Nissan 300 ZX Turbo Shocks

[turboz87300zx]

Hello everybody! My name is Barry and I own a 1987 300ZX Turbo. I just recently decided that I need new shocks all around for the car. Mine are the stock shocks that are adjustable. I have also found out that these shocks are now discontinued due to being oil filled. This is a big bummer because I like to be able to control the suspension depending on the road conditions. My question to everybody is : Has anybody ever put adjustable air shocks on an older Z? I had air shocks on an old Buick Skylark in the '70s, and they worked great on the ride. You could make them as soft or hard as you liked during the ride.

Barry

[evildky]

Welcome to NICO!
Never heard of anyone using air shocks on the Z31, I have heard of people using adjustable tokiko's, KYB's or Koni's in place fo the OE adjustables. The downside being that you can't remotely adjust them. The upside being unlike air shocks the adjustments are only to rebound and or compression and has no effect on ride height.

[turboz87300zx]

Thanks for the reply. I've noticed that on some shocks they have looks like some kind of dial? I was wondering if anybody ever made an external dial adjuster that bolts on or something so they can be adjusted via a motor or stepper motor? I did notice some shocks use some kind of wrench. Since I have never seen these new shocks, I have no idea of how it looks. Also has anybody ever tried a modification on the car to be able to use a Z32 type adjustable shock like on the new Z's. Plus there are so many luxury cars out there that have adjustable suspensions or shocks .. just wondering.

Barry

[evildky]

Someone managed to make tein adjustables work with on a z32 once years ago, but tiens suck to begin with and the fact that the shocks are designed for a range of adjustment where the OE uses only 2 settings is limiting. The koni adjuster is most similar to the OE. Z32's use a shock up front where the z32 uses a strut. Someone hell bent on adjustable shocks could do the z32 irs swap to gain the adjustment in the rear but it's cheaper and easier to just buy a different car. It's just not something worth pursuing.

[turboz87300zx]

That is true but considering a shock change is far cheeper than a newer car. But I don't have the knowledge or money to be able to do that. Plus it is kinda hard to get the new Z when the old one has a lot of history. My daughter had a newer Z and it was fun to drive, but it was not the same. The thing I hated was there was not much room! Plus there are so many new Zs on the road too. The one thing I like the most is the comments I get about my Z. Also I have had several offers from people asking if I want to sell it! I just like the looks I get from other guys with sports cars, It really turns heads because there are so few of them out on the road. This Z is the second I've own, my first was a 280ZX and this one is a 87 300ZX Turbo with all the accessories, a fun car!

[BadQ45t]

Just get the tokikos or bilsteins and be done with it.