struts and shocks

[bigred240sx]

so my tokico illuminas are on the way and my tokico springs are already here. i have a 76 280z. with that said what else is recommended for purchase before getting them on. and what exactly am i gonna be going through, my haynes manual shows oil and seals in the piece the struts are located in.

[evildky]

it's a good time to upgrade to urethane bushings and bigger sway bars are always nice

getting the gland nut out can be challengine, a bench vice, large pipe wrench and a long cheater pipe usually get the job done

[Bleach]

I believe the oil in the struts is Auto Trans Fluid.

Do you have spring compressors already? You'll want that tool to remove the springs.

[bigred240sx]

got the tools needed. dont have the cash that i need for the bushing kit. so atf. i'll check with at autozone or the dealership in the morning

thanks guys

[evildky]

teh fluid int he strut housing is optional, it helps to disiate the heat fomr the inserts, aft is a common choice but you can use just about anything thats not waterbased or overly harch, and it only takes a very small amount

[bigred240sx]

oh ok. either way it still makes me wonder if its a hard job. i did this on my 240sx and it was so easy but it is a 15 year newer car so idk. i will let yall know how it goes they should be on here in a couple of days.

[evildky]

the S13 you replace teh whole strut, for the S30 you have to remove the strut tube, then take ti apart and replace the oil damper with an aftermarket strut insert, but with a bench vise, pipe wrench and cheater pipe you'll be ok

[bigred240sx]

Ha Jesus Christ. So do I gotta buy a strut insert or is that the illuminas

[evildky]

the illuminas for the S30 are an insert

[Perrenial Badass]

It's not hard. You might want to have an impact ready for breaking loose those rusty bolts though.

[ARZ]

if you can fit the wrench between the coils of the springs, its easier to lock the steering and break that nut loose with the strut still installed and the 3 bolts at the top still attached.

Once that is done, compress the springs and make sure to break that top nut quickly.

The old struts used to be a strut in oil like a motorcycle fork. If yours arent, they have been replaced at one time. YES the Lumina is a cartrige, and DONT over tighten the adjuster either way its very delicate.

You will LOVE the feel. If you can afford to do all the bushings at the same time you will be blown away. At least do the Steering rack and rag joint (rubber steering shaft insulator) you wont be disappointed.

[bigred240sx]

the bushings will be done over my christmas break when im home from school. and the shocks came today. and its still the original piece that the shocks are located in. impact gun is already ready to be used im getting them put on tomorrow.

[ARZ]

....and its still the original piece that the shocks are located in....

Im 100% confident of that assuming its never been in a crash. Its the inside components that are in question and you wont find that out until you break them apart.

[bigred240sx]

so the fronts are done and it went really smooth. i was assuming it was gonna be extemely difficult. did the z come with bilstein shocks back then. i woulda got the rear done but i ran out of light and it started raining. the rear will be done today after work. but i have to say i love how the front end rides now

[evildky]

no, no Z evern came with billsteins, the rears are a pita only because of getting the spindle pin out, go ahead and buy new spindle pins and lca bushings, chances are good taht at least 1 pin and one bushing will sieze together and turn the job into a nightmare, I've seen 1 car come apart without drama, only 1

[ARZ]

no, no Z evern came with billsteins, the rears are a pita only because of getting the spindle pin out, go ahead and buy new spindle pins and lca bushings, chances are good taht at least 1 pin and one bushing will sieze together and turn the job into a nightmare, I've seen 1 car come apart without drama, only 1

Are you CRAZY!!! NEVER remove the spindle pins unless you have to. That's total INSANITY. That's ASKIN for a weekends worth of work. I have access to a dedicated hydraulic tool DESIGNED to remove that pin and I would never do it unless I had to. I have probably removed more of those pins than just about anybody on the planet. I worked at a Z Junk yard while going to college, I know what Im talking about.

Heres the easiest way to do it.

Loosen the bolt in the center of the strut first, don't do it all the way just break it loose. then take the four nuts and bolts off of the half shaft at the companion flange for the rear hub. This will let the strut swing WAY further out of the fender. Unbolt the 3 nuts in the top of the strut tower then compress the spring and remove that center nut, that corner should pivot down low enough to get the top insulator out of the strut tower and out past the fender (fold a junky old towel a few times) and put the towel over the top and you wont pinch your fingers or chip your paint trying to pry it past the fender. You might put a little tension on the parking brake cable but it will be fine. Pry it out past the fender remove the top insulator and the spring then fit it back up in the fender towel reinstalled at the top and rest it on the inside of the fender or even in under the shock tower hood. Grab your pipe wrench or other wrench you used to remove the top gland nut and your golden.

Enjoy, let us know how it goes.

[evildky]

z junkyard?mr z of albuquerque?

[bigred240sx]

it went really good minus the fact we messsed the threads up on spindle pin. good thing my dads work at the nissan plant here. he had his machinist there redo them. its all back together now. sits amazingly and handles like abat outta hell. i will try and get pics up. gotta remember how to do the photobucket stuff.

thanks for the help guys. oh i managed to dislocate my left pointer finger in the process friday night getting the pins out. but we got it done and the finger is ok now just sore.

[Perrenial Badass]

You have more than one father?

[bigred240sx]

nah man my bad just relized the typo. thats all kinds of screwed up there. supposed to be, my dad works at the nissan plant.