The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts and UNCUT springs....

Post by **thejapino** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:23 pm

I've been searching the archives and found this:zerothread?id=124899which led me to the quest to drop the Q using OEM Z32 parts.

I used OEM Z32 springs, upper mounts, and KYB GR-2 replacement struts for the FRONT ONLY (I didn't start on the rear yet).

(1) The two bolt holes on the strut towers need to be filed slightly closer together to accept the 300ZX upper mounts.

(2) The lower mount on the Z32 strut is too small to fit onto the Q's lower mount stud. The correct way to fix this is to have the OEM lower strut bushing from your old strut (or new if your anal) and press them into the Z32 strut.

Bolt it together and voila! Remember, its the fronts only. The rears are cut/blown oem G50 struts.

I'm looking into other options to get similar results in the rear without cutting any springs so stay tuned! Im open to your negative and positive feedback.

--------------------UPDATE--------------------

For the rear I used:

-OEM Z32 rear springs-Z32 FRONT struts-Q45 rear upper mount and bumpstops (centers had to be enlarged using a file)-5/16" thick, 2" angle iron to fab up some adapters

The adapter was simple enough to make. The rear spring didn't completely seat in the lower spring perch so I used some 1/2" heater hose to center the spring onto the perch. The piston of the fr Z strut is thicker than the Q's piston so in order to use the Q's upper hat and bushings, they had to be bored out with a file. I'll snap a pic of the adapter when I get a chance.

I've ridden with it like this since saturday with no problems. It rides SO much better than my previous setup. Here's a pic:

Modified by thejapino at 1:54 PM 3/4/2008
Modified by thejapino at 1:59 PM 3/4/2008

Post by **maxnix** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:51 pm

Hmmm.....Z32 weighs about 3400 lbs. dry. Q45 about 3900 lbs dry.

First pothole ought to reveal the problem.

Post by **qsiguy** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:12 pm

I love that ride height! Looks awesome. Did you take any photos of the install and the small mods you had to do to make it work? I have got to make some time to get my Cali Customs/Tokico's installed. I'm sure it won't be as low as yours but should make mine look much better.

Are those G35 wheels or what? I think they look very nice on the G50.

Post by **Haitian_King** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:01 am

I can't really see that well in the first pic and the second pic looks like the car is sinking into the grass. You have anymore pics?

I like the idea of not cutting springs. Good going!

Post by **elwesso** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:26 am

so thats OEM Z springs on KYB shocks? Not bad, maybe a little low for my taste but this could prove to be a great low budget setup for someone who's looking to be slammed.

Post by **thejapino** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:44 am

Thanks. Im still looking for ideas for a short stroke setup in the rear. Yes they are G35 19's. I was lazy to move the car around after finishing so I'll take better pics when I have the chance.

Post by **thejapino** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:49 am

All Z parts.

OEM Z springsOEM Z upper mountOEM replacement kyb struts (whatever brand preference)

I would have liked to try the tokicos though

Post by **lino** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:59 pm

Car looks real good with those wheels

Is this your wheel and tire setup:

Front: 19" x 8" 30mm offsetRear: 19" x 8.5" 33 mm offset

Front: 225/40R19Rear: 245/40R19

Post by **thejapino** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:51 pm

Thats right. I went with a different tire size b/c the G35 rear OEM rolling diameter is 26.7 when the q is 26. I want to run these sizes though.

235/35/R19245/35/R19

They'll be a tad smaller that the OEM Q rolling diameter but I can live with that!

Post by **lino** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:16 pm

Won't the 245/35/R19 work for the front?

Post by **heywier427** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:48 am

whats the reason for using all oem stuff. cause you had them on hand and it was cheap to play around with?

this does seem like a nice cheap way to be slammed. alot nicer than paying 2gs for the jics!

i wonder what the ride would be like with better than oem springs/shocks.

guess its time to jump into the Z section!

midnightsliding used z32 coilovers all around and only had to make a custom had for the rears to work.

looks like all he did was put thick plate on top of the strut and make his own holes for it all to fit.

i just read the threat you linked and i just so happen to have a brand new set of eibach z32 springs that was sent to me by accident in place of a set for the q. they refunded my and never asked for them back! hooray for me!

if this does pan out and work/ride well for you what would your ideal set up be. oem, or better stuff? what kind of struts would be the best. a set of adjustables?

does tokico make adj. for the z32? ive got them on my vw, theyre called illuminas.

im gonna go check right now!

Post by **heywier427** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:00 pm

http://www.racinglab.com/nitoiladsh.html

this is just the first one on the search list, but they do make them.

now im all excited.

do the rears!

dont know if anyone else has experience with these shocks, but i think for the price theyre amazing. my vw has every susp. part imaginable but i felt the difference when i went from bilstien to these, much better feel.

do the rears, please...

Post by **thejapino** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:31 pm

I wanted cheap, OEM-like ride quality. I've also owned other cars with coilovers slammed to the ground and LOVE the look but the ride was always on the very firm side. I guess I'm looking for a compromise of the two.

As for the rears, I do plan on using Z32 springs but I'm looking into other model nissans/infinitis for a possible shorter strut with the lower fork type mount. I'd hold onto those Z32 eibach springs if I was you.

Post by **thejapino** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:36 pm

So far, struts for a Z32 I've seen are

Non-adjustable:Tokico HPKYB GR-2Bilstein HD

Adjustable:Tokico IlluminaKYB AGX

I'm sure there are more. I know you could get KONI's custum valved too...

