240sx suspension mods.

[ADiamond240sx]

Ok guys, here’s the deal. I just did a few of upgrades to the suspension on my 95 se and, don't get me wrong it handles great, but (1) now it feels like it wants to slide at lower speeds instead of how it just tried to roll over before. (2) It felt safer at higher speeds to corner before; I think it may be my ride height. (3) I also went to wider tires on stock rims (225/50r16) and the front tires ride about ½ inch from the coilovers in one place, should I be worried about rubbin during hard turns? (4) What is a good height to maintain ride for Houston roads (ugh, they suck so bad). (5) Height adjustment and spring compression on coilovers, what is best way to determine where to set them. Taking suggestions.

Here is a list of mods I have done:

Kazama Tie rod ends
Kazama subframe collars
Kazama tension rods
Megan Racing Coilovers

BTW – here is a site to get Kazama parts inexpensive if anyone is interested
http://www.superiornissanmotorsports.com/
And this guy matches prices if you call and talk to him about Web price match.
http://www.optionimports.com/

[NismoFreakS14]

You more than likely have the shocks cranked up, soften them up in the rear and you shouldn't have any problems.

Also you need to get an alignment.

[Vincent_VII]

And have the alignment shop give you some toe out in the rear.

[NismoFreakS14]

And have the alignment shop give you some toe out in the rear.

Uh no... you're an idiot.

[ADiamond240sx]

You more than likely have the shocks cranked up, soften them up in the rear and you shouldn't have any problems.

Also you need to get an alignment.

Already got the alignment - Firestone will regret that lifetime aligment they sold me :D I lowerd the hard/soft to pretty damn soft on the rear, still seems like it doesn't have alot of travle when compressing into corners, breaks free at around 45mph on 90 degree turns. What is stock ride height supposed to be? And what would be resonable drop.

[NismoFreakS14]

Already got the alignment - Firestone will regret that lifetime aligment they sold me :D I lowerd the hard/soft to pretty damn soft on the rear, still seems like it doesn't have alot of travle when compressing into corners, breaks free at around 45mph on 90 degree turns. What is stock ride height supposed to be? And what would be resonable drop.

Increase your rear camber angle by about half a degree negative.

[ADiamond240sx]

Increase your rear camber angle by about half a degree negative.


Thanx, I'll try it, should I go with a lower than stock ride height or remain the same?

[David NA->FI]

Ummm increase toe in so that you get more traction in the rear and also camber should be set slightly negative depending on the rims you run and the contact patch. Toe out is unstable in the rear. Not sure on the stock settings but just find someone at an alignment shop that is bored and take up all his time driving around bends and letting him tweak it until you're satisfied. LOL free lifetime alignment.

[ADiamond240sx]

. Not sure on the stock settings but just find someone at an alignment shop that is bored and take up all his time driving around bends and letting him tweak it until you're satisfied. LOL free lifetime alignment.

I'm in there about once a week, all the alignment techs no me by my first name. :thumb: I'll try that, see what they say.

[NismoFreakS14]

Ummm increase toe in so that you get more traction in the rear and also camber should be set slightly negative depending on the rims you run and the contact patch. Toe out is unstable in the rear. Not sure on the stock settings but just find someone at an alignment shop that is bored and take up all his time driving around bends and letting him tweak it until you're satisfied. LOL free lifetime alignment.

Toe in does not create more traction, it creates stability under acceleration.

His camber should be around -1.5 deg. or so front to rear for a typical street tire. He could run more but thats up to him.

[ADiamond240sx]

Toe in does not create more traction, it creates stability under acceleration.

His camber should be around -1.5 deg. or so front to rear for a typical street tire. He could run more but thats up to him.

I'm basically trying to get it to not break free when in hard turns, negative camber is when the wheels leane in right? If I drop the rear about 1 inch it will atomatically create negative camber I think. Would this be a good solution? Don't need more stablilty at high speed, drives just fine at 120.

[NismoFreakS14]

I'm basically trying to get it to not break free when in hard turns, negative camber is when the wheels leane in right? If I drop the rear about 1 inch it will atomatically create negative camber I think. Would this be a good solution? Don't need more stablilty at high speed, drives just fine at 120.

Lowering the rear will cause the car to oversteer more.

You need to increase negative camber by turning the eccentric bolts in the rear upper control arms. They will need to reset toe when they do this as well.

[ADiamond240sx]

Lowering the rear will cause the car to oversteer more.

You need to increase negative camber by turning the eccentric bolts in the rear upper control arms. They will need to reset toe when they do this as well.

