Front Suspension Makeover, what do YOU feel is necessary?

[chinaonnitrous]

So, this comming week or two, I am planning a hopefully complete makeover of the front suspension.

Starting off

~Upper Links, replacing with midori SPL links with Sealed bearing~Tension Rods Cusco pn#220 473 AS~Subframe Collars/Spacers

As far as the LCA, and the balljoint, that will be in the next few weeks. SPL wants 500+ for that Peice. The money is needed elsewhere.

~Sway Bar bushings I think these ones are right Non Greasable Part number: 9.5112, size 28.5 MM. I have a Standard Q with the 29mm bar... How many do i need? 4 pcs?

With thoes 5 Items done, that should be it......unless im forgetting something.

As for the strut/spring, Im waiting on a coilover theory im following up on with some skyline people. So that wear and tear item will come later as well.

Sound good? What would YOU DO?! What brands, what adjustments would you make?

Modified by chinaonnitrous at 12:49 AM 12/6/2005
Modified by chinaonnitrous at 1:00 AM 12/6/2005

[chinaonnitrous]

ooopsss, I forgot

Sway Bar end links for the front....

I saw a thread with a few gripes about energy suspension links being weak. Noticed someone made their own using a bolt, and some nylock nuts....

Any other bushings, besides on the LCA that I should replace? Steering rack bushings were replaced already..Opinions?
Modified by chinaonnitrous at 1:03 AM 12/6/2005

[maxnix]

Everything that is worn. If you wnat to go beyond OEM, look at Wes's posts as he he has done it thoughtfully.

[Rex]

New Upper Links (OEM), Tension Rods (OEM), Shocks (Blues), Springs (Eibach or Cal Custom), FSTB (JWR), maybe steering rack and tie rod ends. While you're under there, bleed the brakes and replace the rubber lines.

That's a good day and about a weeks pay .

Yes, Wes did a much more elaborate set up/write up with good pics.

[elwesso]

Alright... You just refuse to let this go!!!!!!!!

First off, feel free to call me at 765-621-8336..... Ill talk to you, because when I get started on posts like this i tend to ramble aimlessly.

I disagree on the LCA needing to be serviced. The bushing seems to be solid like, when I took it off and pushed on it, it didnt seem to be like the other bushings, more like a solid rubber.....

Id leave that alone... I chose not to upgrade the LCA for the follow reasons: It hardly goes bad, it doesnt need to be stronger because the stock sway bar will never come close to breaking it, the bushing ive never seen go bad, ive been under enough high mileage Q to see if they show signs of going bad. It wasnt because I couldnt afford it. I didnt think it was necessary. If the ball joint is bad (I doubt it will be) you can get a 300ZX one and press it in.

You should be able to replace the steering rack bushings with poly ones for a 300ZX. The Z uses pretty much the same rack except its shorter... I replaced Jesda's steering rack bushings, and its not simple or fun to replace.....

Sway bar bushings- Honestly, id get the OEM bushings for the frame bushings, they do wear out but are cheap and wont squeak..... In the spring, im going with poly all around on new end links. There are 2 frame bushings per front bar, and 4 end link bushings. Theres really not much performance benefit by using poly in the middle since theyre only there to hold the sway bar in its proper place.....

Just remember if you get the midori upper links, you MUST get the solid type tension rods, you should know that already....

If you want to run the cali customs you really should use a stiffer shock... when it comes time to replace mine (Spring 07), im going to look into geting some KYBs from a skyline, i think theyll go right in but we'll find out... I think coilovers are pointless, but thats just me... The cali customs give me the ride height I want, i have no reason to set it lower.. Plus, with coilovers you cannot replace the shock in most cases... you have to replace htem, and that gets very expensive... Most people I talk to have bad luck with coilovers, and the skyline people Ive talked to dont really like them.

You wont be able to make end links for the front sway bar as they have a ball joint that connects to the sway bar, but you could do it for the rear... I say, why bother?

[RobertsnewQ]

"Hardrace" from Taiwan makes a very nice replacement front sway bar end link for Nissans (240, 300, Q). You can find them on ebay.

Don't waste your money on the Cusco tension rods - get the ones from SPL or Powertrix. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use any tension rod made of aluminum. The stresses on them are HUGE, and the Q puts even more stress than the 300zx or 240sx can. I don't know if Cusco is a culprit, but many of the overpriced Japanese ones are aluminum. Aluminum is NOT something you want a stressed (in tension no less!) component of the suspension to be made from. Be warned...

I don't know if the ES universal swaybar bushings will work for us. Be prepared to return them if they don't fit. You will need two.

Use ES LCA bushings if you want to replace them, and ES rack bushings. Don't waste your money on the solid LCAs, the upper links take most of the camber force anyway.

The subframe collars work on the rear only.

[elwesso]

/\ /\ /\ /\

What he said.

[gniknave]

China, contact me. I have a set of oem (front) sway bar frame bushings brand new, and I have a set of the es poly's too. Take your pick which one you want (freebie).

aim: gniknave51kor email [email protected]

[squeefoo]

I've flirted with the idea of making my own FSB end links from off the shelf greasable Heim joints.It would require making the attachment holes bigger (to 3/8 / 10mm or so) ...all that just to beef them up, because they look so dinky

Can't imagine they deflect alot but it would be fun to do anyway !

[chinaonnitrous]

Woo hoo! You didnt use the ES ones? hmm.... I'll take them! I'll have to reimburse you for shipping and your time if your donating them! I'll e-mail/AIM you at home, im at work now........I should be working...hmm

Thank you!~Larry

China, contact me. I have a set of oem (front) sway bar frame bushings brand new, and I have a set of the es poly's too. Take your pick which one you want (freebie).

aim: gniknave51kor email [email protected]

[gniknave]

Woo hoo! You didnt use the ES ones? hmm.... I'll take them! I'll have to reimburse you for shipping and your time if your donating them! I'll e-mail/AIM you at home, im at work now........I should be working...hmm

Thank you!~Larry

The ES ones are slightly used. I thought they were giving me problems (knocking noise), and I bought a new set. When comparing new vs. old there was pretty much no difference and they weren't worn. The problem ended up being the links. I put the new ES bushings on anyway so you'd get the older set but they're still in great shape. Comes with the brackets too.

[RobertsnewQ]

EV_eezy - Are yours the universal bushings?

[chinaonnitrous]

Works for me! Theyre gonna have to be better than the 210k ones on the car now..... feel free to send me a paypal bill at

[email protected]

im in Alameda, Ca. 94501

Charge me whatever you think is fair.

I see your in pittsburg? or Indiana?

The ES ones are slightly used. I thought they were giving me problems (knocking noise), and I bought a new set. When comparing new vs. old there was pretty much no difference and they weren't worn. The problem ended up being the links. I put the new ES bushings on anyway so you'd get the older set but they're still in great shape. Comes with the brackets too.

[gniknave]

EV_eezy - Are yours the universal bushings?

They are. Part # 9.5163 at suspension.com. Work for me no problems at all.

China, I'm in Pittsburg, Ca. right now and will be for a couple more months.