How do you remove the rear struts?????

[z33nismo12]

I need to replace them, and i dont know how to..

[evildky]

unbolt them and pull them out? sorry I've not removed them on a Z33 but generally speaking thats about all there is to it

[Sentientbydesign]

IIRC, the Z and G have rear shocks. I could be wrong...

If they are shocks, then just unbolt and remove them. If they're struts, you'll need to take apart a decent portion of the suspension and get a spring compressor to release the strut.

Struts dampen and are part of the suspension.

Shocks just provided dampening.

*EDIT*

Per the FSM. You have shocks.

Remove the tire.

Place the jack under the rear lower link.

Remove the Fixing Bolt on the lower side of the shock assembly.

Remove Mounting Seal Fixing Nuts on the upper side of the shock assembly.

TQ Specs on the uppers 26-30 ft lbs.

lower 74-88 ft lbs.

Then you MIGHT need an alignment. Probably not.

Take some pix and do a step by step and we'll make it into an article and give you a custom title!

[redsx13]

iz very very easy

[z33nismo12]

ok well its independent rear suspension in the back, so the springs arent attach to the strut. And i dont know how to get to the top of the strut in the trunk... I have done suspension before, but the back struts on this car is different than anything iv ever saw..

[redsx13]

Although the z does have all wheel IRS, it is not equipped with the basic McPherson type suspension in the rear (i have no clue why nissan did this). instead it uses a separate shock and coil spring.

You dont need to go in from the trunk, there are two 14mm nuts on the top of the shock in the wheel well, take those off along with the 17mm bolt on the bottom of the shock, and it comes rite off. believe me its very simple.

if you haven't done the front yet, let me know, cuz its a little more difficult, and i can save you some time.
Modified by redsx13 at 7:36 PM 7/19/2008

[Sentientbydesign]

That's because they aren't struts. Struts hold the spring AND provide dampening.

Shocks will just provide dampening. Just unbolt the two bolts on the top of the shock and the one connecting to the lower arm and that's it. No fussing in the trunk!

[redsx13]

Just unbolt the two bolts on the top of the shock and the one connecting to the lower arm and that's it. No fussing in the trunk!

You dont need to go in from the trunk, there are two 14mm nuts on the top of the shock in the wheel well, take those off along with the 17mm bolt on the bottom of the shock, and it comes rite off. believe me its very simple.

Not sure, but i think we kinda said the same thing.

[Sentientbydesign]

Not sure, but i think we kinda said the same thing.

We did. I was doing so for emphasis. The instructions I posted are from the Factory Service Manual (FSM).

[C-Kwik]

That's because they aren't struts. Struts hold the spring AND provide dampening.

A shock or strut that holds a spring is actually referred to as coilover. The term has actually evolved as adjustable rideheigt coilovers became more popular, but coilover technically refers to any shock that holds the spring on its body.

That said, struts aren't struts because they hold the spring. Struts differ from shocks because they are a structural part of the suspension. Unlike a coilover shock, a strut bears quite a bit of lateral load. As a result, their bodies are much stronger. Since they bear lateral load, they also make up part of the suspension geometry. That's why strut based suspensions can gain camber/caster adjustments by replacing the top bearing with camber/caster plates. By changing the angle of the strut, you change the angle of the wheel.

The front shock spring assembly on the 350Z is a coilover. But it is not a strut as it isn't a structural part of the suspension. Its merely a shock that has the spring perched upon it.

[Sentientbydesign]

That's what I was trying to say, BUT how can a spring be perched on a shock and the shock not bare any load?

Pictures?

[C-Kwik]

I couldn't find any pics that compare them directly. However, I'll try to explain it better.

To put it most simply, a strut bears a side load. A suspension using a strut attaches the lower end of the strut directly to the steering knuckle. The upper end attaches to the strut tower. When you take a turn, the strut bears some of the lateral load created by the turn.

By comparison, in a double wishbone set-up, the upper control arm would connect the top of the knuckle to the vehicle This means any lateral load induced turing turning is placed on the UCA and not the shock. Therefore, the shock would not see a lateral load. Only the vertical load along the direction of its axis (weight of the car) would be placed on the shock.

On a side note, a strut tower bar on a Z would not be accurate terminology as a Z doesn't have struts. And such a bar used in a Z or any other double wishbone or multilink suspension would be more effective if attached right where the upper control arm attached to the vehicle. Attaching it to the shock towers just happens to be an easier alternative.

[Sentientbydesign]

I totally understand now. The strut with only a LCA makes a triangle instead of a parallelogram.

[evildky]

S130's use a coil over shock in the rear, coil over strut in front, the Z31 uses a shock and sperate spring in the rear otherwise similar to the S130