'best' 240Z after-market coil-over kit ?

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Plenty of choice out there for a 240Z and a kit can mean anything from the coil-overs and their associated 'nuts' to a kit with camber-plates, shockers and springs....

Ideas please ?
 

johnymd

Club Member
Best? Surely that depends on criteria. The best kits are the really high end stuff that are out of most of our budgets and also overkill for what we really need. I am happy with my gaz setup but was also very impressed with the four ways kit on the 260.

I've not kept up with all the kits on the market but I gather all the low end stuff are made by the same people and just rebranded. When I spoke to several companies at the autosport show this year and asked how they compared with BC they said they were the same and would appear identical. The concern I have with these is the size of the damper piston. With a strut, there is a lot of bending force on this.

Are you looking for a reasonably price all rounder kit or something primarily for the track?
 

Moriarty

Well-Known Forum User
The concern I have with these is the size of the damper piston. With a strut, there is a lot of bending force on this.

The majority of "force" is taken up by the spring, the rest is mainly compressive force on the damper rod, there is little "bending" force".........although the more caster angle that is run the more the vector runs away the line of the damper rod, but as this is rarely more than a few degrees..... it is still small.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Best? Surely that depends on criteria.

Are you looking for a reasonably price all rounder kit or something primarily for the track?

Ok, the 'best' was to generate some comments.....which it did but only from one person !

The majority of people wanting to fit these will be mostly using their cars for the road and therefore I'm looking for the most inexpensive but of sufficient quality kit whether that be complete or part (needing to be topped up with spring and shock choice).

I would list the options (under the avove criteria) as follows :

1) threaded tube and spring supporting nuts

2) the above and with top castor plates

3) and 4) either of the above with springs and shocks

The BIG problem with BC etc is the hardness of the springs for normal driving and fast-road !
 

johnymd

Club Member
The BC kit for the 240 comes with 4 & 5kg springs. Replacements are universal and easy to come by. I paid £20 a spring for replacement gaz ones.

I think if you want a basic setup with adjustability being of primary importance(which is what most of us are looking for) any of the basic kits at around £800 will fit the bill.

With regard to bending forces at the middle of the strut, the concern was that BC struts are a lot thinner than even the cheap 240z replacement dampers.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
The BC kit for the 240 comes with 4 & 5kg springs. Replacements are universal and easy to come by. I paid £20 a spring for replacement gaz ones.

I think if you want a basic setup with adjustability being of primary importance(which is what most of us are looking for) any of the basic kits at around £800 will fit the bill.

In my view, the primary importance of coliovers is a once-off adjustment of lower ride height giving the shock absorber back it's full 'stroke' height.

There aren't many peoiple who regularly dial up and down their springs ratings.

I'm hoping to find a kit less expensive than £800 or the options of kits less expensive w/out springs and shocks eg Ground Control.
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
I have updated Eibach front and back springs,normal diameter,and adjustable platforms all round,didn't break the bank or if you can work it out how much you want your car lowered then the best way is to find a company that can make the spring rating and at the same time get the height right,tall order,I did have a set but sold em and regretted it but that's the way I would go if I done it again as once you get the height right you are there
 

atomman

Club Member
Ok, the 'best' was to generate some comments.....which it did but only from one person !

The majority of people wanting to fit these will be mostly using their cars for the road and therefore I'm looking for the most inexpensive but of sufficient quality kit whether that be complete or part (needing to be topped up with spring and shock choice).

I would list the options (under the avove criteria) as follows :

1) threaded tube and spring supporting nuts

2) the above and with top castor plates

3) and 4) either of the above with springs and shocks

The BIG problem with BC etc is the hardness of the springs for normal driving and fast-road !

I made my last set and sectioned the struts ,also made adjustable camber plates for the top and 25mm offset RCA's and if I'm honest it was overkill for my needs,

Its all well and good spending loads of money on adjustable everything but how much do you really need ? Most people are gonna drive there cars on weekends and maybe the odd track day ?

From what I have read the BC's are good but springs are to stiff, But I'm sure you can spec the springs when you order ?

What ever spring rate you go with the damper needs to match or be adjustable to suit,

I reckon a good set of springs and good quality adjustable dampers would suit most people's needs,

but all the other factors like wheel offset, spring clearance to tyre/wheel, how low you want to go etc all come into play also.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
I have updated Eibach front and back springs,normal diameter,and adjustable platforms all round,didn't break the bank or if you can work it out how much you want your car lowered then the best way is to find a company that can make the spring rating and at the same time get the height right,tall order,I did have a set but sold em and regretted it but that's the way I would go if I done it again as once you get the height right you are there

So, just an opinion and a bank account - thanks Paul......


