Suspension Suggestions Needed

[Mlogue84]

As you can see in my signature, I need to give my Z a little lovin' suspension wise. I will be the first to admit that I'm a noob when it comes to suspension. I need some solid advice, because I don't want to put garbage on my baby. I want the best suspension possible without going full race. Who knows best other than my fellow nissan lovers.... So here we go.

It is a 04' "Enthusiast Package".

Who's got the answer?

[slider2828]

Tein.... Good ride, good suspension, good quality, not harsh, feels good slightly better than stock. If you wanna go more track towards track, then Stance, KTS, has always been it.

[sleepy_s13]

^^^he said he doesnt want garbage...........

[PoorMans180SX]

Custom Koni 8611 setup with shortened housings *cough*veilside180sx*cough* (actually, you'll have to see if he can make ones for your Z) and a ground control sleeved setup with pillow ball upper mounts (any brand). Should cost around $2500?

Or, you can purchase Topline Aragosta coilovers (Made by the highly-regarded AST) from SPL. They have all the same characteristics as normal coilovers, just with a really high-quality damper to go with. They're $2699 standard, and an extra $200 will get you custom-valved dampers to whatever spring rate you specify (with a damper dyno sheet included).

Either of these setups will give you both a good ride (far better than any other off-the-shelf coilover) and great handling.

[SlideWell]

Silk Road...if you can get a set, or if they make em for the Z, they do for the g35, so. DG-5 is supposed to be impressive as well, but i have no experience with them yet.

[Mlogue84]

So far I like the Koni Idea.... Hmmm time to research that.

[PoorMans180SX]

Search "is ground control suspension worth it" on here. There is a very good thread with some great posts by Wissass and AceInHole, two people highly respected for their suspension knowledge (and where I learned most of mine).

[spool_sample]

Custom Koni 8611 setup with shortened housings *cough*veilside180sx*cough* (actually, you'll have to see if he can make ones for your Z) and a ground control sleeved setup with pillow ball upper mounts (any brand). Should cost around $2500?

Or, you can purchase Topline Aragosta coilovers (Made by the highly-regarded AST) from SPL. They have all the same characteristics as normal coilovers, just with a really high-quality damper to go with. They're $2699 standard, and an extra $200 will get you custom-valved dampers to whatever spring rate you specify (with a damper dyno sheet included).

Veilside's Konis are top-notch quality and most likely the best bolt-on solution for S-chassis and B-chassis cars... I'm not sure if he has made any Z33 apps yet, but I have no doubt that he could. Since the OP is a newb to suspension, I would suggest going with 8610 inserts instead, as those are single-adjustable... double-adjustable 8611 dampers will be too intimidating, and will cost more.

Just as a side note: the Toplines use Aragosta shocks as they are their own company: http://www.aragosta-suspension.com/. Topline just manufactures the mounts and hardware and puts it all together, AFAIK.

Regardless, the Konis offer tons of functionality for less money, and they are well-proven and well-supported in the States. With the Toplines, pretty much everything is an unknown at this point because no one has coughed up the dollars for a set except for Koopa Troopa.

[Wiisass]

There's no reason to go with 8611's on a Z. A Z does not have struts, so why use a twin tube strut insert on a car that can run a shock. Everyone should know that I'm not against the 8611 on the front of an S-chassis, but anywhere else there are better options. I'm not even a big fan of them on the rear of a s-chassis, but there aren't many double adjustable twin tube dampers that you can easily make work back there.

For the Z, I'm sure there are some koni options available. I'm not sure what you should do with the rear springs though. I don't know if I would trust the shock mount with the spring load without reinforcing the area, so that cuts out spring sleeves or threaded body dampers in the rear without some extra work. But I also don't know the car that well and it might be fine, but it also might be putting too much load in an area not designed for it.

But there should be bilstein and koni off the shelf options and then look at what you want to do with springs. Does someone make new spring perches in the rear so you can use an easier available spring, such as a 2.5"ID coilover spring or even 5" springs or something else readily available.

Tim

[!Zar!]

What do you mean by full race?

Because anything aside from an oem style setup that involves coilovers will be stiff.

[Mlogue84]

spool sample: I won't be installing these, so bring on the complexity, i want the best.

Wiisass: Have you heard anything about the TC Kline Racing suspension, I know they do amazing things for BMW.

Zar: I'm not talking about a moton suspension setup, i need something that can be used like 80% track 20% street.

[Wiisass]

I don't have any experience with the TC Kline stuff. But I hear that PJ (AceinHole) has them on his G35, so he'll probably chime in tomorrow.

[veilside180sx]

The TC Klines are good, but they are discontinued. If you can get a set at the disco price they are a steal for DA.

I'd actually use something like a 3011 or similar rather than the 8611 setup since you do not need the side loading capability of the 86** strut inserts.

[yokotas13]

Veilside's Konis are top-notch quality and most likely the best bolt-on solution for S-chassis and B-chassis cars... I'm not sure if he has made any Z33 apps yet, but I have no doubt that he could. Since the OP is a newb to suspension, I would suggest going with 8610 inserts instead, as those are single-adjustable... double-adjustable 8611 dampers will be too intimidating, and will cost more.

Just as a side note: the Toplines use Aragosta shocks as they are their own company: http://www.aragosta-suspension.com/. Topline just manufactures the mounts and hardware and puts it all together, AFAIK.

Regardless, the Konis offer tons of functionality for less money, and they are well-proven and well-supported in the States. With the Toplines, pretty much everything is an unknown at this point because no one has coughed up the dollars for a set except for Koopa Troopa.
Nah, i know alot of highly comptetitive Grip drivers in japan, that own, and work at shops such as ESSENTIAL, and they all praise aragosta, and have the trophies and plaques on teh wall to prove it

[drift freaq]

Koni indeed sells products for the 350z off the shelf. In fact I even found info about them making a coilover setup for the 350z but nothing beyond that.

Bilstein is already selling a coilover setup for the 350z.

P.S. Aragosta's are not to be sneezed at either.

[veilside180sx]

In addition True Choice sells a full line of Z stuff, but you'll pay for it=)

[PoorMans180SX]

Well, clearly I didn't have all my facts straight in relation to the Z33's suspension. And I guess I was fed bogus information on the origins of Aragosta's dampers.

+1 for you guys.

But, just listen to these guys^^^Like I said.

[AceInHole]

Ohlins has a few bolt on apps for the Z. I almost sold my TCK's to get them but would've had to mod the shock mounts to use stock springs (keeping my car classed in stock as a backup car).

I thought Bilstein had a PSS9 setup for the Z as well.

After that, I'd find out if TC Kline Konis are still available. Contact them and see if they have anything left, and make sure to ask about the discounted price.

[veilside180sx]

http://www.tcklineracing.com/nonbmw.htm