s13 struts uneven, clear wheel on pass. side, but not drivers side (WTF?!)

[s13.4kouki]

so, i got my 18s wrapped in new rubber, and had them put on my car

and the top of the tire on the drivers side sits dead on the bottom spring mount of the strut (the big fat wide part)

but on the passenger side, there's like... 1" of space

i don't know what the hell to do, i would guess somewhere along the line the drivers shock was replaced with the wrong part... but it never had any rubbing issue with the stock wheels

i'm not entirely sure what to do, both struts have the NISSAN JAPAN writing on them, and there's a R and L, both on the correct side

any ideas what i should do, outside of dropping a grand on coilovers?


PS: front tires are 235/40/18 on a 18x8.5 +35 offset

[LB.Motoring]

new spring strut combo.

[s13.4kouki]

would the springs even matter?

the issue is the distance from the mounting bolts to the bottom spring plate

[idiot goes sideways]

when i changed my stock struts to coil-over i noticed that the stock strurs was different in high between left and right also my used bought coilover was adjusted not at the same high but did fit well.

[s13.4kouki]

can anyone else verify that?
it seems odd, but possible, since they are different part numbers

[reflexdb]

when I pulled the stock struts and springs off my s14, they were the same length. I would highly doubt the struts on two sides to be different length from bottom mount to spring perch.

[Jmunkee]

My 180 has the same thing but not 1" difference more like 0.5". But on my passenger side (North American driver's side) the lower spring perch on the strut is 0.5" closer to the top of the tire. I personally think it's just a different brand strut or something. Won't really matter once the coilover's are on though.

[steve shadows]

you could have SE one on one side and (ex iirc?) on he other side.


I remeber a thread like this on FA.

[s13.4kouki]

if that's true, it would seem possible
anyone know where i could find the part #'s or specs on the SE vs. the base model front struts?

[Dream240]

Base and SE are the same......
The only thing I could think that MIGHT be your problem is one is a HICUS strut and the other is a NON-HICUS strut.

[s13.4kouki]

i forgot about hicas, and i know KYB shocks say 'all 89-94 240sx except HICAS'

i know the rears are different, but i would assume the front's are the same?
anyone know otherwise?

[Dream240]

c'mon man.... the internet is your friend.

Took me 20 seconds to find this I swear.

http://shop.nissanpartstore.com/buy.php?make_text=nissan&model_text=240sx&ml=240-sx-002&year=1991&part_name=strut&brand_name=kyb&make_code=NI&x=1

fin

[s13.4kouki]

i know the internet is my friend, but i was under the car getting the part # off of the shock towers... and my wifi on my laptop doesn't work under my car

the strut numbers look like they're right

being 54303-52F00
and 54302-52F00

the first set of numbers on each shock are correct to left and right side
but the rears are odd, neither of which i can find on courtesynissan


Jmunkee, maybe it is closer to a 1/2"... what part#'s are on your struts?

[Dream240]

The strut isn't modified in any way is it? Why don't you just pull the strut assembly out and take a good look at it. Maybe there's something wrong with how it's mounted in? Could be bent?

Sounds like this might be your next course of action.

[s13.4kouki]

blah....

from the top of the bolt bracket to the bottom weld of the spring perch is 3" on the drivers side and 3 1/2" on the passenger side...
i wonder if all 240 struts have this difference in size, and if KYBs might as also have it...

[Dream240]

No the only difference is the mounting of the brake line bracket.

Your strut assembly is bent somewhere.

[s13.4kouki]

i don't think it can be bent, i was measuring from weld to weld not from the bracket or pearch its' self

and there would be a crease in the strut tube somewhere, wouldn't there?

my buddy has a parts car, i'll see about measuring it

[Dream240]

You can have a bend anywhere from the lower spring retainer, the strut rod itself, upper mount, shit even the knuckle where the strut mounts to can be tweaked. I'm betting you that your car has hit something on that wheel at one point or another. How's the caster?

Check the gap from the back of the tire to the rear of the fender well on both sides......the same?

Wish I had some pics...... I've had a bent strut assembly before, not noticeable by the naked eye when installed in car. But take it out and lay it next to an un-damaged one and voila!! warped.

[s13.4kouki]

i'll measure from the rear of the wheel to the inner fender tommaro, it's already dark outside


http://ebay.jhotexports.com/16955/16955_0.jpg

i'm not doubting i might have something bent, but i came across this
and is it just me, or do those stock front struts look awefully uneven, about the same ammount as mine

[Dream240]

Yeah but you gotta consider the angle of the shot, the fact that one strut is rotated slightly to the right. hmm....

But yeah after you check the caster, and if it's okay, then maybe the bend is inside-out not front-to-back. That would make alot of sense since the lower spring retainer is rubbing the tire.

It doesn't look obviously bent? Pics yet??

[s13.4kouki]

i've got the parts car in my possession, but it's supposed to be like fucking mid 40s tommaro, so god knows if i'll get to it


if anyone is interested, i'll soon be parting out a 93 coupe with black interior

:)

hopefully this strut shit is as simple as a swap so i can get these rims on and get some pictures finally

[kasilvia]

perhaps the spring perch has flexed down. and the fact that the springs are coiled in the same direction on the left and right, that means that where they seat on the lower perch will be indexed differently. I would say that there is no problem w/ the strut, what size tire are you running. It it is a deep wide wheel, it may be the incorrect offset. You almost have to use coilovers to run agressive sizes on an s13. Same applies to s14s or I would already be rockin some super sweet 18x9's up front!!

[s13.4kouki]

i think the perch is indeed just aged and flexed past it's proper point

but the rims themself should be fine, they came off of a s14 with no rubbing issues, and i have seen other s13 with the same offset and tire size (235/40 btw) without any issue...

there's no telling until i put it on, i could be in or shit out of luck

[drift freaq]

simple solution, buy my Eibach/Ground Control/KYB AGX setup and you will have nice clean low mileage struts with dampening adjustability and height adjustability. only $500 plus shipping. 9kg front 6kg rear make those 18's look right on there.

[s13.4kouki]

why is it always the people with the high post count that post the most asshole around elbow options?

sure, i could go spend 500 in AGXs with springs, or i could just spend another 200 and have a set of real coilovers... but more realisticly on the other hand, i could just find another stock strut and put it in without spending much if anything, which i did...

and btw, dream, you were 100% correct
from the naked eye it was impossible to tell it was bent
but as soon as i put it next to the other strut it was extremely obvious

i would have taken a picture of it next to the other one but i need to put the bent one back in the parts car so i could use my jack to lift my car back up

i'll take a picture of them and bump this thread when i pull the front suspension from the parts coupe to show how bad a strut can be bent without you being able to see it

[Markovich]

dont worry my stock stuts are the same way freaked me out at first but it normal we call it the s13 lean

peace

[~4N~]

It might be eneven camber.

[Eyemfaster]

my s13 coupe is doing the same thing, and i have pretty much the same rims om the front as you as far as size (18.8.5, +35) but the tires are 245/45/18.