Its all well and good spending loads of money on adjustable everything but how much do you really need ? Most people are gonna drive there cars on weekends and maybe the odd track day ?
I reckon a good set of springs and good quality adjustable dampers would suit most people's needs

Exactly and what I'm looking for - a decent but inexpensive part or complete kit (the latetr with a sensible road combination of dampers and springs) for the average Sunday Z driver who wants to lower his car correctly.

Is it THAT hard to find ?
 

johnymd

Club Member
My entire suspension is fully adjustable which allowed me to correct the geometry once I had settled on a ride height. Without the adjustability I would not be able to do this. Once set, the geometry has mostly not been changed since. I do adjust the rear camber between race track and drag racing settings. I also adjust the damping from road to track settings.

I see ride height as being the main adjustment people will want to do but that is a one off adjustment. If you are going to lower your car then sectioning the struts is a must to retain ride quality, but then we all know that already.

If you find a weld on system below £800 then keep me informed Sean as I would certainly be interested.
 

johnymd

Club Member
Just to add. I looked at the cost of good adjustable dampers, springs and weld on adjustable platforms and they were more expensive than a complete kit you just weld to the top of your cut struts.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Just to add. I looked at the cost of good adjustable dampers, springs and weld on adjustable platforms and they were more expensive than a complete kit you just weld to the top of your cut struts.

Names, prices of said kits please?
 

toopy

Club Member
I reckon a good set of springs and good quality adjustable dampers would suit most people's needs,

I agree that the majority of people would find lowered springs and decent shocks perfectly adequate for normal 'spirited' road use.

My car is running lowered springs and Tockico Hp shocks all round, I'd like it a tad lower, especially at the front, but its much better than standard :)

I cant see the point of adjustable platforms, if it only gets adjusted the once and then left!

But, the problem is i guess, without that initial adjustability, were guessing as to what we really need, one kit does most definitely not fit all,
as these cars all seem to vary slightly, a particular kit/set up is perfect for one, but 5mm to high for someone else's, apparently identical car, running the 'same' factory set up!

The problem is, you buy the springs you think you need/will work and theyre not quite right, it would be nice if a supplier had a selection of springs available,
and so you could return your current springs for a different spec, get a partial refund, atleast 50% on the exchange set, and so on.
Throw in some fully adjustable shocks and the coilover kit becomes a mute point, the problem is those 4 springs and a set of shocks, i expect, then gets close to basic coil over money... what do you do?

Its a fecking nightmare :banghead:

and thats without the added complication of bigger wheels and differing offsets!
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Toopy - if you lower the car without lowering the bottom travel of the shock-absorbers/dampers, those shockers/dampers will always be part-compressed with the risk that (especially under load - full tank, two people etc) that they'll hit the bump-stops at the top.....what you hear 'bottoming-out !

It's not just about getting the height right but the suspension to work normally (or correctly if you prefer).
 

toopy

Club Member
Toopy - if you lower the car without lowering the bottom travel of the shock-absorbers/dampers, those shockers/dampers will always be part-compressed with the risk that (especially under load - full tank, two people etc) that they'll hit the bump-stops at the top.....what you hear 'bottoming-out !

It's not just about getting the height right but the suspension to work normally (or correctly if you prefer).

Agree, thats why i went for Tockico HP as they will acccept some lowering and still work well, plus my springs are only 1.5" lower than 'standard'

Ive had 4 in the car and hit the chassis on a speed bump! slowly fortunately, but the suspension hasnt bottomed yet ;)
 

toopy

Club Member
I suppose 4 lowered springs and some new shocks, cant really be called a 'kit' more of an 'upgrade'

whereas the coilovers are just that.... a kit :thumbs:
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
I have the Tokico adjustables ,car lowered about inch and half and never bottomed out,set on soft
 

status

Well-Known Forum User
I also had these when I had just the lowered and unrated springs and wot goopy says about they can handle a bit of lowering is spot on,
 

atomman

Club Member
What about a shorter damper insert in a standard strut when you lower the car ? to off set the new shorter spring and keep the travel ?

lets work out some costs,

Set of springs £200 ish (standard fit & size) £160 ish for 2.5" ID and £120 ish for 2.25" (but will need adjustable platfoms)

Set of dampers say £150 each adjustable (KONI's for example) not sure on Tokico prices,

Coilover adjustable conversion parts. threaded tubes, nuts and new bottom weld on mount, £200

Adjustable top mounts (weld in or bolt) £200

Solid Pillow Mounts ( the ones you can index round for camber) £200

RCA's ( offset or not) £150 or £90

Then you've got adjustable front control rods, rear adjustable arms etc etc ...

If you just want to lower a car a bit and have decent dampers you are looking at around £800 and I think the BC's retail about £850 of course this is without fitting and assuming you can do the work yourself,

If you add up all the adjustable parts and coil overs the BC's seem an even better deal
 
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