Tanabe Sustec Z40 Coilover- Review

tu_clean · 10-23-2012, 08:25 PM

Sup Fellas,
Finished installing these bad boys today. Will start the review with the initial thoughts on packaging and workmanship. Driveability thoughts to come later once I have some time to really push them on the twisties. More info can be found at tanabe's website: Tanabe Sustec Z40 Coilover
Packaging: As you can see the coilovers were very well packaged. Every individual part was wrapped tight and secure.

Finish: Love the red and black contrast as this is much to my cars theme. The bottom locking collar is polished which is very easy on the eyes and great for showing off at events.

Fit: Coilovers bolted on with no issues whatsoever. I appreciated that the fronts had the brake line clips welded onto the bottom of the strut. This is very convenient when making adjustments. My old BC BR setup had a removable collar that I had to loosen in order to make the front adjustment either up or down.

Driving impressions: Wow is the word. I was expecting a small difference from my BC setup but boy was I surprised. My car feels like a different animal now from a suspension aspect. Here are my side by side comparisons.

Tanabe vs Nismo stock: Definitely a step up. The adjustability for both height and dampening is enough reason to switch to coilovers in general.

Tanabe vs BC Racing BR series: I felt an immediate difference with the Tanabes. Driving on the freeway and local streets the car felt more "solid" like a well tuned race setup but without the hard bumpy ride. My dampening settings are very similar for both setups. Fronts are at max setting 40 (Bc's max front at 30) and the rears are set in the middle at 20 clicks hard ( BC's max rear at 30). The twisties on the Tanabes feel more tight and planted vs the BC's which felt more loose around the corners.

Final thoughts: I am very pleased with my decision to go with these Z40 coils. Fit and finish are top notch and ride quality at the right settings are exactly the way my Nismo should have came from the factory.

sfearl1 · 10-23-2012, 08:28 PM

Legit, is that your car ON the box lol

tu_clean · 10-23-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfearl1

Legit, is that your car ON the box lol

Naw thats Phelan's car

JollyGoodChap · 11-09-2012, 05:08 PM

any pictures of just the coilovers themselves?

tu_clean · 11-09-2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyGoodChap

any pictures of just the coilovers themselves?

I'm actually installing them this weekend. I will have pics up soon.

Unique_Z · 11-09-2012, 10:23 PM

Can't wait to see em up installed

tu_clean · 11-09-2012, 10:30 PM

Me too!

SPOHN · 11-10-2012, 07:45 AM

Another thread titled review with no review. Several of these going on. Even weeks after still no review. Come on guys. Still interested though.

SS_Firehawk · 11-10-2012, 02:07 PM

Lol @ Spohn, he has a point. I understand the excitement, but instead of you suffering with anticipation, you just did it to everyone here. I'm definitely interested though. I have a soft spot for Tanabe stuff and looking at these as an option.

Trips · 11-10-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

Another thread titled review with no review. Several of these going on. Even weeks after still no review. Come on guys. Still interested though.

tu_clean · 11-10-2012, 04:19 PM

Install is going down tomorrow fellas. Sorry for the wait

tu_clean · 11-12-2012, 02:01 AM

Coilovers installed. Driving impressions coming soon

xgrudgex · 11-15-2012, 02:47 PM

Still waiting....

tu_clean · 11-16-2012, 02:32 AM

Super busy. Hope to get the Niz on the twisties next week.

tu_clean · 11-22-2012, 03:52 AM

Review is up! Sorry for the delays fellas

10-23-2012, 08:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 18	Tanabe Sustec Z40 Coilover- Review Sup Fellas, Finished installing these bad boys today. Will start the review with the initial thoughts on packaging and workmanship. Driveability thoughts to come later once I have some time to really push them on the twisties. More info can be found at tanabe's website: Tanabe Sustec Z40 Coilover Packaging: As you can see the coilovers were very well packaged. Every individual part was wrapped tight and secure. Finish: Love the red and black contrast as this is much to my cars theme. The bottom locking collar is polished which is very easy on the eyes and great for showing off at events. Fit: Coilovers bolted on with no issues whatsoever. I appreciated that the fronts had the brake line clips welded onto the bottom of the strut. This is very convenient when making adjustments. My old BC BR setup had a removable collar that I had to loosen in order to make the front adjustment either up or down. Driving impressions: Wow is the word. I was expecting a small difference from my BC setup but boy was I surprised. My car feels like a different animal now from a suspension aspect. Here are my side by side comparisons. Tanabe vs Nismo stock: Definitely a step up. The adjustability for both height and dampening is enough reason to switch to coilovers in general. Tanabe vs BC Racing BR series: I felt an immediate difference with the Tanabes. Driving on the freeway and local streets the car felt more "solid" like a well tuned race setup but without the hard bumpy ride. My dampening settings are very similar for both setups. Fronts are at max setting 40 (Bc's max front at 30) and the rears are set in the middle at 20 clicks hard ( BC's max rear at 30). The twisties on the Tanabes feel more tight and planted vs the BC's which felt more loose around the corners. Final thoughts: I am very pleased with my decision to go with these Z40 coils. Fit and finish are top notch and ride quality at the right settings are exactly the way my Nismo should have came from the factory. Minnesota Bil and DRFTR like this. __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/ Last edited by tu_clean; 12-05-2012 at 11:45 AM. Reason: Review completed.

10-23-2012, 08:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
sfearl1 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,300 Drives: 2013 FBO E85 GTR Rep Power: 18	Legit, is that your car ON the box lol __________________ Scott

11-09-2012, 10:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Unique_Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Brunei Posts: 1,515 Drives: 370Z, 180SX Rep Power: 17	Can't wait to see em up installed __________________ My Z Build UniqueZ

11-09-2012, 10:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 18	Me too! __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/

11-10-2012, 07:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	Another thread titled review with no review. Several of these going on. Even weeks after still no review. Come on guys. Still interested though. Trips likes this. __________________

11-09-2012, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
JollyGoodChap Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lust Angeles Posts: 328 Drives: Z34 Rep Power: 15	any pictures of just the coilovers themselves?

11-10-2012, 02:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7335	Lol @ Spohn, he has a point. I understand the excitement, but instead of you suffering with anticipation, you just did it to everyone here. I'm definitely interested though. I have a soft spot for Tanabe stuff and looking at these as an option. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

11-10-2012, 04:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 18	Install is going down tomorrow fellas. Sorry for the wait SPOHN likes this. __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/

11-12-2012, 02:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 18	Coilovers installed. Driving impressions coming soon __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/

11-15-2012, 02:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
xgrudgex Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: California Age: 38 Posts: 111 Drives: My neighbors crazy Rep Power: 15	Still waiting....

11-16-2012, 02:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 18	Super busy. Hope to get the Niz on the twisties next week. __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/

11-22-2012, 03:52 AM	#15 (permalink)
tu_clean Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 527 Drives: 10' Nismo 370z Rep Power: 18	Review is up! Sorry for the delays fellas __________________ SSR http://www.ssr-wheels.com/ Tanabe http://www.tanabe-usa.com/ ARK http://www.arkperformance.com/ TOYO Tires http://toyotires.com/

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