Advice for suspension tuneup/improvements

[nexus08]

So I've got my car running pretty well, and am moving on to ride quality.

I'm an older guy, so I'm not looking to "slam" her. And she is a auto-NA so I don't plan to race her either. I just want a nice comfortable safe ride.

Right now the ride is pretty hard and it seems like she might be losing traction on some bigger bumps. I'm thinking she has her original struts on and the 23 years and nearly 200k miles may have worn them out (ya think? )

So as a starter I'm planning on getting some new struts. Since I'm not planning on lowering her and don't plan to race her, I don't see much need for coilovers. Any suggestions on struts to consider or stay away from? Do you guys think the springs will need to be replaced too?

Also, any other things I should consider replacing like sway bar bushings etc.?

[300ZXttZMAN]

I'm pretty sure people use tokico blue struts or something like that when they just want an updated strut for not a whole lot of money.

You might want to look at subframe bushings and see what shape they are in while you're at it take a look at the sway bar bushings and see what shape its in. If they have never been changed that you know of it wouldn't hurt to change them.

All to often people overlook bushings as vital pieces of suspension and their ride quality and performance suffers because of it - or the lack there of.

[itsa300zx]

You may want to look at replacing all the rubber shock mounts also, like the kit linked:

http://www.conceptzperformance.com/Cart ... 16.246.161

[nexus08]

I'm pretty sure people use tokico blue struts or something like that when they just want an updated strut for not a whole lot of money.

You might want to look at subframe bushings and see what shape they are in while you're at it take a look at the sway bar bushings and see what shape its in. If they have never been changed that you know of it wouldn't hurt to change them.

All to often people overlook bushings as vital pieces of suspension and their ride quality and performance suffers because of it - or the lack there of.

Holy Snikeys! Changing those subframe bushings looks like a bear.

[Z-owned]

You could half a** it on the subframe bushings and just get the subframe spacers, they do help. As for the suspension if your wanting to stay close to stock I would say the kyb gr2 stuts and tein h-tech springs would be the best choice. The springs do a .8" drop which if your still on stock springs they have probably sagged that much as it is. Eibach springs offer the same drop but are a stiffer spring. The tokico blue's are a good strut replacement as well but valved a bit stiffer, as well as being a bit more money.

[DCaff300ZX]

You could half a** it on the subframe bushings and just get the subframe spacers, they do help. As for the suspension if your wanting to stay close to stock I would say the kyb gr2 stuts and tein h-tech springs would be the best choice. The springs do a .8" drop which if your still on stock springs they have probably sagged that much as it is. Eibach springs offer the same drop but are a stiffer spring. The tokico blue's are a good strut replacement as well but valved a bit stiffer, as well as being a bit more money.

Agreed on the KYB GR2's, I'm also an older guy and I ran them on the NA years ago and they are a very good quality unit, and at a decent price. Realize though that the Z32 is in it's essence a VERY stiff vehicle compared to most, due to the suspension style and stiffer springs.
As Z-Owned mentions you'll also need to look at replacing your springs as they will be sagged, which allows extra camber (worn upper control arms also contribute) which wears out your front tires...

[nexus08]

You could half a** it on the subframe bushings and just get the subframe spacers, they do help. As for the suspension if your wanting to stay close to stock I would say the kyb gr2 stuts and tein h-tech springs would be the best choice. The springs do a .8" drop which if your still on stock springs they have probably sagged that much as it is. Eibach springs offer the same drop but are a stiffer spring. The tokico blue's are a good strut replacement as well but valved a bit stiffer, as well as being a bit more money.

I also saw somewhere something about making them a "solid" connection. Is that what the spacers will do? Basically remove the bushing from the equation?

By the way, thanks everyone for the suggestions so far.

[Z-owned]

The spacers kind of pre-load the bushings and remove some of the free play in the subframe. They did make a noticeable difference on both my car and my brothers and for around 50-70 bucks depending where you get them they are well worth it for someone not wanting to drop the whole subframe to replace the bushings.

[nexus08]

The spacers kind of pre-load the bushings and remove some of the free play in the subframe. They did make a noticeable difference on both my car and my brothers and for around 50-70 bucks depending where you get them they are well worth it for someone not wanting to drop the whole subframe to replace the bushings.

Thanks. I've done a little reading on it, and will probably go that route. Found a nice write up on how to do it here (I will link when I find it again), and the spacers at Z1.

Thanks again! Will post back with pics of before and after!