q45a question

[natsoundup]

Can anybody describe the differences between the ride in a:

First Gen Q 90-93

First Gen Q45a say a 92

Second Gen Q45 94-95

I have never been in an "A" and was just curious.

[AZ94Q]

I encourage you to read this article fully, if you want a full understanding of the active suspension

http://www.autosite.com/garage...e.asp

I will give you some brief highlights

The active suspension Q45 is the best handling Q45 if it is in proper shape. It is also soaks up bumps (rides nicest) of any Q45.. remember this is only if it is good condition. If the actuators are flat, it can be downright nasty..

The A will allow no roll under cornering up to .5g It then will allow a small amount of roll to let the driver know he is approaching tire adhesion

The car will not dive under any sort of braking.. no matter how extreme

The car will not squat under accelration.. no matter how hard you floor it..

Active suspensions are superior.. Look at this thread. http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....64848

It shows an active equiped toyota on the track, vs a non active toyota.. The difference speaks for it's self..

The active suspension wasn't understood here. Critics faulted it because the normal Q handled so well, under normal driving it's hard to tell the difference.. Well if you only drive 65 and in a straight line, and not very aggressive, the benefits are probably offset by the eventual maintenance costs..

I fully plan on exploring the limits of the active suspension on the track.. I believe on the track/high speed driving is really where this suspension shines..

It was co developed by lotus.. Lotus is the grandfather of all active suspensions

Active suspensions were so dominant in F1, they were immediately banned..

If you can stomach the repair costs to get the system fully working properly, I encourage you to pick one up. The system has only been replicated (and probably advanced) by Mercedes Benz.. They only put it on their most expensive/top of the line AMG/reg models.. Its not even an option.. there is no option. There is just the active suspension..

Only about 20% of the Qs sold here, were Actives.. In Japan 80% sold were Actives..

If you want to experience one of the automobile industries most advanced suspensions ever (still) get an A..

[AZhitman]

Well-said.

[AZ94Q]

I think it's a true testament to the base Q45 suspension, that nobody quite understood why to get the A..

I'm going to quote a reviewer who I think sums it up nicely..

"Here's why: The regular version provides world-class handling and it will do anything any normal, sane driver could ask of it. "

"There comes a time when engineers have to assess a car's performance with the environment in which it will be driven. In Germany, where there are no speed limits on the Autobahn, maybe one could make a case for the full-active suspension. But here, when one legally can go only 65 mph, the system isn't needed.

That said, I found the test car to be agile and athletic and able to remain poised under all circumstances. But I found the same traits on the standard model, too"

If you've never owned a Q before.. You will have enough money to spend on getting the car operating like new..

I've seen too many owners get scared off and leave the Q in the dust.. It deserves much better..

Basically any used Q you get, you will have to spend between 5-10k to get it running like new..

You may be looking at another 5k on top of that if you have an A model, in need of restoring..

I would rather tell you to buy a normal Q, then have you ditch it because it was too expensive.

[Q45tech]

You have to equate the extra weight on identical oem 215/65/15 tires with the effects of camber changes during rolls and whether that affects the peak G capability of the tires.

Unfortunately........the active shocks act like stiffer springs to reduce body roll so the amount of weight shift onto the tires doesn't change............just the appearance of better handling capability.

Unfotunately tire data at varying camber loads is almost impossible to get. Plus the SPECIAL tires are no longer made. Hopefully the reduced camber would equal the extra tire load [from the 250+ pounds of extra weight].

[AZ94Q]

Well I have no real word data to back this up, but I believe the A would easily out handle a regular Q on a track..

Based on the comparisons of other active vs non active cars, the active car has always proven to be better.

I was reading through the soraer posts, and everyone agreed the sorar with the active suspension easily out handled the regular one... extra weight aside..

Not to mention with a controller you could lower it an additional 1-2 inches..

I can't wait to get mine on a track, to see for myself..

Of course I won't being using OEM 15 inch tires.. or 15 inch tires at all for that matter...

[AZ94Q]

Greg has a video of an active Q on the slalom.. Of course they arn't comparing it to a non active Q.. but the active Q remains much more poised thus enabling it to maintain more speed through the slalom track..

Also I can imagine the extra weight (basically a passanger) negating the handling advantages of the A..

once again I don't know.. I just know based on other active car owners, and their impressions etc...

[Q45tech]

Impression are not timed slaloms with trained drivers.If you think about it the 0.5G limit [within which the active tries to stay flat] is way short of the 0.8-----0.83G possible from the oem 15" tires.

But for sure without a rear sway bar the standard Q would roll to the point of scariness..........maybe a Q45t would be a better comparison vehicle or the standard Q with equal sway bars of the active [28/20mm].

We cannot even buy 15" tires that come anywhere close to orginal oem Michelin Sport XGTV so the matter is mute.

[AZ94Q]

My point was this. The active Q pummeled those other cars in the slalom.. They wern't handling slouches either.. BMW lexus etc.. I can't imagine a normal Q would pummel the normal other car models, like the A did..

Also it is my understanding they let in much less roll after .5g then you would encounter in a normal Q at that G level..

I would further argue even if they had the EXACT same G rating, an A would still handle better..

Why? Driver confidence.. I think a driver would be much more willing to explore the full limits of a two ton+ sedan that has virtually no roll, vs one with mucho body roll..

Driving fast is all about drivers confidence, which the A promotes more so then any other Q model..

Also those soarer guys are frequent track warriors. The active soarer is always on top, even though it's the heaviest and not neccasarily the fastest of the bunch..

I do agree that .5g is a problem.. I know someone has repogrammed the active ECU in japan, I am sure.. The active suspension controller will lower/raise the suspension past OEM limits, but I don't think it does anything to the .5g rating.. I am trying to find out some mroe about this..

If we could remove that limit, it would be trully amazing.

I'm sticking to my claim active > non active. regardless of car

[redmanfx]

I've got a 92 Q45a with shot(dead) accumulators and can still say it "rides" nicer than most every car I've ever owned. At first it was hard to tell they were dead, but over time you could feel the harder ride. The car does not lean, squat, nose dive, wheelie up or do anything far from level. Truely an amazing thing. The rear sway bar on the Active Q helps tremendously with handling and flying around the corners. The suspension still rises and lowers itself and compensates for weight in the car.

Tire wear will be more noticable with the active Q's and maintaining them will be like a hand in you pocket pulling out the cash, but if my dead accumulator ride is indication or what I can expect from my recharged ride here shortly, it'll all be worth it. I've gotten a taste, now I want the meal!!

red92 Q45a

[Jesda]

One thing I do like about body roll, however, is that it communicates the level of centrifugal force. Without roll, like in the Miata, I'm not so certain where my limits are without cracking the windows open and listening for squeal.

-Jesda

[MiniMan]

Jesda, you bring up a good point. You need to feel body roll to feel the cars limits. With the slight amount of body roll in an active Q with it's stock 0.5G limit there should be enough roll to determine this limit.

IMO, I don't think I'd raise the 0.5G limit if I had the choice.

After lowering the car via the controller there should be even LESS roll.

Corey

[AZ94Q]

HAH Corey, you say that now..

Just wait till I find a JDM repogrammer who can raise the limit to .8g

Probably will never happen..

I am talking out of my arse on this anyway.. When I get my car on to the track, I will be able to say with some certainity how the active suspension reacts when it is put to the test..

I am hoping this active suspension controller makes a noticeable difference..