Feedback request:Daily Driver complete suspension rebuild plan.

El Zombo · 12-07-2017, 03:31 PM

Did I get this right?

OptionZero · 12-07-2017, 05:46 PM

Just chiming in? Do you really need full bushing replacement at just 70k miles? driving habits are specific to car and owner but if this is a DD, i can't see how bushings are shot that fast.

This isn't really a quick/easy job, pulling the rear suspension, burning/pressing bushings out and replacing all of them is time/effort, even if you can do it yourself. Seems like kind of a pain in the *** to do all that for poly bushings on a DD - i could totally see dropping in spherical bushings everywhere for a track car.

To me this is a hard balance between replacing stuff with quality but expensive parts or just fixing what needs to be fixed.

SPL everything will make your car awesome, but its expensive. Like, really awesome. But expensive.

How bout scouring used parts areas for lower-mileage Z's that have had stuff replaced for aftermarket?

It's your time, it's your money, it's your sweat, i'm just pointing out maybe think about what you really need, the cost, and what you're actually getting for it all.

Going eibach/koni and OE style everything, seems like performance is a low priority, so . . . maybe save some money where u can?

El Zombo · 12-07-2017, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptionZero

Just chiming in? Do you really need full bushing replacement at just 70k miles? driving habits are specific to car and owner but if this is a DD, i can't see how bushings are shot that fast.

This isn't really a quick/easy job, pulling the rear suspension, burning/pressing bushings out and replacing all of them is time/effort, even if you can do it yourself. Seems like kind of a pain in the *** to do all that for poly bushings on a DD - i could totally see dropping in spherical bushings everywhere for a track car.

To me this is a hard balance between replacing stuff with quality but expensive parts or just fixing what needs to be fixed.

SPL everything will make your car awesome, but its expensive. Like, really awesome. But expensive.

How bout scouring used parts areas for lower-mileage Z's that have had stuff replaced for aftermarket?

It's your time, it's your money, it's your sweat, i'm just pointing out maybe think about what you really need, the cost, and what you're actually getting for it all.

Going eibach/koni and OE style everything, seems like performance is a low priority, so . . . maybe save some money where u can?

Thanks for the input. All great points to consider. I'm the original owner of this car and it really does handle poorly. I consider this just wear and tear, but I want to be thorough in addressing it. Next Oct/Nov I'm going with some form of boost and I want to make sure the foundation is solid. Addressing the suspension, brakes, and rear are the first steps. The power is great, so I can address that later. The poly bushings (for me personally) are a great compromise between solid and OE. I've done this whole thing with an '86 5.0 years ago and the order of work just seems to make sense.

Other than the wear and tear, my Z is solid and she deserves another go. I won't be surprised if I see over 200K on this one.

240se · 12-07-2017, 09:28 PM

At 70k miles you say it handles poorly. I doubt the bushings are the problem but the shocks are definitely ready to be replaced.

I have the Koni shocks and Eibach front sway bar and it made a big difference and I only had 30k on my Z when I swapped the shocks. My recommendation for adjusting the Koni shocks is to keep the rebound soft for the street if the roads are not perfect and keep the rebound softer in the rear then the front.

Rusty · 12-07-2017, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Zombo

Rusty,

Thanks, man. I appreciate the replies and info. When I get all of this together I'll post the rebuild.

I thought for sure there was an upper strut plate with the studs that go through the strut tower? Am I getting the nomenclature wrong?

What you are seeing, is the upper mounting bracket for the coilover.

Jhill · 12-07-2017, 10:18 PM

I think I would have to agree with optionzero on this one. At 70k I doubt your bushings are truly worn, more than likely it's your shocks (if anything, might just be you want more than what oem has to offer). Replacing all the bushings with poly for a DD and then staying with eibach springs and Koni yellows I'm just not sure the value in that. I believe powertrix just posted a sale going on in one of the other post as well as Fortune having a sale coming up. Either of those would be near the cost of 4 Koni yellow and eibach springs and will most likely make all the difference you'll want (the fortune run a softer spring though so may want to request stiffer). That and aftermarket bars will make a bigger difference than bushings and will probably still have less effect on NVH (or at least buzz).

