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Perfect. You also don't have to wrestle with spring compressors to install regular struts and shocks. The last time I did my suspension I used a spring compressor and for that reason alone I will probably get coil overs next time. A straight forward install and unbeatable drive quality.
Perfect. You also don't have to wrestle with spring compressors to install regular struts and shocks. The last time I did my suspension I used a spring compressor and for that reason alone I will probably get coil overs next time.
Struts + springs was the very first job ive ever done on any car ever, let alone any mechanical task, WOW was I in over my head. Spring compressors are a PITA to use... unless you have an impact gun lol.Without an impact gun its a tortuous, tedious task. Coilovers are always sweet but they definitely require more fk fk games in terms of adjusting them, keeping them clean, etc. All that being said I like coils.
Sweet setup though user1, cant wait to see them installed. Only question now is what the mod-bug parasite embedded in your brain demands you purchase next to satisfy its hunger
Standard 8k/6k. I didn't opt for the upgraded springs, extreme drop, or any custom spring rates. Having no experience with any of that, I wouldn't know the difference. All I know is I just crossed 3k miles on the car and I'm ready to get off of these S Techs! Looks nice, but no travel in the front warrants a high level of alertness and sticking to known routes so as not to damage the car.
I'm looking at getting everything installed this weekend. Each of all 4 corners are getting new coilovers, Brembo discs (12.6" 350Z fronts), new (Brakemotive remans) calipers (2008 350Z dual piston fronts), Akebono ceramic pads, new wheel bearing and hub assemblies (Moog rears, Timken fronts, all bearings stamped NSK Japan, the good stuff), new baffle plates (the metal splash guards), and complete brake fluid flush. Weekend after I'll replace lower control arms with OEM, Moog sway bar end links, all new bushings for the rear end, and the entire suspension with be completely overhauled.
Sweet setup though user1, cant wait to see them installed. Only question now is what the mod-bug parasite embedded in your brain demands you purchase next to satisfy its hunger
Stereo. Too much to list In a nutshell, two 12's, 4 way active front stage, coaxials, 6x9's and everything required to power and control all of it. But I won't be running a head unit.
I'll get plenty of photos of the suspension stuff while I'm installing it. Maybe put up a little picture thread. Haven't seen any related threads as of late (last 5 or 8 years anyway). Gotta keep the 5th gen spirit alive!
Hmm maybe I should have gone for those instead of the economy rockauto $55/ pair brand where top plates weren't aligned properly and took a huge amount of wrestling them into place with a friend's help, and now the rears bottom out whenever I go over bumps.
Hmm maybe I should have gone for those instead of the economy rockauto $55/ pair brand where top plates weren't aligned properly and took a huge amount of wrestling them into place with a friend's help, and now the rears bottom out whenever I go over bumps.
$55 a pair? How many miles did you get out of them?
Nice! I recently got BC coilovers as well, but mainly to raise my car up a bit due to axle issues. I raised it maybe 1/2" higher than the H-tech drop and voila! No more vibration from the axles. I love the damping/ride on these coilovers as well.
Got a lot of work to do this weekend. Still have a few parts I'm waiting for from the dealership. I may even go to an LKQ tomorrow and pull a set of hubs to have blasted and powdercoated then build them up and just install them rather than rebuild mine. Those Brembos are nice. They have a nice coating of some sort on the hat and exposed area. Should keep rust away for quite a while. I gotta pick up a 12 ton Harbor Freight press tomorrow to do the bearing work. SO glad I did inner and outer tie rods while the engine was out. Inners would have been a pain. Driver side was tight. I imagine I could have done some damage to the rack trying to get that one off with the engine in.
I'm thinking about spraying the coilovers down with Mothers spray wax then throwing these covers on. Also thinking about wrapping a small vinyl tube or something in the top to allow it to breathe.
yes guys have used the protective sleeves in the north east, i would definately do it if ihad coils as well. and wax cant hurt either.
the torque kit is worth it if you have decent engine mounts, if not, there's no point, it will tighten up one end per say and then make aged mounts work even harder.
there were a few guys who made thier own with just home depot parts. fish eye hook etc etc.
if i had new mounts i would have bought the nwp torque link used or something.
The coilover covers are a double edged sword. They definitely are great at keeping crap off of the coilovers, but if something does manage to get in behind them, it gets trapped there. Overall for you specifically id recommend them because I know you are **** about making sure everything is proper. As for the NWP torque link, I had it on one of my 4th gens. It reduces engine movement, which is good when you are launching from a standstill - it lets more energy transfer to the wheels rather than the motor mounts. As prophecy said you might wish to avoid it if you are not running poly motor mounts, you should get those first if you want to go down that road as they are basically serving the same purpose. You can also expect a little more motor vibration felt with the torque link. Im probably going to install it on my 02' eventually, and maybe those traction bars that chrisman in the 4th gen subforum is currently toying with. When i finally get my intake+exhaust+tune (still waiting for that 4'' intake...) and have 300whp, Ill need everything I can to avoid wheelhop. Wheelhop = lost power, and worse, unhappy differential bearings from the axles violently slopping around. The last thing in the world that i need is for my 6th gen HLSD trans to have damaged bearings lol
yes guys have used the protective sleeves in the north east, i would definately do it if ihad coils as well. and wax cant hurt either.
the torque kit is worth it if you have decent engine mounts, if not, there's no point, it will tighten up one end per say and then make aged mounts work even harder.
there were a few guys who made thier own with just home depot parts. fish eye hook etc etc.
if i had new mounts i would have bought the nwp torque link used or something.