Never really understood the oversteer, understeer thing, can you explain it to me. I might need so oversteer, when I take really sharp corners it feels like its not turning sharp enough, then breaking free REALLY quick into a fish - right about the time I would generally gun it out of the turn (about 3/4 of the way into the turn). Nothing I can't handle, just a pain in the ass.

[NismoFreakS14]

Never really understood the oversteer, understeer thing, can you explain it to me. I might need so oversteer, when I take really sharp corners it feels like its not turning sharp enough, then breaking free REALLY quick into a fish - right about the time I would generally gun it out of the turn (about 3/4 of the way into the turn). Nothing I can't handle, just a pain in the ass.

Oversteer is when the car is "drifting", understeer is when the car is not turning in.

Basically understeer = front tires slipping / oversteer = rear tires slipping

It's hard to say what your problem is, it could be driver input related, or tire related, or an individual suspension part is miscalibrated.

Try the camber and see if it helps.

[ADiamond240sx]

Oversteer is when the car is "drifting", understeer is when the car is not turning in.

Basically understeer = front tires slipping / oversteer = rear tires slipping

It's hard to say what your problem is, it could be driver input related, or tire related, or an individual suspension part is miscalibrated.

Try the camber and see if it helps.

ok, now that that is cleared up, here is a clear description, it understeers for a short while and then breaks into a sharp oversteer. sliding and not turning, then drivingsideways. It's like it is just waiting to turn, then bursts into massive oversteer. Tires are new, and they don't role over at all, very stiff tires and hold pretty damn good at high speed. I'll play with it one afternoon when I have some time and figure it out. It'll have to wait until next week, I get to drive to austin and test it out durring a long trip. should be fun.

[NismoFreakS14]

Smooth out your steering input, what you are doing is overwealming the fronts to the point that they bite and the sudden turn-in is causing oversteer. Try raising the tire pressure in the front about 2 psi. Then if it still does it turn the front shocks down a notch or two.

[rage]

id recommend running -2 camber in front -1.5 in rear.

[ADiamond240sx]

id recommend running -2 camber in front -1.5 in rear.

-2 up front for everyday driver, wont I bald the shit out of the tires really quick? Also don't think I have wheel clearance for this, after the coilovers were put on the alligment was off a bit (-2.5 on right and -1.9 on left) the right tire was about an 1/8 of an inch from the coilover and the left ws almost 1/4 from it, set at factor specs the wheels sit right at 3/8-1/2 from coilovers. I'm afraid of chewing up the tires on the coilovers.

[ADiamond240sx]

Smooth out your steering input, what you are doing is overwealming the fronts to the point that they bite and the sudden turn-in is causing oversteer. Try raising the tire pressure in the front about 2 psi. Then if it still does it turn the front shocks down a notch or two.

Thanks for this tip man, tried it out and got a nice smooth drift through a u-turn.

[rage]

-2 up front for everyday driver, wont I bald the shit out of the tires really quick? Also don't think I have wheel clearance for this, after the coilovers were put on the alligment was off a bit (-2.5 on right and -1.9 on left) the right tire was about an 1/8 of an inch from the coilover and the left ws almost 1/4 from it, set at factor specs the wheels sit right at 3/8-1/2 from coilovers. I'm afraid of chewing up the tires on the coilovers.
no, it wont make the tires wear anymore than usual. you just answered your own question reguarding if theres enough clearance.

[ADiamond240sx]

no, it wont make the tires wear anymore than usual. you just answered your own question reguarding if theres enough clearance.

So with 1/8 to 1/4 inch clearance between tire and coilover there is no chance of tire flex in hard turns and tire rubbin?

[Vincent_VII]

Uh no... you're an idiot.

I don't appreciate being called an idiot, prick.

[al]

So with 1/8 to 1/4 inch clearance between tire and coilover there is no chance of tire flex in hard turns and tire rubbin?

You are cutting it kinda close with the 1/8" clearance

[Vincent_VII]

Ummm increase toe in so that you get more traction in the rear and also camber should be set slightly negative depending on the rims you run and the contact patch. Toe out is unstable in the rear.

Sorry, this is what I meant. I get the two mixed up all the time.

[ADiamond240sx]

You are cutting it kinda close with the 1/8" clearance

Yeah, thats what I thought. I've been watching it real close.

[ADiamond240sx]

OK, so now I've got the camber set up right and the car handles right at high speed and grips like crazy into corners, must I get alot of body role, what can I add to reduce this?

