drop spindles.

[wa-chiss]

Does anyone know if someone makes drop spindles for 240's?

[tramp_drift240]

what exactly would the point of this be?

since drop spindles are usually meant to be used on vehicles, mainly trucks, that use torsion bars in the front as springs.

[yokota180sx]

yehathey are called coilovers

[wa-chiss]

people use them on a wide veriety of vehicles. Cars and turcks alike. Your suspension geometry wouldn't change, you could retain your factory "comfy" suspension (i.e. springs, and struts), and your car could be a few inches lower. There is no greater point than that.

[wa-chiss]

yehathey are called coilovers

Wrong. Coilovers (whick you should know by now) are the springs and struts themselves. I'm talking about the point at wich the strut bolts (by the 2 bolts at the bottom of the strut) to the spindle. The hubs would bolt onto the spindle at a higher point thus lowering the car. Of course they would come w/ the propper mounting locations for the calipers.

[yokota180sx]

ghad i know that

The point isthere arent anyits dumb when if yuo jsut get coilovers/or shorter shock/springs it does the same thing

trucks and other cars dont have the luxury of a nissan suspension so they have to use other methods

[wa-chiss]

true, you could just put on some coils and call it a day but my main idea was to retain the factory suspension feel. Coils and springs give it a harsher ride.

[yokota180sx]

gotta pay to play

its part of the game on a nissan

[wa-chiss]

so your sayin "if" spindles were avail for 240's, they would only cost a few benji's. They'd be just as much if not more than coils. You would obviously pay to play there. So what if coils are a more practical way to lower a car, you still sacrifice. I get your point though.

[yokota180sx]

but if you go lower with stock suspension your gonna be looking stupid, and its going to handle stupid

isnt the reason for going lower usually a lower center of gravity for better handling to begin with?

[MicroMNky]

Lol, if you think about it, when you buy coilovers, you are buying adjustable spindles, and some springs/struts. Because, well...

Your talking about the mount that attaches the shock, to the knuckle. If you really wanted to, you could cut those off the stock shocks, and weld them on higher up the shock body. But that would be kinda silly.

When with coilovers...the mount is the part that you adjust up and down on teh shock body, to adjust the ride height.

So, coilovers are just fancy 'drop spindles' with the added benefit of the better dampening, stiffer springs, and all that jazz.

Which, is basically what i think Yokota was trying to say, but just not spelling it all out.

Or, I could be totally wrong,

[wa-chiss]

yeah, but you change the suspension geometry w/ coils. You have to get camber kits and all that junk.

but if you go lower with stock suspension your gonna be looking stupid, and its going to handle stupid

isnt the reason for going lower usually a lower center of gravity for better handling to begin with?

Any lowering kit, be it coils, springs, or spindles, gives the car a lower center of gravity. That is the point. Also w/ coils or springs,(like said before), will change the geometry. Giving the car some - camber as well as caster. No matter how you do it, it looks the same. (unless you go coils and udjust to some ungodly low setting). So how, w/ spindles and factory suspension, will that make my or any car look stupid when in fact the look would be similar or even the same w/ any other method. Sure you'd get some extra body roll but if your looking for the kind of ride comfort I am, and still have the look (wich is better lowered), then you'd understand my thinking. hell, you could even install higher quality struts for better performance. Not everyone wants a bouncy ride just for looks.

[Duce40sx]

Look, the fact is these Drop Spindles do not exit for any Silvia/s13/240sx, and the person who would Fabricate and try to sell them would go broke.

As an Industrial Technologist (Productions/Manufacturing), the cost to cast and machine the spindle would equate to about 3-4 times the revenue.

In addition, the dimensions (making it shorter) wouldn't even be functional due to the fact of simple geometry and clearance.

Just take my word for it:

1. It's not practical even if it did exist 2. You would not see major nor ANY benefits3. It would be insufficient to produce4. Not a good investment on both buyer and manufactuer.5. Not in demand on the market.6. If it is a good idea, Japan would have made it. Right?

There, kill this thread.

[Tsukiko]

i like this guy....

seriously that would be an excelent idea, but it would seem the demand just isnt there. drop spindles were designed with keeping suspension geometry stock to maintain ride characteristics, just like you said. but... the only market that i know of that would cater to someone who wants a lowered vehicle with a guarantee of "stock" ride characteristics would be fullsize truck customs or classics, lead sleds. Everyone in the business of lowering a sportscar (such as our 240's) is looking to not only lower the car but to also be able to tune the suspension to stiffer, more sportscar-like settings.

i think it would be safe to bet that no one has deemed it even profitable to produce these if they have even thought about it to begin with. its means to a (in our line of business) completely foreign end.

[wa-chiss]

Look, the fact is these Drop Spindles do not exit for any Silvia/s13/240sx, and the person who would Fabricate and try to sell them would go broke.

As an Industrial Technologist (Productions/Manufacturing), the cost to cast and machine the spindle would equate to about 3-4 times the revenue.

In addition, the dimensions (making it shorter) wouldn't even be functional due to the fact of simple geometry and clearance.

Just take my word for it:

1. It's not practical even if it did exist 2. You would not see major nor ANY benefits3. It would be insufficient to produce4. Not a good investment on both buyer and manufactuer.5. Not in demand on the market.6. If it is a good idea, Japan would have made it. Right?

There, kill this thread.

First off, we have already come to the conclusion they don't exist.

secondly,

In addition, the dimensions (making it shorter) wouldn't even be functional due to the fact of simple geometry and clearance. ]

If simple geometry proved this method to be non-functioal, then why, oh why do they make them for any car? If they "don't work", then all those manufacturers of drop/rise spindles are waisting their money on nothing. You sir obviously fail at reading, comprehention, and product knowledge.

