Rakko Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I have an 84 Maxima that I am fixing up for a $500 car/500 mile rally this summer in Oregon. Course is a mix of paved roads, gravel, and then some tough patches on rutted dirt fire roads I want to raise the car, but don't have any experience with suspension work. I changed the front rotors and pads, that is about the extent of my mechanical prowess to date. I was wondering if anybody had any specific recommendations on shocks/springs. Also, I have my eye on a set of 4x114.3 15" 300zx wheels with nice used 215/60/R15s. HRH said in PM that he thought they would work, but I want to see if anybody has actually run something that wide in a maxima- i have searched through the forums and it seems like 205/60/R15s will work, but I am wondering about the extra 10mm in the front especially. Car is in the process of getting a japanese dragon painted on it. I put that '79 810 steering wheel on it too. I am obviously not a serious gearhead, so will not be offended by some dumbed down advice :). Thanks! <a href="http://s76.photobucket.com/user/ptnewell/media/imagejpg2.jpg.html"target="_blank"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/ptnewell/imagejpg2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo imagejpg2.jpg"/></a> <a href="http://s76.photobucket.com/user/ptnewell/media/imagejpg1.jpg.html"target="_blank"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/ptnewell/imagejpg1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo imagejpg1.jpg"/></a> <a href="http://s76.photobucket.com/user/ptnewell/media/imagejpg3.jpg.html"target="_blank"><img src="http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j3/ptnewell/imagejpg3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo imagejpg3.jpg"/></a> Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Welcome to Ratusn, Racco. Here's your pictures so everyone can see them. I like the rims you have now so don't throw them away. Why the 300zx rims? You can get wider tires on your rims you have now. I would get the zx rims if you want for later, but put taller tires on the rims you have to raise it. Go to a tire store and look in the pile out back or maybe they have some that were traded in? Look for 4 tires that match and are better treaded for off road rather than wider. What size tire is on it now??? Are you thinking of lightening your car? Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted February 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Thanks for the reply. I was looking at the 300zx rims because they have an 80% set of pirellis on them and they are 15" rather than the stock 14". I thought the wider tires would look cool too, but maybe would make it squirrely-er int he ruts. I like your idea of taller tires on the stock rims though (because they are cool too, and in good shape). Maybe a light truck tire. Current tires are the stock 185/70/R14. Acceleration and quick manuevering isn't too important for this event so I am not concerned about the weight, although it wouldn't hurt to shave some. HRH's Ugly Betty thread make it pretty clear how that could be accomplished. The main thing is to make the car reliable and toughen it up for the rough stuff. Looking good and sounding good is my goal too. 2 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 185/70/R14s are 24.2" diameter and 7.28" wide215/60R15s are 25.16" diameter and 8.46" wide... roughly an inch taller and wider, not really a clear advantage.Being 15" instead of 14" rim doesn't really matter much except maybe for tire choices. Otherwise the rim is 1 inch taller but the tire height is less by this amount. A 190/75R14 would be the same diameter as a 215/60R15. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted February 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 That makes sense. Seems like a combination of taller tires and longer/stiffer springs would be ideal. With my limited knowledge, the only struts that I know would work would be stock replacement, which I guess I could put spacers in, but wondering if there are other options. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 C'mon guys, don't make me go to a Subaru forum! Those guys are weird. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted February 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 And I promise to slam it after July. All I want is 2". Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted February 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Like this: http://m.imgur.com/gallery/UzAgbwk 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 You won't get that. Those are extremely long travel suspensions to absorb the punishing bumps. I would remove the springs and cut some of the coil off. This will increase the spring rate (stiffness) There are formulas for working the amount out. Then I would stack rubber spacers under the spring to raise it the 2" you want plus that lost by cutting. Stiffer and higher. The stock spring rate ('84 wagon) is about 145 lb/in. Removing one active coil should get you near 200 lb./in. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted March 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 It is counterintuitive that the springs would get stiffer as they got shorter. Seems like they would get...well, just shorter. But the internet confirms it. We'll see, I have some time... would like to find an option that doesn't decrease the travel. As far as tires go, I see that the vw vanagon crowd uses the 195/75/14s, so I am watching out for a used set of those with all-terrain tread to use on the stock rims - glad you steered me away from new wheels. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted March 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Dragon is done 2 Quote Link to comment
captaingamez Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Sweet project. One of the few that are the same color as mine. Good luck. Your maxima should make that 500 mile rally no problem 1 Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted March 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 She gets new front shock inserts this weekend. Ball joint dust boots are completely gone. I am wondering if I can get away with new boots, or if I should replace the control arms/ball joints. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Houston, we have more higher. In the front. And a fresh set of KYB inserts. In case anybody else ever wants to lift an 84 Maxima (which will be never) here is one way: Ride effex spring spacer with bottom spring channel cut off on the bottom of the spring. Pics of the car when I get some good ones. Yes it looks goofy. Next for some stiffer springs for the back and maybe taller tires. 1 Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Allright, here is before/after. Subtle, but it will help. 1 Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted May 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 So I replaced the rear springs with '81 mercedes 300D front springs with 3-3/4 coils cut, which makes the rear perhaps 1-1/2" higher and stiffer than sh*t. Ride is rough rough but very stable on corners and bottoming out is no longer really possible. Check out how much thicker the mercedes springs compared to the stock: Those are 205/60s on the back with a more aggresive offset. I think that once the rally is over, I will cut another coil off the rear and run with those, and something similar on the front. Stock rims go to the tire place today to get a set of near-new blizzak studless snows from CL. 195/70s for the rear and stock 185/70s for the front. If the rears fit without rubbing (may have to roll the fenders) that will be the rally setup. 1 Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Blizzaks are on- offroad ready! See you at Canby! 1 Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted June 21, 2015 Report Share Posted June 21, 2015 Ah hah! I DID see you at Canby, but only for a short while. I noticed the height difference but didn't check this thread. The height may work but you need to slot the rear control arms to get the camber away from extreme positive. 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 Looks great, love the lift tech. :cool: In addition to the rear camber, your front camber likely needs adjustment as well. Some camber plates up front maybe. Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I am not going to worry about the positive camber due to the lift. The Blizzaks will be toast anyway after 500 miles on/offroad in July, and it handles just fine for my purposes (This race is a far cry from autocross). I'll take out the spacers and cut down the rear springs if she survives the race. Ok, WHEN she survives the race (got to visualize success). Quote Link to comment
Rakko Posted June 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Thanks ]2! HRH, yeah, was at Canby for a minute. She started to feel self-conscious among all those pretty cars tho... Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 I am not going to worry about the positive camber due to the lift. The Blizzaks will be toast anyway after 500 miles on/offroad in July, and it handles just fine for my purposes (This race is a far cry from autocross). I'll take out the spacers and cut down the rear springs if she survives the race. Ok, WHEN she survives the race (got to visualize success). Blizzaks make excellent rally tires. Thanks ]2! HRH, yeah, was at Canby for a minute. She started to feel self-conscious among all those pretty cars tho... You can call me Redeye :lol: Quote Link to comment
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