Blown shock tower... options?

DIGItonium

I found out one of the rear shocks blew while the car was garaged and getting work done. Unfortunately I'm a bit on a budget and need something to get by for awhile especially considering the car doesn't get driven very much. So far I found one owner selling front and rear shocks off a '12 NISMO with low miles, which I think I can get a few years out of it. From Courtesy Parts, it looks like the parts are the same.

So before I go out buying stuff I want to make sure it'll fit and I'm able to get stuff swapped. Also, do I need to remove the plastic trim in the hatch to get to the shock tower?

Other options welcome besides spending $1k on a new aftermarket set... or leave it alone for now. It's still drivable, and I've not notice anything detrimental. I'm just afraid of the wheel bouncing at freeway speeds.

Thanks.

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binary0x01

Get those euro tuned shocks if you can, apparently they're setup well.

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Tune (by Seb@SpecialtyZ) -- Upgraded Parts List : When in doubt, use brute force; if it doesn't work, you aren't using enough.

240se

You don't need to do anything inside the car to change the rear shock. Just remove the rear wheel, take off two nuts at the top of the strut and one large bolt at the bottom and the assembly comes out.

Silly Rabbit

You can replace with a KYB shock for about $60 just to get by. I believe the part number is 349192. Replacement is pretty straight forward and can be done completely outside the car. Monroe and Gabriel may also have one to fit for even cheaper. Replace it, don't drive on a blown shock or you are likely to damage other parts of the suspension. If you intend to to "get by" for awhile, it would be best to replace both rear shocks at the same time.

$56 at Rock Auto

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NISMO R Tune Intakes \ Fast Intentions RHFC \ Borla CBE \ EcuTek Tuned\ SPL Camber Arms \ Powertrix Coilovers \ Swift Springs \ Avant Garde \ Wicked CAS \ Morimoto XB Halos \ Custom Fenders \ Hotchkis Sways \ NLP Splitter

cv129

Don't drive with blown shock/s. The shocks are what keeping your tires contacted to the road surface properly. You don't want to be on a blown shock during any emergency maneuver.

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Setrab | RE-71 | SPL | JRZ | Nismo | ARK | Whiteline | RacingBrake | CJM Oil Pan | Ti shield

Z-Girl 12

Silly Rabbit thanks for the link u need some shocks yesterday.

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2012 Z-SOLD
2014 Nismo #565 Fast Intentions CBE/HFC/Swift/SPC/RJM/H&R-15/20mm/Z1 CAI/Headers/Intake Manifold w/Uprev Tune 328.31whp/263.64tq

DIGItonium

Found a member with a pair that was barely used. I checked the fronts, and it looks good. Priority is to replace the rear shocks and get through the winter before getting new tires next.

After 65k miles maintenance items start adding up. My car has been down for several months as I replaced the valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, cleaned the intake system, installed oil catch cans, oil cooler fan, etc. I had to replace the upper intake manifold, too. FML. Thank goodness it's running now, but it definitely needs a new tune. Phew.

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Dragon_Ball_Z

Autozone has kyb too bro, just a heads up. My brother's car had a blown shock too and needing replacing on his 370z, works good still!


-Raj

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Build in Progress

DIGItonium

Thanks, all. I found an owner who is selling F/R OEM set for a great price. That should get me going for at least a couple of years as I get other things out of the way.

I think the shock completely gave up over the weekend. At speeds, I felt a little bit of vibration, and from the side mirror I think the wheel is starting to shimmy like a caster wheel. Hopefully replacing the shock will fix the shimmy.

In the future I would opt for better shocks and replace the bushings as well (Price isn't too bad for a complete set of Whiteline bushings). However, I'm debating between keeping the Swift springs and upgrade to Koni shocks or going for the Nismo spring and shock set. It sounds kinda dumb, but I don't really track or race my car. I'm okay as long as it is better than what I have right now, and I don't mind raising the car back up a little bit.

Feel free to chime in.

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cv129

If you are considering Koni yellows

For Sale LKQ Koni Yellow Adjustable Struts for RWD (4 pcs total) - MyG37

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Setrab | RE-71 | SPL | JRZ | Nismo | ARK | Whiteline | RacingBrake | CJM Oil Pan | Ti shield

Z-Girl 12

I have my stock shocks if your deal falls through. Took them off mine at 30k.

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2012 Z-SOLD
2014 Nismo #565 Fast Intentions CBE/HFC/Swift/SPC/RJM/H&R-15/20mm/Z1 CAI/Headers/Intake Manifold w/Uprev Tune 328.31whp/263.64tq

kenchan

i read blown shock tower and thought the chassis blew through after a huge pothole or something.. lol

DIGItonium

Haha... man it was scary. Figured it was a nice day and a short drive to work wouldn't hurt, but I saw some wobbling in the mirror and decided to go home and switch cars.

Thanks @Z-Girl. @cv129, I'm not ready to dump another several hundred on this car right now after spending so much since April getting the maintenance work done, and then other minor things broke along the way due to some calamities. So I'm in need of an undertray, too. Replace the shocks and undertray, then wait it out a few months for new tires. [sigh]

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DIGItonium

Such bad luck... after 2 months with a used set of struts (20k miles), one of the rear ones blew. At this point I wonder if the combination Swift springs (had them for about 4 years) and poor road conditions are causing the OEM struts to blowout sooner. My suspension gets a workout here because there are steep transitions at bridges on the freeway, and it feels like hitting a speed bump at freeway speeds.

So with tax season approaching I may budget $1k for new struts, and then get new tires later this year. So Koni Yellow with the Swifts?

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