99 Q45 with 99 Q45T front air suspension?

[foshay]

Looking for some advise in a big way, heres what I got.

when I bought my 1999 Q45 it was just what I wanted. Black on Black 80k miles excellent condition.

However, both of my front struts were leaking and needed to be replaced.

I found a complete front suspension from a salvage yard online. The price was fair so I ordered it. Packaged well I got everything but calipers and stearing components. Struts, Springs Rotors it was a whole assembly in awesome condition. I couldnt have been happier!

I put the suspension in last night and it all fit nicely. NOT untill I removed the old blown setup did I notice that I was sent a front suspension for a Q45T with air ride.

Forced to make the best of it I installed all the Q45T suspension to replace my worn dampers. Everything is ok BUT..

One corner is loaded more than the other making the car pull to the right and although it rides way better with the new Q45T stuff I really want to even the dampening or do what ever I can to make the best of the situation by keeping the Q45T front end in the car.

Can anyone give me some advice as to how I can even up my ride in front? Anyone have any experience using Q45T front suspension on a regular Q45?

Thanks in advance, sorry I'm a noob hopefully I can offer something to the community in the future as payback for any help!

[foshay]

FYI I was able to find in the tech articles info on changing the Q45 T Supension over to the standard Q45

BUT I need info on taking a standard non-active Q45 and replacing the fronts with the Q45T's.. How to make it work so the dampening is set the same on both front corners.. Thanks again!!!

[BadQ45t]

I hate to tell you but I seriously doubt you can do it. I am not sure why you bought a new set of struts from a junk yard when McPherson struts can be replaced my any reasonable garage in the world, I think your should give up on the touring suspension as there have to be a bunch more parts that you need, get a set of KYB SR Specials and be done with it....that would have only cost you $500 bucks for front and rears from MemoryFab. As for how to make the electric I haven't a clue..your the first to try it...I know that even on a rebuild from a car that came equiped with them it was over a grand.

[foshay]

Thanks for your response! Guy at the yard gave me two front corners for 150bux. On a huge budget. I have a lift and a compressor to squeaze the struts and replace them. I was trying to save a buck as the priority. In heinsight If I had known they were for the T I wouldnt have experimented with them for any amount of coin.

Everything would be fine if I could just somehow mechanically adjust them so they hold steady at the same tension on both corners I'd be golden, and happy! After I make it through xmas and the winter here in Maine I intend on spending the long dollar on something adjustable. JIC's maybe idk but I gotta get her through the winter driving it daily for the most part. Trust me the last thing I wanted was to convert over to self adjusting factory poo.. Here I am tho

Can anyone tell me if their is a manual or simple mechanical adjustment that can be made to the active dampers to adjust them to a constant tension without the use of computers?

[foshay]

I got plenty of tools and time to spend calibrating them evenly, any suggestions here hugely appreciated in advance!

[BadQ45t]

I think they work off an electical impulse, you have to buy those actuators I would think. Look hard at the FSM and figure this out from that direction. If it requires an electrical signal then you need that box or whatever it turns out to be. Since paid nearly nothing for them, good experiment. The coilovers work or you can do KYR SR Specials and Eseplir springs for about a grand as well. The coilovers tend to ride VERY firm from what I have heard, my lower springs and KYB SR Specials are more then stiff enough for me.

[S13xCrazy]

I hate to tell you but I seriously doubt you can do it. I am not sure why you bought a new set of struts from a junk yard when McPherson struts can be replaced my any reasonable garage in the world, I think your should give up on the touring suspension as there have to be a bunch more parts that you need, get a set of KYB SR Specials and be done with it....that would have only cost you $500 bucks for front and rears from MemoryFab. As for how to make the electric I haven't a clue..your the first to try it...I know that even on a rebuild from a car that came equiped with them it was over a grand.

I would love to see where you can find a set of suspension for our Y33 Q45s for under $500. I have this odd feeling you are a bit confused; suspension for our cars are NOT anywhere near that cheap. NOR DOES KYB EVEN MAKE A Y33 Q45 SHOCK!!!! Maybe it is you that should give up

Feel free to educate me on this one.

[BadQ45t]

Sorry to say your 100% wrong. A company called Memoryfab sells KYB SR Specials for $500, I paid $750 for mine, which have bee on my 97' for 3-4 years now. These cannot be sourced locally from KYB, you must find a company like MemoryFab or Onetongarage (member here) that imports them from Japan. So if you looked it up sure there isn't anything availabl from usual sources like your can get for Z cars or S13s. I recently called MemoryFab to confirm, they can get them, they cost $500 for a set and take about 3-6 weeks for delivery. You can also get springs from them if you require them that fit the Q (Espelir) for about $300.

So before you use shoot the CAPS LOCKS KEYS at me next time do some homework. I am not confused at all, I have owned my 97' for 10 years and have overhauled the entire suspension with KYB SR Specials, Tein lowering springs, new rubber all around, and 19" M45 Sport rims with 23MM spacers...I have cheerfully helped more 2nd Gen Q owners than just about anybody on this board.

[BadQ45t]

consider yourself educated....

[foshay]

ok what about me lol ???

any manual adjustment for the front fdampers on a Q45T???

[BadQ45t]

I asked my mechanic yesterday about this...he's got one customer with the AE Edition. There is an electronic signal that comes from the switch inside the car that tells the suspension how stiff it should be. The customer gave up on it when it blew out and he retrofitted stock shocks onto the car. You need electrical signal to make them work, his advise is to convert them to standard OR he suggested that you call the same wrecking yard and get the rest of the parts.

Sorry wish I knew more about that system....I would say that if your serious about keeping the car I would return those struts if you can and get the KYB's from MemoryFab.....but if you can get the rest of the parts that might work, however, given how old the struts are you have to wonder if they work?

[S13xCrazy]

consider yourself educated....

Done.
I always appreciate a good lesson; but why would they not market these? It seems to me as if you could make a fortune off of these; seeing as no one even really markets even OEM shocks.

Onetongarage doesn't even have a valid website anymore?

I should have made my post more clear to say they are not readily available in the US; theres 1million and a half items available over seas that we don't see often over here. I did plenty of "homework" on this before hand as I was just in the market for suspension for my Q. And as demonstrated by Onetongarage and MemoryFab's website, no one advertises they exist. I even contacted KYB USA Directly and they told me it was a no-go.


You win this one....

[BadQ45t]

understood....I did tons of homework too and onetongarage I think is still around, but once this company MemoryFab came around and 1) was willing to take a credit card and 2) had a way better price I pushed everyone to them. KYB here in the US wouldn't know anything about them, I also called them as well as a few places I've bought KYB's for my Z car, Maxima and the wife's sentra.

all good brotha'

[JOHNQ]

on the very top of the suspension there is a small tab that u can turn with a small flathead screwdriver, turn it i believe clockwise a 1/4 turn increments and check each increment if it put it in sport mode(very stiff, will be hard to compress)

[maxnix]

No air suspension on any Q45.

If you want the electronically switched shocks and struts, mush less expensive to buy a 99+ t or ae model FGY33.

[BadQ45t]

Right, it was electric not air....but still needs some outside influence to activate.