280zdude

Hey guys, As I am relatively new to the sports car arena, are these cars supposed to feel like the body is sitting on the frame. The suspension on this car was "upgraded" before I got it and it steers really tight and holds the road great. But the general ride SUCKS!!

It is like there is no give what so ever in the suspension. If this is due to the upgraded suspension, what could I do to improve the ride quality. I am not looking for a Cadillac ride, just something that won't jar your teeth out of your head when you run over the reflectors on the highway.

NismoPick

It's kinda hard to have a really tight suspension, and a soft ride at the same time. For my 280zxt, I prefer a hard / tight suspension for control... and I don't use it as my daily driver.

There are Progressive Rate springs which help in that aspect... they become more stiff as more pressure is applied.

Bleach

How low is your car?
The factory springs, when cut, will act like a jarring ride. Aftermarket lowering springs firm up the suspension but still allow some travel. Does your car squat in the rear when you accelerate hard from a stop?

Most of what you are feeling is probably from the springs but could also be from some really firm shocks/struts installed.

280zdude

What sort of ride/suspension did these have stock? Also, is the firmness of the ride 100% based on the springs or do the struts/shocks have much to do with it?

280zdude

Ooops! I posted that last message about the same time you did bleach. Sorry. Anyway, it squats a little, not very much though. What sort of shock/strut or spring might be a little less agressive?

Bleach

The Tokico "Advanced Handling Kit" is more firm but still comfortable and squats in the rear a bit.

I have that kit and I personally think its a little soft in the back. Just right up front. I have MSA sway bars and new bushings with end links on. Those only affect the roll of the car around corners.

IF you have really stiff shocks then the car will ride hard and vibrate over rough ground but still squat a lot when you brake or accelerate. Firm springs will ride rough all the time and not squat so much at all. Really firm shocks are hard to find and expensive. It is most likely your springs.

I cut my springs at first and the car rode horrible. Really rough and bouncy. It vibrated and rattled the car all the time. No squat at all though! My car was really low too. The Tokicos raised the car a good inch from where the cut springs were set at.

Also, don't go with really thin tire height if you don't like all the little vibrations. 15 or 16" wheel size should do. 17 or 18 in wheels will give a more harsh ride.

280zdude

I think I saw that brand Tokico on the springs in the front. So maybe that is it. I have the 15" wheels and the tires aren't what I would call "thin" for this car. You mentioned the height of the car. What is the stock height and where is it measured to and from.

If I wanted a softer ride and decided to try replacing the springs to get that, do you have a recommendation? New OE would be great but somehow I doubt that is available...maybe an aftermarket???

Bleach

I can't answer the question on stock height but you can compare side views of my car.

This is with cut springs. The rear tire size is factory correct. The front tire is slightly smaller diameter than stock.


This shows the rear with the Tokico kit installed. The front is still on cut springs

280zdude

Mine looks like the bottom picture in the rear, all the way around. So are you saying that your the bottom picture shows yours with stock suspension?

Bleach

Lower picture: front is on cut Nissan springs, rear is uncut Tokico springs and Tokico shocks

280zdude

OK. Well that's about right then because I am pretty sure they used Tokico springs all the way around.

Looking at your signature, the ride height of your 1970 looks more like what I am looking for. Is that a stock height and suspension? This car is a daily driver and I just don't think it is going to hold together very well with all of this jarring, besides the fact that it rides like a goat wagon.

Bleach

yes the 1970 is stock. You need some factory springs. I think you can re-use your strut inserts and shocks.

Too bad I cut mine up though... wrecking yard would be the cheapest.

280zdude

Great! Thanks. BTW, how does the ride of your 70 compare to your 83?

SpeciallySpiked

I would say the stock ride on my ZX is a little squishy but in all honesty, it's really not that bad for a DD. It feels a little loose to me since I need to replace bushings all around but it holds in the corners ok

Bleach

I have never driven the 1970 Z