Z32 rear uprights on S14. Will sphericals help my problem??
 

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...tos00000-1.jpg

I was about to change the diff fluid from my 2way when I noticed the rear z32 uprights were hitting the rear struts.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...hotos00001.jpg

On the drivers side the strut was actually resting on the upright!!!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...hotos00034.jpg

Another problem I have^^^

So does anybody have spherical bushings for the z32 shock mount on their S14? Did it correct this problem?

I still have my old stock uprights laying around but I would rather not have to go through the hassle of swapping everything and getting new rear mounts.

Either way I have to do something soon.... Im afraid I am going to break something


I WILL BE REMOVING MY Z32 UPRIGHTS AND REPLACING THEM WITH THE STOCK UPRIGHTS DUE TO THE BINDING ISSUES. TO ANYONE THINKING OF INSTALLING Z32 UPRIGHTS ON THEIR S14 I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE SHOCK MOUNT CUT AND WELDED CORRECTLY.

I have the same problem and I have sphericals as well. Mine doesn't seem to bind so much, but I was thinking about grinding down the knuckle a little bit to give it a bit of clearance.

You have SPL sphericals? What coilovers do you have? Did you have the upright removed or were you able to install the bushings with the uprights on the car?

I really do not want to have to remove the uprights.

Would you be able to take a pic? I want to see how much clearance you have as well as the angle.

Thanks for the reply

i can't imagine it would change anything since the relationship between the shock mount and the upright won't change. one thing i would look at is the clearance when the car is on the ground. i have the same setup with KTS coils and i don't think mine hit, but i'll have to check. i was considering the SPL sphericals too.

The car is on the ground in those pics.

It looks like my only option is to trim the upright with a dremel.

Other people with this setup should double check to be sure they do not have the same problem.

I still plan on purchasing sphericals as soon as I get money... if anybody knows of anything cheaper than SPL please let me know.

Other than SPL, the only choice is custom. Def was gonna make some, but he never got that project off the ground really.

mmbd got some custom made by some shop at Inifeon.

I made quite a few sets. There just wasn't enough interest to really justify making another batch from a sales perspective(versus "I'm interested" talk).

Having to keep a huge batch on the shelf for months and months at a time really raises the carrying cost.


If there really is a lot of interest in the Z32 shock mount bearing I can get a machine shop I'm talking with to make a run of them.

got any left?

i'm up for a set, you know i'm good for it. i'm willing to prepay if necessary.

I got mine made at a shop called "Performance Shock". I'm not sure on the dimensions of your fork, and I can only assume it's based off the OEM bushing which will probably will bind if you switch over to a spherical type. I can take a picture later tomorrow night if you're interested. Mine's binding a lil' so I'll grind down the knuckle a bit.

stupid question but is this only a s14 problem with the z32 hubs? i have them on my s13 with stance coils and z32 mounts and dont have nearly the same amount of binding angle with stock bushings. i plan on running z32 uprights on my s14 as well, just curious.

I actually just noticed I have the same problem. I've been meaning to grind away a few milimeters in the next few days.

s13 shares a lot with the z32. the s14 has a slightly different setup so it's the only one with the problem.

I just figured its due to the extra 6" in shock length. I think notching the upright a bit should solve the problem on S14's. IIRC the Z32/S13 shocks are the same length.

My rear suspension looks exactly like whats in the picture, Z32 uprights, KTS coils, and SPL arms.

I wonder if this would occur if one were to swap an s14 or s15 subframe in on an s13?

It has nothing to do with the subframe.

How much did that set you back? I am interested in purchasing a pair if the price is right....maybe from Def if he has any left.
Also did you have to get them pressed in? Or were you able to do it with the uprights still on the car?


Looking at SPLs pic of their sphericals it looks like it might be cutting it close... if the angle is too much it might bind on itself.:-/


I tried trimming the uprights slightly and it is a BITCH.... I will have to get a better bit and try again later


And as stated earlier s13's do not have this problem because the angle is different for the coilover/strut

From Performance Shock I paid ~$60 in parts... labor is another question. They're not cheap fyi. I had them professionally pressed in while the spindle was removed from the car. Might be hell to do it while the spindle is on the car.

While you're doing that you might want to pick up DEF's spherical kit and install them for the other bushings in there and run full spherical. He uses Aurora bearings and installation was straight forward and fitment was spot on.

I'm in for a set if anyone makes them. You guys know I'm good for it.

I still have a KA oil block for you waiting... ;)
jk


we were/are going to make these but something
always seems to come up
and, as has been mentioned, they wouldn't be cheap
and knowing 240 owners I doubt it'd be worth the effort

None left.

I'll contact a machine shop I've got a relationship with to see if they can make some more.

The pricing was much more competitive than SPL's offerings, and I use top quality Aurora bearings.

Damn, looks like SPL's bushings were $300/pair! I know they're made by Border, but man . . .

it looks like it's bending due to the load on the rubber bushings.

if you get solid spherical bushings with the hole for the bolt drilled perfectly straight, it will allow the shock to sit at the perfect angle it is intended to. but judging form the picture, won't it force the lower shock body/fork to rub on the axles/cv boots instead?

now i am just wondering what the OP is too as stated in the thread title. "Will spheicals help my problem??"

Im bringing this thread back to see if anyone went through with installing the z32 shock mount sphericals on their s14. I'd really like to see pics if possible.

Personally seen the ones installed in Arnie's car (cheeky14)
they helped a great deal with articulation but due to the length of the s14 rear shock and geometry
there was still some contact
he ended up grinding a part of the shock mount for better clearance

PM him to see if he's got pics

I am planning on having my friend who can TIG extremely well modify my rear uprights so I the angle on the shock mount is corrected and the angle of the toe arm is parallel with the LCA - which has been modified to correct the roll center.

I would be interested in a pair of shock mount sphericals though....I am not sure what they run, but I know it would be MUCH better then the OEM bushings - and I have brand new ones of those sitting in a box in my closet, haha.

I was just thinking about this...lol. I hope your buddy has a big machine...that knuckle is gonna soak up a bunch of heat.

I was actually thinking of doing this if
we don't end up making our own

They were $180 shipped but they're gone.
But it seems that SPL lowered their prices on theirs now. :mepoke:

is it even worth replacing the knuckle with a z32 upright now because of this issue?

I'm personally going back to stock uprights so I can run KW V3's. More than worth it IMO.