Post by **heywier427** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:49 am

so its been two days, did the first pot hole make your car spontainiously combust?

whats the ride like. any bottoming out or slaming the tire into the fender?

Post by **Rex** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:05 am

So the Z32 springs work with Z32 shocks/struts???

Oh well, live and learn. I didn't loose too much on the Z32 springs I sold.

My guess is that the tire brushes against the inside fender liner on large bumps.

Post by **thejapino** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:57 am

Well, I trimmed the fender liner previously with the cut front struts. I think I was riding on bumpstops with that setup so I never rubbed on anything. Now that the Z struts are on, the outside of the tire slightly rubs on the fender only on hard turns. This is due to the Z struts actually having travel compared to the cut springs/on bumpstops Q setup.

I've been searching around Z forums trying to find out the OEM non-turbo spring rates. In the other thread someone brings up the OEM Q spring rate is around 140/120 and I thought that seemed pretty soft for a 3900 pound car.

Post by **thejapino** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:46 pm

(from 300zxclub) Z spring rates:

2S = 2 seater, 4S = 2+2

Nissan Front 3.0kg/mm (168 lb) US 2S & 4S NA2.8kg/mm (157 lb) AUS 4S NA2.8kg/mm (156 lb) US TT2.6kg/mm (146 lb) EURO 4S TT* JAP 4S NA* JAP 2S TT* JAP 4S TTRear 2.2kg/mm (123 lb) US 2S & 4S NA2.2kg/mm (123 lb) AUS 4S NA2.4kg/mm (134 lb) US TT2.6kg/mm (146 lb) EURO 4S TT* JAP 4S NA* JAP 2S TT* JAP 4S TT

Eibach NA (US 4S) Turbo (US 2S)Progressive Front 171/314 lb 185/250 lbRear 142/228 lb 145/200 lb

Tein S-techFRONT SPRING RATE / PART No. Replacement Availability kgf/mm lbs/in Part # Max/Min(kgf/mm-lbs/in) 3.5kg (200lbs)

REAR SPRING RATE / PART No. Replacement Availability kgf/mm lbs/in Part # Max/Min(kgf/mm-lbs/in) 3.4kg (190lbs)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

G50 Q45 spring rates (taken from Q45 suspension thread):

stock Q springs 146/123= 1.187 while the weight ratio is 54/46 = 1.174

Post by **Raxephon** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:29 pm

My Z32 Megan Streets are 8 front/6 rear, the track model coil-overs they make are 10/8 usually.

Post by **thejapino** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:18 pm

Front:Z32 fr. springsZ32 fr. strutsZ32 fr. upper mount

Mods: Front strut tower holes need to be slightly closer together to fit the Z32 upper mount. Q45 lower strut bushing needs to be pressed in.

Rear:Z32 rr. springsZ32 fr. strutsQ45 rr. upper mount

Mods: Z piston is too thick to fit into the Q upper mount and bushings so they need to be filed larger. Bottom of Z spring is slightly larger than the lower perch so I used 1/2 heater hose over the bottom coil to center the spring to seat it. An adapter must me made to mate the Z's lower strut mount to the Q's upright.

Post by **nsrZ32** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:29 pm

looks awesome

Post by **Haitian_King** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:35 pm

Nice. But I'm not too crazy about the way the top of the tire is obscured by the fender. After lowering, I want minimal clearance, but a totally visible tire.

Post by **heywier427** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:45 am

so did you make an adaptor for the lower rear mounts? i assume the updated pic is with all z32 parts mentioned.

could you take a picture of the adaptor, or further explain it.

thanks.

Post by **thejapino** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:05 pm

I drew this up real quick on paint. Instead of one piece though, I used two pieces of angle iron. I may remake some if i find some square stock similar to the pic.

Post by **Haitian_King** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:14 pm

Nice drawing!

It really gives an idea of what you did. I'm glad to see that it worked. How's the ride?

Post by **thejapino** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:26 pm

The ride is actually pretty good! I still feel large bumps in the road b/c of the low profiles. Also, I need to replace/upgrade the T/C rod or whatever you Q guys call it. Otherwise, it feels alot smoother and more comfortable than my old car with Stance coilovers. So far, I've only spent $180 for parts and supplies and it's absolutely worth it for me.

Off topic, I love my A sways! Thanks all-auto in SF.

Post by **evil_panda** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:20 am

Hey I dont want to sound like a tard. but is it possible to explain exactly how you got the parts to fit?

Post by **melvingoku** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 3:49 pm

why this is a sticky I do not know. lol

The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts and UNCUT springs....

UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 struts and UNCUT springs....

Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (thejapino)

Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (thejapino)

Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (Haitian_King)

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Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (elwesso)

Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (thejapino)

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Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (thejapino)

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Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts a ... (heywier427)

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Re: UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 struts and UNCUT springs.... (thejapino)

Re: UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 struts and UNCUT springs.... (thejapino)

Re: UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 struts and UNCUT springs.... (thejapino)

Re: UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 struts and UNCUT springs.... (heywier427)

Re: UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 struts and UNCUT springs.... (thejapino)

Re: UPDATE! My Q is dropped using Z32 strut ... (Haitian_King)

Re: The front of my Q is very low using OEM struts and UNCUT

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