240Z springs / spring rate / hight

[Rob Gaskin]

Guys, coilovers are more difficult to make/buy/install but once in place you have so much adjustment you can make. Springs are very cheap so you can try different rates and lengths, ride height can be set to what you want.

Also you can fit very wide wheels if you want.

It really is worth considering going down this route. I've used Rally Design for parts (including springs) and found them to be cheap and reliable.

PMac bought a few 2.25" springs off me recently 160lb - 200lb if I remember correctly. He might be able to help. Springs around 100lb are too soft for a sporty car used on tarmac.

By the way what does the term 'Coilover' mean? As far as I know its purely a modern term for when coil springs are fitted around/over shock absorbers which they always are on 240Zs! So you are not really converting to coilover, just making the ride height adjustable.

 

[2fast2z]

Attached is photos of the car with old, versus new suspension setup, i will put up some more later.

Chris

Eeeerm, where is the manage attachment button?

 

[2fast2z]

Okay, i just hit the refresh button and there it was.

 

[samuri-240]

Chris

I've always had big problems with lowered cars bottoming out on the dampers, this is why I invested in the fabulous Arizona Z strut kit. Maybe you should consider this kit, if it is too expensive would suggest fitting the adjustable platforms with your original spring seats & the springs you have already, if this does not work out you then have the option of playing around with 2 1/4 springs of different lengths & rates.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Chris, from the pictures I think the front looks just fine the rear a bit low for a road car.

 

[samuri-240]

Chris, from the pictures I think the front looks just fine the rear a bit low for a road car.

Just what I was thinking Rob. Wander what way you get around that then ? Chris just a thought you have not fitted the springs the wrong way around have you ? (meaning front on rear & rear on front ?)

 

[2fast2z]

Sorry Rob / Gwyn, i had a shitty internet connection (portable) in the weekend so i somehow haven't seen your replys before now.

Rob, does that hight thing also count for a car with US spec. struts?

I want to update with some closeup photos of the springs, the tight wound coils is almost together as you can see on the photos, i think they are compressed to much, what do you guys say.

First photo show the rear and guess what is in the 2nd photo

Chris

 

[2fast2z]

Forgot your question Gwyn, the springs are installed regarding the info i could gather, number ending on 1 in the front, 2 in the rear and Eibach is not upside down, so unless they are marked wrong, they are fitted correct, i didn't however notice witch one had the most coils and witch one is highest.

Chris

 

[samuri-240]

Forgot your question Gwyn, the springs are installed regarding the info i could gather, number ending on 1 in the front, 2 in the rear and Eibach is not upside down, so unless they are marked wrong, they are fitted correct, i didn't however notice witch one had the most coils and witch one is highest.

Chris

Chris

I seam to think the rear springs are the taller than the front ones, but I may be wrong.

 

[2fast2z]

I believe you are right, but i didn't make notice of witch one was the tallest, i would hate to have to take them off to measure.
Look at the photos and see how compressed they are and with no load in the car.

Chris

 

[samuri-240]

Chris

Looking at those pics it must have been very scary fitting them springs, I had a set of tokico spings once & the coils on the one pair where wound alot closer together on the one end but not like that. It does look like you have the wrong spings for your particular struts, all the resto guys over here had their fare share of nightmares with different spring seat heights over the years !!!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Rob, does that hight thing also count for a car with US spec. struts?

I want to update with some closeup photos of the springs, the tight wound coils is almost together as you can see on the photos, i think they are compressed to much, what do you guys say.

First photo show the rear and guess what is in the 2nd photo

Chris

Chris, yes the springs are too compressed especially the rears!


If your rear spring is that compressed I'm assuming the shock absorber is at full movement and stopping the spring expanding further. If so you have the wrong shock absorber - your car is too low at the rear.

Edit: Just a thought - how would the rear of the car sit with the shock absorber top nut undone so that the rod is not restricting spring travel. Be careful not to hurt yourself if you try it.

 

[2fast2z]

Hmmm. you got a point there Rob, it will be easy to find out, i can start by jacking up the car in the rear and see how much the rear wheels will go down.

Loosening the nut, can be a idea, can't see it could hurt anything except it might be a PITA to get reassembled again.

Chris

 

[moggy240]

Hmmm. you got a point there Rob, it will be easy to find out, i can start by jacking up the car in the rear and see how much the rear wheels will go down.

Loosening the nut, can be a idea, can't see it could hurt anything except it might be a PITA to get reassembled again.

Chris

or do not jack up the rear and just undo the strut nut to see if the body rise's when undone.personally i do not think it will make any difference,i think the springs are wrong .just my opinion.
US shocks are similar to UK shocks but the US ones are softer if you are using OEM

 

[2fast2z]

Mike, in what way wrong, mounted wrong or something wrong with the springs?

The attached photo is from the front, i know it's hard to see the number on this blurry photo, but it is ending on 1, normal with Eibach the tight wound coils should be at the top in the rear, on my car the tight wound coils are in the button in the front, all this is informatioin is something i have collected on other boards .

Chris

 

[moggy240]

Mike, in what way wrong, mounted wrong or something wrong with the springs?

The attached photo is from the front, i know it's hard to see the number on this blurry photo, but it is ending on 1, normal with Eibach the tight wound coils should be at the top in the rear, on my car the tight wound coils are in the button in the front, all this is informatioin is something i have collected on other boards .

Chris

just seems a strange way of fitting them ,i will have to get some photos of mine so that you compare ,shocker stroke etc