OptionZero · 12-08-2017, 12:30 AM

Yeah if you want to improve handling, skip that spring shock nonsense

Fortune and powertrix coilovers
Better rubber
SPL front upper control arms for full camber/caster adjustment

And if u can do it, a diff upgrade. Wavetrac or OS giken

Rusty · 12-08-2017, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptionZero

Yeah if you want to improve handling, skip that spring shock nonsense

Fortune and powertrix coilovers
Better rubber
SPL front upper control arms for full camber/caster adjustment

And if u can do it, a diff upgrade. Wavetrac or OS giken

This would be your best bang for the buck.

OptionZero · 12-08-2017, 01:57 PM

Fortune/Power trix = $1300 (less if you get a sale price)
19 inch grippy tires = $1300
SPL FUCA = $900

Total = $3500ish

Totally streetable daily driver
MUCH more noticeable upgrade

Parts have re-sale value (especially the SPL FUCAs)

12-07-2017, 05:46 PM	#17 (permalink)
OptionZero A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,225 Drives: 15 370Z Nismo 6MT Rep Power: 214100	Just chiming in? Do you really need full bushing replacement at just 70k miles? driving habits are specific to car and owner but if this is a DD, i can't see how bushings are shot that fast. This isn't really a quick/easy job, pulling the rear suspension, burning/pressing bushings out and replacing all of them is time/effort, even if you can do it yourself. Seems like kind of a pain in the *** to do all that for poly bushings on a DD - i could totally see dropping in spherical bushings everywhere for a track car. To me this is a hard balance between replacing stuff with quality but expensive parts or just fixing what needs to be fixed. SPL everything will make your car awesome, but its expensive. Like, really awesome. But expensive. How bout scouring used parts areas for lower-mileage Z's that have had stuff replaced for aftermarket? It's your time, it's your money, it's your sweat, i'm just pointing out maybe think about what you really need, the cost, and what you're actually getting for it all. Going eibach/koni and OE style everything, seems like performance is a low priority, so . . . maybe save some money where u can? __________________ OptionZero Build Thread

12-07-2017, 09:28 PM	#19 (permalink)
240se Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: VA Posts: 259 Drives: Gunmetal 12' Rep Power: 12	At 70k miles you say it handles poorly. I doubt the bushings are the problem but the shocks are definitely ready to be replaced. I have the Koni shocks and Eibach front sway bar and it made a big difference and I only had 30k on my Z when I swapped the shocks. My recommendation for adjusting the Koni shocks is to keep the rebound soft for the street if the roads are not perfect and keep the rebound softer in the rear then the front. El Zombo likes this. Last edited by 240se; 12-07-2017 at 09:32 PM.

12-07-2017, 10:18 PM	#21 (permalink)
Jhill Track Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: San jose Posts: 854 Drives: 2013 370z sport Rep Power: 3384	I think I would have to agree with optionzero on this one. At 70k I doubt your bushings are truly worn, more than likely it's your shocks (if anything, might just be you want more than what oem has to offer). Replacing all the bushings with poly for a DD and then staying with eibach springs and Koni yellows I'm just not sure the value in that. I believe powertrix just posted a sale going on in one of the other post as well as Fortune having a sale coming up. Either of those would be near the cost of 4 Koni yellow and eibach springs and will most likely make all the difference you'll want (the fortune run a softer spring though so may want to request stiffer). That and aftermarket bars will make a bigger difference than bushings and will probably still have less effect on NVH (or at least buzz). El Zombo likes this.

12-08-2017, 12:30 AM	#22 (permalink)
OptionZero A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,225 Drives: 15 370Z Nismo 6MT Rep Power: 214100	Yeah if you want to improve handling, skip that spring shock nonsense Fortune and powertrix coilovers Better rubber SPL front upper control arms for full camber/caster adjustment And if u can do it, a diff upgrade. Wavetrac or OS giken Rusty and jchammond like this. __________________ OptionZero Build Thread

12-08-2017, 01:57 PM	#24 (permalink)
OptionZero A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,225 Drives: 15 370Z Nismo 6MT Rep Power: 214100	Fortune/Power trix = $1300 (less if you get a sale price) 19 inch grippy tires = $1300 SPL FUCA = $900 Total = $3500ish Totally streetable daily driver MUCH more noticeable upgrade Parts have re-sale value (especially the SPL FUCAs) El Zombo likes this. __________________ OptionZero Build Thread

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