All 4 of my mounts are brand new (3k miles now) OEM, non-electric mounts. I stumbled across this kit as I was piecing together parts for my own design. I was going to use one of these and make my own bracketry:
The coilover covers are a double edged sword. They definitely are great at keeping crap off of the coilovers, but if something does manage to get in behind them, it gets trapped there. Overall for you specifically id recommend them because I know you are **** about making sure everything is proper. As for the NWP torque link, I had it on one of my 4th gens. It reduces engine movement, which is good when you are launching from a standstill - it lets more energy transfer to the wheels rather than the motor mounts. As prophecy said you might wish to avoid it if you are not running poly motor mounts, you should get those first if you want to go down that road as they are basically serving the same purpose. You can also expect a little more motor vibration felt with the torque link. Im probably going to install it on my 02' eventually, and maybe those traction bars that chrisman in the 4th gen subforum is currently toying with. When i finally get my intake+exhaust+tune (still waiting for that 4'' intake...) and have 300whp, Ill need everything I can to avoid wheelhop. Wheelhop = lost power, and worse, unhappy differential bearings from the axles violently slopping around. The last thing in the world that i need is for my 6th gen HLSD trans to have damaged bearings lol
Trapping dirt and moisture was the first thing that crossed my mind, and why I initially thought the coil covers to be a bad idea. But I'm in Florida, and I don't plan on taking the car off road or through any mud bogs any time soon. I pretty much only need to worry about moisture, hence my very next thought of how to allow them to breathe, like with a tube up top or something. I like the idea of the Chrisman arms (maybe their new official name?), but the pictures show them to obstruct the area where the lower splash guards would be. Splash guards trump traction bars for me.
props on alll the fixing up ! look forward to see install pics
Still waiting for a few parts to arrive. I went to the yard Sunday morning to pull steering knuckles but there was only one left on the car I looked at and then I realized I forgot my giant axle nut socket anyway so I just robbed some interior stuff and went home. As soon as I pull a set of knuckles, get them blasted, powdercoated and new bearings and hubs pressed in, I'll have everything I need to do the entire suspension overhaul.
Got a good deal on these, though, brand new at about $90 a piece on Ebay:
Also, I had my rotors cut down 2mm. I finally found an awesome machine shop (relatively new in Tampa, so I have no hookups for anything), and he only charged me $40 bucks. So I gave him $60 and said I'll be back! He's got everything and anything I could ever need from a machine shop, and I get the impression this old-timer knows his stuff, so that's a great feeling!
Anyway, the rotors are 2008 350Z Brembo blanks, which would clear, but just barely. So if anyone is interested, the 2008 350Z front brake upgrade, detailed in gous44l's thread, here:
is a great deal, adds a piston and almost an inch and a half rotor diameter on each side, is direct bolt-on, and requires only light lathe work for rotor hardware clearance (see below).
Time to get this show on the road. Sorry for the delay! After multiple trips to the yard pulling four total knuckles (LONG story) I have a beautiful set of stripped down, blasted, acetone washed, baked at 500F for 2 hours off-gassed and cleaned knuckles ready for powder coating! This is the job that has been holding me up with my suspension and brake overhaul! We are in the home stretch! This job consists of coating 4 new, OEM baffle plates and this fabulous pair of spindles! That's 12 spray, bake, cooling cycles in total. Unless I die of noxious fumes first....
At 10-15psi. Works great so far! First time powder coating for me.
I'll get these taped up and in the oven tomorrow. We are doing two coats on each of all four baffle plates and both knuckles. First is chrome base, second is Lollipop red from Prismatic Powders:
First baffle plate finished in chrome. I did a test with this part in my kitchen oven. The fumes sucked but the smoke was minimal and I should be able to get the job done and if needed, I'll just put a new oven in the kitchen and keep the one I'm about to ruin with toxic chemicals as my powder oven for the future. FYI, yes, I made my cats stay outside during this curing process
I'll get better photos when I have more time, I was in a rush getting just these two plates done today. This is the chrome base coat. Tomorrow we will hopefully have time to get everything chromed at least and maybe a couple parts in Lollipop Red.
Everything prepped, updated and ready to go. This crap has been on the shelf for WAAAAAY too long.
Sorry, hard to see, but the spray bottle is a Meguiar's spray wax that I will be using on the coilovers rather than coilover covers as Slamrod and I discussed above. I think this plus periodic maintenance in my Florida climate will be superior than the coilover covers.
Front rotors turned 2mm and ready for installation.
You are doing very nice work. I like to see this ,many on the maxima forum will not do this kind of work.
When i get a summer car that doesn't see winter i will follow your lead.
This is how you restore and keep a classic car.
Right on, thanks man! I'm really going to push to get a ton of stuff done in the next few days. I'll get plenty of pics for the thread. By the way, I'm still keeping my eyes out for a Florida 5th gen for you!
Gotta hit 450F before we set the clock for 12 min cure. The total oven time for these was one hour, 48 min to come up to temp, 12 for cure.
Chrome is down. Got perfect coverage. Tape may or may not have been necessary on most surfaces but I wasn't taking any chances because I hate sanding!
We have chrome base coat down! Next is Lollipop Red final coat and press baffle plates, bearings and hubs. Then on to the fun stuff! I CAN NOT WAIT to get those BC's on. The ride on these S Techs seemingly continues to deteriorate with time. I am BABYING this car until I get this job done. Almost there! Nothing tomorrow as I work early in the evening. I'll start back up Sunday afternoon and have this whole job done Monday evening.
Dude i dont know where you find the time and energy to go through all of this stuff but holy fck your car is going to be flossing so hard when this is all done. Cant wait to see the final result.
In a nutshell, two 12's, 4 way active front stage, coaxials, 6x9's and everything required to power and control all of it. But I won't be running a head unit.