[al]

You can pick a set of aftermarket anti-sway bars. You don't need high spring rates to reduce roll.

http://www.splparts.com/Parts/S14/Suspension/Stabilizers/default.asp

[ADiamond240sx]

You can pick a set of aftermarket anti-sway bars. You don't need high spring rates to reduce roll.

http://www.splparts.com/Parts/S14/Suspension/Stabilizers/default.asp

<----Looks in wallet :bawling: Dammit, I was hoping the something would be around $50-$100. This car is sucking the life outta me! Hey Al, got any slightly scratched ones over there that are 50% off? j/k. Looks like I'll have to start saving money again. Still recovering from the brakes I ordered, and haven't even gotten yet!

[rage]

modifying your car the right way isnt cheap. at all.

[ADiamond240sx]

modifying your car the right way isnt cheap. at all.

yeah, I'm starting to figure this one out.

[SomeOne49]

Few questions what are you camber toe caster settings i am just trying to get a better idea of how to set my car up. also any one had any experence with Suspension Techniques Sway bars... ???

[al]

Few questions what are you camber toe caster settings i am just trying to get a better idea of how to set my car up. also any one had any experence with Suspension Techniques Sway bars... ???

Hey man, your S13 looks clean from what I can see in your avatar :thumb:

You might want to ask NismoFreakS14 about the Suspension Techniques. I personally went with Whiteline and they kick ass.

[NismoFreakS14]

Few questions what are you camber toe caster settings i am just trying to get a better idea of how to set my car up. also any one had any experence with Suspension Techniques Sway bars... ???

Get whiteline, they are adjustable. You can order them from www.splparts.com they have them in stock 90% of the time and it's 1 day shipping to Houston.

A good street alignment is:

Front:
Caster - 8 degs.
Camber - 1.5 to 2 degrees (stiffer the spring the more static negative camber you need)
Toe - set to zero

Rear:
Camber - 1.5 degrees
Toe - set to zero
Bumpsteer - Elongate the front arm about 5mm and this will help to reduce the amount of BSteer.

[SomeOne49]

Hey man, your S13 looks clean from what I can see in your avatar :thumb:

You might want to ask NismoFreakS14 about the Suspension Techniques. I personally went with Whiteline and they kick ass.


Thanks ;-)

[scr3w]

I have a 1989 240sx I just bought. I've swapped in a new engine and during the process noticed one of the tie rods were bent. I was wondering what is the difficulty in putting in some new ones. Im on a budget since I bought the car for only $450. I see some tie rods by McQuay-Norris on http://www.suspension.com/nissancars.htm and some at autozone. Wondering if they are good. I've seen tein tie rods for $76. Any one have any experiance with these? What else should I change while im in the process?

[NismoFreakS14]

It's not hard.

You need inners and outters if you have a bent tie rod.

You will need an alignment within about 2 days if you want your tires to live. Toe destroys tires very very quickly.

[Agent S14]

Hey man, your S13 looks clean from what I can see in your avatar :thumb:


Its awesome especially in person,his interior is in mint comdition, i raced him in HRP a while back :eek3dance

[SomeOne49]

I have a 1989 240sx I just bought. I've swapped in a new engine and during the process noticed one of the tie rods were bent. I was wondering what is the difficulty in putting in some new ones. Im on a budget since I bought the car for only $450. I see some tie rods by McQuay-Norris on http://www.suspension.com/nissancars.htm and some at autozone. Wondering if they are good. I've seen tein tie rods for $76. Any one have any experiance with these? What else should I change while im in the process?
The Tein tie rods are awsome just if you are running big tires in the front you might need to mod you wheel well i know i did. Also thanks for the advice and complments i put my front whiteline sway in yesterday and the rear this morning kick ass. Thanks guys

[rage]

I have a 1989 240sx I just bought. I've swapped in a new engine and during the process noticed one of the tie rods were bent. I was wondering what is the difficulty in putting in some new ones. Im on a budget since I bought the car for only $450. I see some tie rods by McQuay-Norris on http://www.suspension.com/nissancars.htm and some at autozone. Wondering if they are good. I've seen tein tie rods for $76. Any one have any experiance with these? What else should I change while im in the process?
new tie rods are easy, but yes, get inner and outer. tein are $$ you can get the inner and outer for like $30 at the local autoparts store. the only reason tein would be good is if you really needed the extra steering angle it provided (ie: drifting)

[al]

Its awesome especially in person,his interior is in mint comdition, i raced him in HRP a while back :eek3dance

Is it for sale, SomeOne49?