You could do what I did a short while ago on my '82. And get the Gabriel's for the front and rear. I am sure your stock springs are still good. They are pretty tough. You just need some new shocks, and struts for now. I replaced mine with the cheaper stuff. Mainly because I can't afford performance ones right now. Plus the fact I need to get an anti sway bar, and new bushings all around. I did replace the ball joints. Because one of mine was completely destroyed, from knuckleheads that owned this Z before. You could move the front wheel quite easily on one side. Like it was loose. lol

 

Ball joints are a safety issue. Get that fixed first regardless. If your bushings are shot everything is going to be sloppy and arguably a safety issue as well if it affects handling adversely. New bushings are way cheaper than shocks/springs.

 

Fric Frac did you go to the link on my post? $416 from stillen. Was it $250 before??

 

or ducky I mean

 

I'm planning on doing the Tockico package and the Energy suspension bushing kit which is like another $100. That is when I get the money. I replaced my ball joints about a year and a half ago.

 

I usually recomend getting them from John at Beta Motorsports. He's an enthusiest and helps out quite a bit AND has the lowest prices. I see that his price went up a fair amount and I'm not sure why. I'll check with him....

 

Subscribing to this... I'm in the same boat! I need to do my ball joints, and while I'm at it... bushings, struts and lowering springs sound pretty nice!

I actually have some orange Koni adjustables on the back of my car. I have no idea when they were installed or what their deal is. Does anybody remember Koni making a set for the S130?

 

This also looks like a worthwhile upgrade:

https://www.zdriver.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19834

And JeffP's thoughts:

http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/280zxt/page17.html

 

I hope so. My bushings are already on order with the machinest. JeffP's are stainless not aluminum as the zdrive thread indicates just FYI. Two reason's I'm going this way. First to take the flex out of the system. There is some serious deflection with higher horsepower cars. Second it moved the rear tire more towards the center - long time pet peave of mine with the S130....

 

you can call BS all you want, they're still shitty shocks.

Tokico lowering springs might as well be cut stockers.

I've seen countless occasions of guys not being happy with those shocks, and my friend had them in his 280ZX with lowering springs, and they rode like crap, I'll never get tokico's ever again.

Koni fo' lyfe.

 

The spring rate on the the Tokico springs are totaly different than stockers so there is no comparison between the two.

Countless occasions? How many is that in real life? They are the most popular shock out ther for the early Z cars.

Like I said if you are running them outside of their specs what do you expect?

 

Running them with matched lowering springs is out of their specs???

you do realize that when you cut springs, you change the spring rate, correct. so basically, you'd be better off to cut your springs than to buy Tokico springs, that's how much they suck.

go browse through Z31performance, most of them won't even run Tokico's, they'd rather get some cheap Gabriel's until they can afford something better!

countless early Z owners have them because they're ****ing retards that do whatever is cheapest at the time and don't care about the long term effects or how the quality of something is.

 

Wow. You just lumped a whole bunch of intelligent and inovative people into one crass statement. Ironic though how you are still using Tokico products on your car....

Hopefully people will do their research with more than just this thread on what to get for suspension mods...

 

It's kind of funny since tokico shocks were actually OEM on 280ZXs.

 

why do you guys argue with him, he's only going to tell you you're stupid and he knows everything.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, there aren't a lot of alternatives out there.

Any of you guys with lowering springs - how is the tire wear? Do we need bump steer spacers for the front, and/or anything for the back?

 

What Tokico **** am I running on my car

I didn't lump the intelligent and innovative people into that statement, those guys I have respect for because they usually get Konis or Bilsteins.

 

Oh I though you were the S130 suspension expert. Surely you know all about the OEM Tokico stuff on your car. Just FYI it's called irony... you're hating on Tokico and yet you're using it without even knowing it.... lol

 

the strut tubes? those are the only stock part of my car, and those were modified so they're hardly tokico anymore.

anyways, I only dislike (hate is such a ****ing played out word only ******* use) their springs and struts, don't bring all their hard parts that have no moving parts in them into play (FYI: it's a sad attempt at being cooler than someone when you change the subject of what was being discussed originally, you're not cool.)

 

Lol - you're always good for a laugh PurePontiacKid

 

I want to say it was $366 with free shipping. Don't know why it went up.

Geez... I miss a few days and the thread explodes! I still have the original black Tokicos on it. There are still factory paint pen marks on 'em that say something in Japanese. So, 147,000 miles on a set ain't too bad...

 

Oh...some info on ball joints would be great. I can't find any on Black Dragon that fit my car...

 

I got mine from Auto Zone, for my '82. And they are lifetime warranty. I think they were less than $20 a piece. And '79-'83 have the same ball joints. So you should have no problem finding a set for your Z. Good luck man.

 

IIRC I replace the NA ones with Moog ball joint. Get them from rockauto.com

 

Thanks for the tip FricFrac! I looked 'em up and found the Raybestos ones on that site. I'm think I like that design a little better. Good thing... I called my local mom & pop parts store (these people amaze me with the stuff they have access too) and they have them for the same price as rockauto.com.

Now for the question... Since this a one piece deal, do I still need a ball joint separator? Looks like 2 bolts and a nut to me, but I don't know... Never done 'em before.