Right lowering spring for 2013 Nismo
 

This is one of my first posts even thought I have been a member for some time so I appreciate your patience. After much time spent researching I really just need a simple, clear answer and I'm am more confused that informed, so I have created THIS thread.

There are SO many options for the 2013 Nismo and I am trying to determine if Eibach Pro-Kit, Tein S-Tech, Swift Spec-R or H&R is the best choice for a spring to lower the car. I plan to use the Nismo performance dampers so we are only talking lowering the car.

As I understand it the Eibach Pro-Kit lowers the front -1.0" and the rear -0.5", the Tein S-Tech drops the front -0.9" and rear -0.7". Factory alignment can be obtained without any additional parts.

Swift Spec-R drops the front -1.2" and -1.0" rear and it looks like H&R will get you -1.5" front and -1.0 rear. Do I need camber kits or toe bolts for either of these?

What I would like to do is get the best-looking drop that sets the car even front and rear and add 15 mm H&R wheel spacers to the car to get a squared-off look. I have H&R on my 350Z with upper control arms, wheels with a different offset and different size tires than stock and I really like the look of that car BUT I get a knocking noise on the right front.

I want a recommendation that works GREAT and looks GREAT. I don't want to have any problems and I'd like to make minimal modifications to get factory alignment.

Lastly, if I go with a 265/35-19 (front) and 305/30-19 (rear), or equivalent setup when it is time to replace my tires so please factor that into the recommendation.

Thanks all!

IMO anything greater then 1" of a drop you will need camber kits in oder to pull them back to spec. But if you are asking the best-looking drop then the answer is simple - go lower or go home.:tiphat:

BTW - your screen name makes us look like cousins.:hello:

@forza370z, lol....I got that plate years ago after I got a lot of negative feedback from haters for my last plate ENVMYZ. Ahhhh memories.... :-)

:iagree:. The factory toe and camber bolts give you very minimal adjustments, so aftermarket camber arms and toe bolts are a good idea.

That knocking noise you hear on your 350z is probably the endlinks on your swaybars. Whenever you lower your car, it puts more stress on them since they are non adjustable. I went through the same thing with my 350z, until I bought the SPL adjustable endlinks.

So Eibach or Tein is the best way to go based on my requirements?

Well, since you mentioned that you were changing tire size, with smaller side walls than you are going to have even more wheel gap. If you want to go with a mild drop with the Tein or Eibach springs, I would stay with stock tire size.

Here is a pic of my Z on Tein springs, stock tire size. As you can see, its a mild drop.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...txxx/005-3.jpg

I guess it makes sense to stick with the OEM tires sizes since they actually put good sizes on this model. My 2006 350Z 6MT came with 225/45-18x8" (front) and 245/45-18X8.5" (rear) tires/rims/width. I upgraded that to forged (lighter) Rays CE28Ns 255/40-18x9.5" (front) and 275/40-18x10.5" (rear). This package was actually lighter overall because of the lightness of the rims and the Michelin tires AND this made the car work MUCH better on corner entry and exit. MORE grip but not so little pressure per square inch that it didn't grip either.

Have you tried other tires, Michelin PS2, Hankook, etc in the NISMO sizes?

@MJB, it looks like the drop you have in that pic is pretty good for the 'real' world, would you agree? Did you go with any spacers? Also, do you have any close up pics of those RB rotors? Did you notice a big improvement with the better slotted rotors?

Yes, for everyday driving, or areas that have rough roads, the Tein springs are pretty nice. And I do have 15mm all the way around. Type in "Tein" in the search option and you'll see several set ups with those springs. I wanted to go lower so I eventually went with coilovers.

I don't track the car (yet), haven't notice any difference with stopping performance with the RB rotors. My car definitely feels lighter with the combination of the weight reduction I've been doing to it (front and rear RB rotors shed 24lbs) I'm moving on with a Wilwood BBK though.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...xx/newroto.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...x/DSC_1001.jpg

@MJB, thanks for posting those up. They look pretty good. Any complaints or problems with the car? I've had three Z's before so I'm not sure why I'm on the fence about this one....

No different than any other thing us guys do...simply the latest greatest model. It doesn't matter weather you are talkin women or cars!:nutswinger:

Have you seen this?

http://www.the370z.com/nismo-370z/62...d-newbies.html

Any more pics of the wheel gap with tein springs?

Well I bought the 2013 Nismo. I wasn't sure at first if this car was really better but it REALLY is. The Nismo suspension is quite good. That being said I don't want to undo what the engineers at Nissan accomplished. From what I can tell Eibach is the ONLY company that makes springs specifically tested on the Nismo edition of the Z. I want the best option for Nismo suspension that doesn't require me to change parts on the car to get the alignment correct. I kinda think the H&R sport coil overs would be a good way to go and only lower the car to the point it stays within alignment specs or get the Eibachs. Either way, I'll get the 15 mm wheel spacers.

Any thoughts on this? Does anyone know of lowering springs that meet these requirements?

Sigh, all springs will work great on the Nismo just as they do on the Base Z. I would just make sure you get a spring that is as stiff or stiffer than the OEM ones, and Swift are just that. (even if you think the Nismo is too stiff, the Swifts are softer driving around town and tighten up when driving spiritedly)

I have them and they are just amazingly great. Would not even try another spring except the RS*R (but they are not avail in US)

I even got away with not having to install a camber kit. Each car is different.

@tjlazer, all the cars should be roughly the same. Also, I appreciate the response but I still don't have an answer. The Nismo dampers ARE different than the dampers on all other varieties of the 370. I'd like to get a spring that is tested by the manufacturer on Nismo spec dampers. It sounds like the Swift springs are a progressive design by your account of their performance whilst driving in town and otherwise.

I'm an engineer and I know quite a bit about suspension, primarily in the motorcycle world as I race professionally, so I am just trying to make the best decision possible.

Oops, sorry Cell, didn't see your post. Here you go. This was in the rear, front was about the same as well.
forzagt, what did you decide to do?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...txxx/006-4.jpg

@MJB, I have not made a decision yet. I am leaning the Eibach way only because they have actually tested their springs on the Nismo dampers.

My plans for the car would be the better and lighter RB rotors, 265 and 305 tires (either Michelin PS2 or Bridgestone RE11), H&R 15 mm wheel spacers and something simple like the K&N air intakes that stay in the engine bay.

Have you thought of Coilovers? Not only you can adjust the ride height and damping, you don't need to worry about the stock struts being worn prematurely anymore. BC and Megan Racing are not too expensive and very nice. Tein Mono, HKS HipermaxIII and KW v3 are super nice too.

@forza370z, I AM thinking about coilovers. I think I may just get the H&R sport coilovers so I can get the look I want and also corner balance the car. Since this will be canyon carver, I don't really NEED to have the option to adjust the rebound/compression, just ride height and spring tension. The H&R is about $1100. The KW variant 1 about $350 more. Which are better and why?

I would save up some money and go for the named brand. It's all about the build quality. I never had H&R or KW v1 so I can't speak for them. But I had HKS Hipermax III. No complains. Build quality is top notch. There are 32 clicks let you adjust the ride qulity. Hardest setting is stiff but it turns like a champ. Softest setting makes you feel the car like stock. You don't even need to take off the wheels to adjust the damping.

The price differences could be different in build qulity and the amount of options they provide. Different stiffness settings in the front and rear will give you more or less understeering/oversteering when cornering. But you have to bring your car to the track to test it out.

Swifts + Michelin PSS

Have a look at my group buy post for Fortune Coilovers under the suspension forum. PM me if interested in more details.