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View Full Version : Drag Suspension question?


BadazzSr20
07-12-2013, 11:55 PM
hey guys,

this is mainly for drag racers not really for difting. i just wanted to know i heard the stock suspension is best for drag racing times. but as we all know the suspension is old and my bushing are all worn pretty bad.

i already change the rear sub-frame bushing. i was thinking about get all new rear suspension to help my launching at the track. im getting alot of wheel hope in 2nd gear and i need to try to get this car to hook hard. i have a 300z diff and 95 j-30 axles cause there thicker. so everything else on the car is stock suspension.

if i was to buy all new lower a-arms,traction rod, toe arm and everything else i need back there will this help me or will this hurt my launching, the only reason i can see why this will hurt me cause it all new and there not worn out so there wont be as much give as there is on a stock old bushing. with stock old bushing when u hit it the car will weight transfer really nice cause of all the old worn bushings. if i was to upgrade to all new parts in the rear will this hurt me with my weight transferring?

thanks very much for any info that u can provide.

snafupossum
07-13-2013, 12:02 AM
what tire size and psi are you running? side walls and mid 20psi are generally your friends at the track to help that.

jr_ss
07-13-2013, 09:57 AM
This belongs in this thread...

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/269702-drag-zilvians-chime.html

But to answer your question; new bushings would be your best bet. Unless you plan on replacing with all new factory components. If you have no intentions of lowering the car, there is no reason to waste money on adjustable arms. You could purchase spherical bearings to be pressed into the knuckles which would take away a lot of slop on that end of the arm.

Anything is better than what you have now. You're seeing a lot of deflecting in the rearend components right now which is hurting you.

BadazzSr20
07-13-2013, 10:19 AM
This belongs in this thread...

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/269702-drag-zilvians-chime.html

But to answer your question; new bushings would be your best bet. Unless you plan on replacing with all new factory components. If you have no intentions of lowering the car, there is no reason to waste money on adjustable arms. You could purchase spherical bearings to be pressed into the knuckles which would take away a lot of slop on that end of the arm.

Anything is better than what you have now. You're seeing a lot of deflecting in the rearend components right now which is hurting you.

this is what i thought i just was thinking instead of replaces all the bushing that it would be easier/cheaper to just buy all new aftermarket stuff. by the time im done paying a shop to replace all the bushing in the oem parts ill be in for a lot of money. if i replace all the oem parts with aftermarket i will get all solid bushings.

if i was to buy them and use them will that hurt me cause im thinking with the solid bushing u get in the aftermarket parts there wont be much give that will hurt me as well i was hoping someone that uses after market stuff will chime in.

slow92
07-13-2013, 02:24 PM
Just buy a energy suspension master bushing kit. You can do all of the work yourself. All you will need to do is burn out all of the old bushings and use a hacksaw to remove the inner sleeves. I installed this kit in a couple of weekends (I cleaned every arm and repainted them this is why it took so long).

BadazzSr20
07-13-2013, 10:27 PM
Just buy a energy suspension master bushing kit. You can do all of the work yourself. All you will need to do is burn out all of the old bushings and use a hacksaw to remove the inner sleeves. I installed this kit in a couple of weekends (I cleaned every arm and repainted them this is why it took so long).

thats what im not trying to do i dont want to rip part the car to change out bushings. i work to damn much to be out the only day off i got. isnt it the same if i just buy new a-arms traction rod? and everything else that easyer for me to change out just as long as its not going to hurt me more then help?

SuperBlackS14
07-13-2013, 11:03 PM
Here are your choices...

1) Stay stock. Deal with it. It's beat, but at least it's free

2) Energy Suspension, labor intensive (took me weeks - plural - to do in the dead of winter...) but it's a good balance for NVH and Keeping your arms in spec

3)Sphericals... They cost money, require periodic maintenance, and you're going to pay more for good ones, and you probably don't need that much adjustability, but you replace all your bushings...

My vote is with the ES Kit. You can dew eeet! In all seriousness. It does what it's supposed to. It's more cost effective than replacing the arms, but only you know what's best for you car. If you want the fully adjustable arms, go for it. The ES kit is cheaper and better for dailying IMO. But then again, never driven all sphericals, just know that Poly is about my limit for NVH on a daily.

Also, just to keep it real, the ES kit was the second mod I did. I didn't know much and a lot I had to figure out myself. Luckily there's a search feature here, and a lot of info available for them. On top of that, Project Car Magazine (now Defunct apparently) did a whole writeup on how to install them (S13). My copy is so frayed I can't even tell you what Volume it was. Just that it was around probably February of 2009. I also asked a shop for labor quote on it. 10 hours... I decided to do it myself. Probably cost me nearly as much because I had no tools, but I learned so much about my car and wrenching, I can say now it was worth it.