if needed. Maxima strut ready for the car. (without the split collar) Weld must be ground off so collar and perch can slide up and down smoothly. Split collars, 20W fork oil under $50. Stiffer springs, like new damping action, adjustable ride height on the front struts... priceless. . King Rat, great write up.....grass roots, hard core, less money same effect, I really enjoy these types of gettin things done ways. We are new here and new to Z cars, you showed a Maxima strut..in the write up...can these be swaped in to a 74 260z? We are just getting started. Thanks Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 They are pretty much the same exact strut. I think just the brake rotors are different. Quote Link to comment
boonedock saints Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 2eDeYe' date='06 February 2012 - 12:01 PM' timestamp='1328558483' post='628047']They are pretty much the same exact strut. I think just the brake rotors are different. That being said, whats the advantage? Other then if they were new and free...lol. What years are correct? Normally I would search this just keep from buggin members, but would seem like it would be hard to get these types of questions ......in a decent amount of time. Just let me know if Im buggin. I had just walked a pick-a-parts like an hour ago, some Maxiees and 240's...and one 200sx with a V-6 fully intacted......stick to the plan though...Ill let the boys decide down the road if they need a different motor. Thanks Quote Link to comment
djlotus Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 OPTIONAL While apart, remove the gland nut and fish out the rubber O ring inside the strut. O ring... Empty out thin 5W shock absorber oil ...and lift out the valve assy. Clean and install, filling with 20W motorcycle fork oil. (less than $20) The thicker oil will resist flowing through the valves and will renew the damper action. I used 20W to match the increased spring rate but you may find 10W more to your liking. Do not go above 30W if driving in the winter as it it too thick and may tear out the valving. Fill, leaving about 1/2" for heat expansion and instalO ring and tighten gland nut. Hold upside down and pull strut out to full extension, place right side up and compress fully to bleed out any air in the valves. Remove gland nut, and add if needed. Maxima strut ready for the car. (without the split collar) Weld must be ground off so collar and perch can slide up and down smoothly. Split collars, 20W fork oil under $50. Stiffer springs, like new damping action, adjustable ride height on the front struts... priceless. . Thank you for posting the oil replacement procedure. I've been wondering how it was supposed to be done. All the other posts that mentioned it being done just said to do it. Now I know how its done :) Quote Link to comment
Datsun-San Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Microsoft Paintbrush. Photoshop is too expensive. ^This... Quote Link to comment
z guy Posted February 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 microsoft paint youve done me well! Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Removing one coil will increase the spring rate How does cutting the spring increast the spring rate? Rate is measured in pounds per inch. With normal coil springs being longer or shorter don't change the rate. If they are variable rate springs, cutting the soft end will effectively increase the spring rate, but cutting the other end will decrease the spring rate. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.