shocks for a 280Z using coilover conversion

[benzo]

Hi all

 

I tried searching but nothing was coming up or keeps showing me stuff on other cars. My memory is off so wanted to get confirmation from folks that have a 280Z that if you use a coil over conversion kit like GC or T3 and want to shorten the stock housings that you can use a MR2 rear shock for the front and use a 240Z insert in the rear? Also looking for any feedback.

 

Thank you

[RoadRace]

hi - there's a lot going on here, let me see if i can make sense of what you are looking for:

1) are you using 280ZX struts in a 280ZX, or in a 510?  that's the only reference i am aware of when shortening the 280ZX strut - that's when you are using them in a 510...i did that many moons ago.  if you are using them in the same car they came out of - then shortening the strut is not required.  and its not really related to coil over use.

2) MR2 struts/strut INSERTS - ya, I've read about them being used in a shortened 280 strut when used in a 510, i know nothing about using them in the rear.  proceed at own risk on this...

3) Coil Overs - this is an external mod to the strut body ONLY. cut off the spring perch, slide on the collar and use the hat/upper mount that comes with the kit and thats pretty much it

4) rear coil over on the 280 should be similar to the front, again, no idea if MR2 inserts work here, i haven't tried that.

 

you don't need to change the strut damper/insert to install the coil over. We typically do it at the same time because its a good upgrade. Tokico was a popular insert, i used Koni's - there are others for OEM applications...and a lot of strut inserts are the same - a lot, in fact i have koni inserts in my 3rd gen camaro that cross-reference to a 280.... NOTE: if inserts are too short for a strut housing, they can be spaced up. 

 

if you are doing some kind of mega-lowering job on your car and you want to cut the strut so you still have suspension travel while flying low, then ok, you want a shorter insert in your struts. BUT when the car is really low like that, you typically DON'T want a lot of suspension travel because you're just going to bottom out the car, so you might want to look at using the bump stops on the struts to control bottoming out... but again, not sure what you are up to here 🙂

Edited June 2 by RoadRace

[datzenmike]

Pretty sure the front 280zx struts are shorter than the 280z struts so a replacement insert for the zx strut will be much shorter in the 280z strut tube. Cut your 280z strut shorter anywhere up to what will allow this insert to fit. As mentioned if the strut tube us longer than the insert just shim with a stack of washers. 

 

39 minutes ago, RoadRace said:

2) MR2 struts/strut INSERTS - ya, I've read about them being used in a shortened 280 strut when used in a 510...

 

You must mean 280zx 

[RoadRace]

ZX, affirmative

[benzo]

@RoadRace Thanks for the reply. I think I have it sorted out. I was looking at using a coil over kit like GC or T3 but wanted to be able to go lower than using a basic spring kit like Eibach or Vogtland and have a slight bit more travel so was looking at shortening the strut housing to use a shorter body strut cartridge. On my 510 I am using the ZX housings/brakes up front and shortened them to use MR2 cartridges with GC coilovers but forgot for the 280Z the shocks people used but after some searching believe it is 87-89 MR2 cartridges for the front and 240Z fronts to use in the rear. I'll update or post when I get it all done.