Light Review: Nismo F & R mass chassis dampers, installed on Sport Package Z
 

Well, I finally managed to do it -- thanks to forum member '12NISMO370Z (BTW, great guy to do business with -- help him part out his Nismos! http://www.the370z.com/parts-sale-pr...-part-out.html )

For the F, it will bolt right in; for the R, you also need a different subframe brace off of the Nismo or to weld in brackets (see further here http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...ce-damper.html )

F damper by itself (done on previous and on this Z) seems to make the car feel more "composed" in corners during turn in, but otherwise does not appear to vastly alter handling feel or response; R damper (surprisingly) seems to nudge the car ever so slightly towards more oversteer with less driver input.

More on this as I continue to play with the Z, but it seems as though less input is required for turn in -- I guess dampening the lateral weight transfer results in a slipperier rear with less effort?

It stands to reason, but I was caught a bit off guard in a spirited turn, even though it's my front tires than have less tread on them, and the rears are both wider than OEM (285 rather than 275) and have less wear.

The rear also feels a bit firmer in a straight line -- as if canceling out some horizontal weight transfer makes the vertical shocks a bit more noticeable - maybe I'm imagining that?

Thoughts? Comments?

It took me 2 1/2 years to find all three parts to complete the set (2 dampers and the Nismo rear brace and brackets) I know the feeling of finally getting it all together!

I did find that the car is more composed and planted in corners and on rough back roads. I didn't notice any tendency towards oversteer, I have stock size tires and swift springs with a rear camber ~2 degrees.

Same here! Both in time frame (and over the course of two Z's) and similar camber and springs :tiphat:

I have Koni yellows -- what shocks are you running?

it definitely feels more planted and corners flatter -- I wouldn't say it is overly biased towards over, just a tad more than it had been (or so I think...). I'm thinking its just that I have to get used to it?

By contrast, the front alone didn't make the car feel like it was biased towards more push, but maybe it was just the limitations of my perceptions?

Did it feel any different otherwise (e.g., firmer in the rear on straights)?

I also have Nismo sways and all the S-tune chassis braces, so that might play into it.

The only OEM brace I have left is the front strut tower bar (Nismo is a little stiffer due to extra bracing at triangle sections), and the dubiously functional rear bar that goes across just before the trunk.

I guess I could look for a wider rear tire -- I'm going to need all four by the summer... :shakes head:

I have the stock sport dampers on the car.

On smooth straight roads I didn't notice much change, I have a section of straight bumpy road on my way to work I drive every day, and the car did seem to handle the many small bumps better without squirming around as much.

I have Stillen sway bars, bracing is stock minus the Nismo dampers. I had looked around at the S-tune braces but I just couldn't bring myself pay ~$800 for the set. Also have urethane bushings in the back.

Could be that you have stiffened the chassis to the point the suspension needs to be tweaked to compensate.

Well, I tweaked the driver, so I think just slightly adjusting what I'm doing has leveled things out.

Also, it just occurred to me that I have been driving around close to 1/4 tank of gas -- I usually keep it over 1/2 a tank. That's less weight over the rear tires.

Anyway, after some more driving around, it definitely feels much more responsive over all -- even lane changes feel smoother and require less input.

Definitely a worthwhile handling mod :tup:

I agree it's worth it.

If only the parts weren't so hard to come by (or not so expensive from the dealer) more people could benefit from this.

More impressions after a week or so of tooling around.

It's a grail quest to acquire the parts, but they are pretty awesome! The F damper alone is barely noticeable, but bring in the R damper, and its a much more precise and predictable handling car.

I'm due for new tires soon and going with the ultra sticky in dry BFG G Force Rivals (see here for details: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=172 ), so I think the two upgrades will make me fall in deeply in love with the Z all over again quite soon :tup:

Did you know there is also a 3rd super secret damper....

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...psebe0d07d.jpg

I don't think the Z's have the mounting point, but I have to take a look under the trunk liner. Image is from a G37 audio install on another site.

A buddy of mine mentioned something about that... hmmm.

If there's no mounting points what would be needed to make it work? Weld in some brackets?

Damn... now I want it...

EDIT: Actually, it looks like its just a matter of drilling a hole for a bolt? Could it be that easy?

EDIT #2: I think I have the extra S-tune bracing back there... I wonder if I could even fit it in.

Nismo's don't have that 3rd chassis dampener.

Nope, just on the G convertibles. It's in a similar location to where the Nismo S-tune brace bars go.

Looking to do this mod to my non nismo z are these the parts that were so difficult to find, is that still the case?

And whats this 3rd damper look like? thanks

Front
damper bar front = E44B2-1A34A
bracket-damper bar, front left = E44A7-1A35A
bracket-damper bar, front right = E44A6-1A35A
bolts x2 = 08157-0352F
nuts x2 = 08918-3402A

Rear
damper bar rear = E54B2-1A34A
bracket-damper bar, rear right = E54B6-1A31A
bracket-damper bar, rear left = E54B7-1A31A
bolts x2 = 08157-0352F
nuts x2 = 08918-3402A
nuts x4 (bracket to chassis) = 08157-0252F

Those are all the parts, you can get them through the dealer but they are ridiculously expensive. Finding them used is hard.

This is what the 3rd damper looks like:

http://www.the370z.com/parts-sale-pr...ce-damper.html

Yeah they are a bit expensive, so there are the nismo / yamaha front and rear dampers and this 3rd yamaha damper?

Where does it go? Got a part number? Thanks

Would the front damper get in the way if you had a FMI u think? Here's a pic
http://www.rhdjapan.com/nismo-yamaha...airlady-z.html

I know this is addressed in one of the SC or turbo install threads, but I think the short answer is: probably, yes.

The 3rd one is apparently just for G37 convertibles, so unless that's your car, you'd probably have to drill holes and/or make brackets to try and mount it.