Mick Cliff
Well-Known Forum User
Mick, you're not driving it quick enough
Many a true word spoken in jest!
Mick, you're not driving it quick enough
...I agree BC definitely fall into the camp where there isn't enough information provided with regard to the suitable damping range given the adjustment available. I suppose the lack of info is associated with the more entry level price point its aimed at. One to add to the cons list!
Not out of the question cost-wise either given those insanely priced Intrax ones are being discussed.
I think in the majority of cases (not all and certainly not track) people mainly want to be able set the ride height and having a car that handles a lot better is not of primary importance. This is why I think low end kits like BC's, which can be bought for under £800 including vat and delivery, suit a lot of people (but not all).
I think in the majority of cases (not all and certainly not track) people mainly want to be able set the ride height and having a car that handles a lot better is not of primary importance. This is why I think low end kits like BC's, which can be bought for under £800 including vat and delivery, suit a lot of people (but not all).
Possibly worth adding here:
The classic BILSTEIN inverted monoshock design can be adapted to the S30's suspension legs by utilising Bilstein's weld-on tubes. The historic rally world has been using these for decades and parts are in ready supply. You could put a 'kit' together for yourself.
Here's a setup I've used on a couple of my cars, and is currently sitting in a quiet corner of the loft waiting for another job (I'm working on it...):
Note the insert, readily available from Bilstein, which comes in a few different lengths and can be ordered with your own choice of valving if required...
Alan is there a load bearing at the top of the front struts for the spring to swivel during steering or is that just the spherical bearing?
There’s a few other options missing from this discussion. I know you were trying to trim things down Woody to a shortlist but for completeness, it’s worth mentioning.
Techno Toy Tuning - their units are complete, ie no welding etc. They also now offer an evolved front kit that is entirely new, I.e. doesn’t use Nissan strut cores. If you want a testimony on their quality, ask Skiddell and pmac- Steve’s car is running on them in the Time Attack series, and they are very happy with them. Not out of the question cost-wise either given those insanely priced Intrax ones are being discussed. T3 can be run with a weld-in camber plate, a bolt-on one, or a solid top that can be turned to allow 1.5 deg camber adjustment in each direction without having to cut the strut tower tops.
CX Racing do a version of the BC ones - I’m guessing same factory, different colour coding! Could be had for less than the BC ones if you have someone in the US to take delivery and work a way around USPS’s terrible shipping rates.
Megan Racing - it’s been an option for a while in the US to use the S14 Megan coilovers modded to work on Zs. However, Megan now make a Z-specific kit. It’s similar style to the BC one, but has a weld-in camber plate at the strut top.
In case I'm not getting my point across well enough; my suspicion with the BC 'kits' supplied for the S30-series Z is that they are actually adapting (or indeed adopting) an off-the-shelf damper unit which was originally devised for a much later model with a completely different suspension system. The implications are that they are an adaptation of something originally supplied for S13/S14/S15 Silvias, which have semi-trailing arm rear suspension and therefore vastly different pickup points and motion ratios than the S30's 'Chapman strut'/McPherson rear suspension. They certainly have hugely different spring rates, so how can they have the same damping ranges?
If manufacturer/suppliers do a lot of research and testing and want to keep their intellectual property their own then that's probably their right, but I have a feeling the people selling-on the BC kits simply don't know...
There's a spherical bearing inside the top mount which takes the place of the OEM bearing on the front ones, and the required 'swivel' on both ends (if that makes sense).
It's a Tim Riley-engineered setup, so well thought through.
Well, I haven't heard back from them (I forgot I asked) so I will send another email.Yep. Very useful
Question - is there any easy way to find out what spring rates have been fitted to a car?
I've got Arizona coilovers on mine but don't know the spec. I have sent an email to Arizona (as I also need the tool to adjust them) but haven't heard back yet.
Thanks for the feedback John, interesting to hear how it’s all settled down with a few alterations. It sounds like it’s been nailed now for a road car and let’s be honest ultimate grip isn’t as fun in a road car. It’ll be interesting to see what I think with the softer rear end having gone 4/4kg. Given my original aims I think it should hopefully balance nicely as a fast road/GT orientated car. I think when a budget comes into it then this could be the best way forward, I’ll reserve judgement till it’s all done though.
Hi Woody928,
Thanks for this write up! Any update on how your BC Racing setup with 4k front and rear is working out? I'm thinking about purchasing a set soon but I'm stuck on which spring rates to choose.