SportBikeMike

So I had Tockiko struts and springs installed on my 240Z. My understanding was they were supposed to lower the car 1" all around. But it looks to me like the rear was dropped significantly and the front wasn't lowered at all. Does this make any sense? Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon?

The car does handle and ride better...but I'll have to say I'm a lil disappointed with the looks. I was hoping it would be lowered the same all around.

Heres a pic:


Shot with LSI_S5K4AAFA at 2007-07-07

NismoPick

Where'd you get the springs? There's lots of knock offs on ebay. Also, each install will be different depending on the car. If the current shocks / springs are sagging or lost their "spring," the new ones could actually raise the ride height.

SportBikeMike

I bought them off Ebay but they are the actual Tokicos because it came with all the documentation, warranty info., etc. Is there anyway to get that front end lowered? (w/o spending a fortune) Not that the car has to be exactly level...but at least a lil closer to level....

Goofyz

the thing that holds the car up is springs the things that keep them from bouncing uncontrollably are shocks or struts. Cut the springs.

I hate to ask though cause, it looks like the back springs are on the front and the front springs are on the back, are you sure you reassembled johnny5 correctly?

SportBikeMike

I didn't do the installation. But thats what I suspected! I realize the car might not be completely level.....but there shouldn't be this much difference IMO....

SportBikeMike

I have another question.....anyone familiar with Tokico knows the struts are blue (& springs red). Well, I was looking under the car and I found the red springs....but no sign of the blue struts. Should they be visible? Or are they encased in the original strut structure? Seems to me the should be at least partially visible...but surely they actually installed them....

NismoPick

The fronts are cartridge inserts. They drop inside the stock strut housing so you can't see them. The entire rear assembly is replaced tho, so you should be able to see "dem shiny new parts" on the rear.

SportBikeMike

Something still ain't right. They had to get the springs reversed or something.
I'm not real happy....nothing like spending a bunch of money to have your car look WORSE. They need to fix this....

zstreet86

you should have installed them yourself, it just would have taken a little elbow grease .... call them up and see what they tell you. by the way the front and back shouldnt be exactly the same height i dont think

SportBikeMike

I realize the front and back won't be exactly the same height but should there be that much difference? Looks like the car is preparing for lift off....

zstreet86

lol the front does look a little high

260zturbo

spring rates should be different between front and rear. so it could be very possible they are backwards

SportBikeMike

Thats what I'm thinking too...

and Zstreet, you're right, if you want anything done right, do it yourself.

zstreet86

man i learned that lesson many times over... no one touches my car now but me, my dad or one of his mechanics while im right there helping.

theres nothing like the satisfaction of knowing its done right the first time. it absolutely drives me insane knowing something is not done right to my car!

SportBikeMike

Well I'm 99.99999% sure they have the springs on backwards. I saw a thread on ClassicZCar.com where a guy had springs put on his 240Z and it looked EXACTLY like mine. Turns out the manufacturer had mistakenly labeled the springs. Hopefully the mechanic will correct this situation...

snwbrderphat540

lol.... yeah im thinking reversed. HAHA.... and the rear's will sit higher than the fronts actually. if you look at the ride height drop difference the rear is usually less of a drop from the front.

SportBikeMike

Yeah I can see the rear sitting a lil higher....but the front sitting higher is just plain goofy...I can't believe they didn't notice how odd this looked, and thought they did the job right. It'll be interesting to see whether they try to charge me for the additional work....

snwbrderphat540

sue em...... sue the crap outta them. go total the car and say its from them doing improper work and become a millionair.

SportBikeMike

Lol...that's tempting....but I don't want to crash her. I just couldn't do it man!

NismoPick

Why not just take them out and compare???

SportBikeMike

Easier said than done for an accountant lol....

Its gotta be reversed springs though....that Z on the other site w/ the reversed springs looked identical to mine. What else could it be?

snwbrderphat540

your mom.... jk. ummm, yeah an accountant huh, no wonder you have fun toys for being not old. lol. im good with numbers, but i hate them. unless its trig. but i do like $

SportBikeMike

Well the saga continues....took the car back to the shop and now they're saying its the wrong rear springs. Well I got the numbers off the springs and called Tokico and it turns out its the right springs! So now what.....

snwbrderphat540

nooo.... those are totally reversed, tell tehm they are wrong, ask them to reverse them and see what happens.

SportBikeMike

I think so too snw. The mechanic said the springs which are more tightly wound at the top are for the rear( although they're coded as for the front)...I disagree, I think they should at the front where there is more weight. He also don't think the rear springs are right because they're a good 3-4" longer than stock. The guy at Tokico said they're supposed to be this way.

geez, all I want is some damn springs put on my car. How hard is it?????