Suspension Guidelines for Track/Street
 

Hey guys,

I am trying to make a clear and concise thread about everything you need for a solid and reasonable wheel/suspension set up that is track and street suitable. Here is what I THINK you need and what to consider.(I know there are some personal preferences with one thing over the other). Keep in mind I have little experience in this area and am mentioning what I heave read in many threads. I'd like to throw out a starting point to get some good suggestions to be posted for my own knowledge and to help others:

Coilovers - KW V3 seems to be the most admired although many seem to like other brands

SPL Upper Control Arms

SPL Lower Control Arms

Toe Bolts

Sway Bars

End Links

Wheels- 18-19"

Here is where the complexity lies in my opinion. Wheel size, offset and coil over height/damping setup. Some say with a good full fender, you want about 1/2" between the top of the tire and the inside fender (front fenders have that bump just inside the wheel well where the bumper and quarter panel meet) This make the wheel well space misleading...

With all of this in mind, can those who have a solid setup with track/street usage post all that we need to know in a simple and clear way

Coilver- brand, how much of a drop, Brand's damping setting (if applicable), corner balanced?
Wheel: brand, full wheel and tire specs including wheel offset. How much fender space?
Upper Control Arm: Brand? Alignment Settings? Do you use these setting on and off the track?
Lower Control Arm: Brand? Alignment Settings? Do you use these setting on and off the track?
Toe Bolts - Brand? What settings can you get with or without?
Sway bars: Brand, if adjustable what settings?
Endlinks: Brand? OEM works fine?

Any pics you can provide to bring all this information together as a visual. Please feel free to add other things to consider as well. Please keep in mind this is for Track/Street, not dedicated track setup.

Thank you!

I really like this idea. Especially as there are many threads, all with various opinions, and that is the problem....

No one shares the same opinion. When I was getting ready to install my exhaust I would have ordered sway bars, but after searching here none of the of the threads had a clear winner (preferred brand). However every one had a different opinion, so I decided to just leave it be for the moment.

Coil overs is another I struggle with. I really wish someone would offer something at stock ride height. I really can't go any lower and still get in my driveway. Going through the threads, I'm not the only one with this request.

Arrogosta can supposedly go to oem height, my powertrix I leave at oem height on street and lower for track.

people really should just read the existing thread. i'm against starting any new thread that repeats a topic. forum are there to store information for people to READ and just just ask the same stupid crap over and over again

i give the same advice on every damn wheel fitment question

get SPL's entire catalog and find a good alignment shop. If you have those two elements you can fit ANYTHING because the Z has infinite space

also 18's are lame unless its a track setup. the Z needs 19's or 20s.

whining about coilovers at stock height is also hilarious. whats the point of getting a Z if ur just gonna go out of your way to be as stock as possible. get a lexus and enjoy comfort?

The thread that is something along the line of "wheel fitments, pics and specs" only is a great thread for many reason and give a clear and concise message about what someone has but does not go into the usage. Most people who have Z's have all these coilovers and perfect fitment but spend ZERO time on the track so when they say NO rubbing, that becomes irrelevant to those going on the track. Simply suggesting to just read a bunch of thread may be helpful but if you are really looking to learn and take advise, each thread and response with only half the information you need is not enough to make an educated decision, nor is recommending to simply purchase an entire suspension catalog of stuff....

I hope I can make this thread a.."this is exactly what I have....this is exactly what I do with it..." kind of thread....

And this is why people say this forum is dieing... Things change, new products come out. We just went over why one thread maybe helpful because there are lots of threads out there, all with conflicting advice because there are so many different opinions...

SPL is pretty much the only thing that everyone can agree on that is the best out there. However that's only part of this equation.

Your opinion?

The Z is plenty low enough. A performance coil over would still make a handling difference. I don't care about looks, I more care about the performance, however, I still need to drive the car because I have other vehicles as play toys, the Z is just my daily driver. It needs to be able to go over speed bumps, it needs to sit outside, it needs to be able to be parked in the driveway.

Go cast shade somewhere else. You seem to like to do that when you can. However it's odd because you are the same one who posted up complaining about calling FI many different times and them not answering, and then not being able to get details when you didn't even place an order with them.... But that whining didn't get you anywhere... Nobody cares about your e-**** here either.

Thank you, I will look into those. I hadn't come across those in any of my searches.

Not sure why my FI experience matters. But ok, good job reading my other posts?

I stick with everything I said.

Your Z is a DD, performance doesn't matter. You're driving to work/groceries, the stressing about performance coilovers is a self created problem and i dont really feel sorry for you. You're using the wrong tool for the job.

new suspension products? when something comes out that's better than SPL, i'll change my advice and recommend that. But for the past few YEARS, basically ever since they hit the scene, SPL has been the best. For everything - strongest, most adjustment, longest lasting. So when I recommend that, its with reason, and i've yet to see anyone with SPL parts regret it. I also used them for my older car which i DID use on the track, so again, i ain't making **** up.

As for 19/20s vs 18's, sure there's some subjectivity but really . . . even ******* Nissan put 19's on the nismo. Only the lowest level Z comes with 18's.

And if you look at the damn wheel wells and see how big they are . . . i mean really, 18's don't look right

It's not my opinion that 18's are best on track. It's fact. The tire selection plus price is much better at 18; if your brakes clear 18 inch wheels, thats what you should be running.

And if you're tired of my shade, ignore my posts? You took the time to respond.

i'll repeat it again, the info is already out there for people to find. I mean, jhill is in at least two different threads bitching about how he hates his coilovers because he's too sensitive to bumps and crap. And it's been mentioned multiple times that Aragosta and Powertrix will go to OEM height

i'll also repeat, getting coilovers just to be at OEM height to bum around town is . . . lame.

You guys are cracking me up...participate or not but complaining about it helps no one!

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That said one of the first things you need to consider is how committed are you to a suspension up grades because is a chase down a rabbit hole. If you are noise sensitive then you may want to reconsider spl parts beyond a arms and camber arms. Solid bushing will make lots of noise.

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I put them on my car. You can go stock height or above. If you want to lower it you only get about 1in. of drop with Aragosta's. Look at my thread. Buy most of that and be ready to make adjustments. Coilovers take time and patience to perfect.

By the way. I have over 6K in my suspension.

Yeap, if you want big performance you are going to spend big money.

Haha, and because to make all those parts work even better there power train upgrades to consider. I know I am into my suspension and power train for more than what my Fast Intentions TT kit cost and worth every penny! Smiles for miles. :D

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Man,

Really disappointed this is turning into a chat room....

Anyway the admins can delete all this BS and start this thread new. Simply looking to make a quick guidelines and easy reference point for Z-goers here to see what exactly people have and what they use them for so they don't have to go through endless information in paragraph form...

In other words..people looking to modify suspensions and wheels that will do both track and street...I think it would be cool to have a quick "checklist" with what people actually have and take to the track...and use on the street as well.....

I think that is the problem with suspension. Just throwing up a bunch of stuff will not cut it. In all the other threads that have been done there is much talk about how tune or setup brand a vs b. You can go on forever with coil overs, true style vs oem. What are the pros and cons to mid links? How does one adjust for bump steer? There is no keep it simple stupid solution once you go beyond stock for a track setup because it all depends on how so many of the parts work together to fit your particular driving style.

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