[Tsukiko]

damn being too unsober to get that written quickly enough....

[wa-chiss]

[Tsukiko]

but i suppose in the end it saved me from at least direct flame-age.

[phleb]

Why not just put it on airbags or something similar? Don't those ride smooth? Or you could just cut your springs?

[yokota180sx]

yeah basically

[tramp_drift240]

this shouldve been ended when i replied to the OP's first post.



/thread.

[180sxfaktory]

It can be done, and it is as simple as modifying your lower arm by cutting the lower arm with the ball joint and re-welding it approx 2 inches up from the original plane of reference. The same for the rear, but 1.5 inches to 1.75 inches.

Some people have done it with modified aftermarket lower arms where suspension geometry can be adjusted on the x, y, z axes.

OP, it's nice to see people think outside the box. This leads to innovation and new developments. Einstein was once deemed stupid and an underachiever, but look at what he did and the contributions he made that even have an effect on our community. Just because Japan didn't do it, does not mean that it doesn't work or whatever some guy said on this thread.

[jspec603]

I'll have to agree, most of these posts have good points. Even though a product may not be profitable or practical, doesn't mean that an idea couldn't lead to a newer idea that someone hasn't already thought of. Also the 240, having been around for so long, has almost every/any aftermarket product known to mankind already in production. Point being, there is nothing wrong with trying to find a new way to do the same thing. I understand where the OP's point is. Not everyone wants the stiff ride with the lowered look. The other thing I am surprised that no one has commented on is camber correction. All this talk about suspension geometry and not one reference to any of the many camber correction product on the market??? Maybe I missed something, I did just roll out of bed!

[S13xCrazy]

this shouldve been ended when i replied to the OP's first post.



/thread.

what? you said basically nothing besides the stuff we already knew.

and although i know i wouldn't do it, i do like the sound of lowering with the same ride as stock.

[180sxfaktory]

I was about to write about camber, rake and toe in the same post, but decided not in order to make the point that I support the OP and his desire to do some forward thinking.

With a drop spindle system, it would definitely be a lot easier to correct for the x, y, z axes with adjustable linkages and spherical bearings. Those already exist on the market and have been around since the early 1990's. We did this stuff with the AE86 front pieces and then that same technology made the jump to the S chassis, Mazda Eunos Roadster (Miata).

A drop spindle system is a lot easier and can be a lot cheaper to do in comparison to a coilover system. Let's be honest here... most people who buy coilovers do not understand them. They want them simply to dump a car. Enlighten me if I am off the mark.

Additionally, adapting K members and Mustang II steering racks to the S13 has already been done, as well. This is a popular mod for those who have a proper LSX swap. A drop spindle system will work very well with that configuration. You should see the turning radius on those cars! Massive!

In summary, we are entering the realm of Pro Touring. If tuners, restorers, and custom fabrication companies can make these concepts work with classic American muscle, there is no reason to even believe that those technologies, including drop spindles, would not work with the S chassis. I strongly support people who have enough thought to even question "will this work?" I also strongly encourage people to look at and study other chassis and the aftermarket/customizing that is happening within the different communities. To just say something will not work and not provide substantial documented evidence as to why it does not work or won't be popular is a reflection on that person's limited exposure to other communities as well as their limited abilities as an innovator and/or their ability to view processes.

I am in no way saying people are stupid or incapable of making the jump in thought. It would benefit our community, as well as the individuals who are in it, to be involved with other communities in order to learn concepts and applications that ultimately benefit the S chassis and create innovation.

Modified by 180sxfaktory at 7:16 PM 8/29/2007
Modified by 180sxfaktory at 7:24 PM 8/29/2007

[inferno240]

[wa-chiss]

Why not just put it on airbags or something similar? Don't those ride smooth? Or you could just cut your springs?

I have cut springs, (dont flame they were $40 and I put them on w/ my new "el cheapo" struts). I plan to get new and WAY better stuff soon. They give me a bouncy ride.

I was thinking I was going to get hit from all angles for asking that question. But, I'm glad some people can see the point behind my "madness". Thanks.

[Duce40sx]

Dude, you're asking a hella crazy Hypothetical question for a guy that has Cut springs.

Can this post be anymore Impractical?Even if the concept is Possible, how much would this Drop spindle cost?

2 new spindle would cost you $400 bucks easilyWith $400 bucks, I can' see a range of options:

* KYB with Eibachs* Blues with HR* add another $400 and get Basics.

Okay, These DO EXIST: They are $500 bucks for a pair~, but knowing you, MR. I can't afford suspension and rolling on "Cut Springs". You're not going to buy them.

And why the heck are you ladies so obsessed with "comfortable" rides~?

Get an automatic Lexus, if you're looking for comfort.This is MADNESS! We will bring thousand corners from a thousand roads."Then we will drift on the side."

THIS IS SILVIA!

[tomkun-s13]

Ignorance is bliss as they say. I'm with the OP and 180sx on this one. Having the smooth stock ride and still be lowered would be great. I've been building cars for the past 15yrs and knowing how it feels to have dropped spindles on my friends 37" Chevy hotrod really made me want to change my front end on my 29" Ford Highboy. But sold that before I could get to it, lol. Back to the OP, you need to see if you can make a a set and try them out. If everything works well hook up with a company in china to produce them to your specs for a good price. Who knows maybe guys with DD's might like this option.

[Duce40sx]

You're right, Who knows?

And that is the answer to youir Question wazz.

Who the heck knows?The END