Originally Posted by Telephone (Post 1647741)

Honestly...I say forget the Konis if you're daily driving your car. I don't hear too many complaints from the guys who have Swifts/factory shocks. I never drove my Z with the Swifts and stock shocks, but I can tell you that the Swift/Koni combo is NOT a smooth ride at the softest setting. If you have smooth roads where you live or you're a track junkie...then maybe Konis are a good choice for you. But I live and daily-drive in the real world, and a choppy ride gets old. I think I'll drive the car for a month and then decide whether or not to put the factory shocks back on. I actually want to drive another 370Z with Swifts/factory shocks to compare before I make a decision.

I bought the Konis because they just happened to go on sale before my Swift install. I was lead to believe that Konis were the logical addition to aftermarket springs. Now I'm left wondering if I made a $860 mistake:ugh2:

I'm not saying 'stay away from Koni'. But there was a lot of hype on this forum saying that Konis were going to be awesome and would be the best bet for aftermarket springs. I gotta call BS on that. Most of that hype started before Koni even released their 370Z shocks/struts...before anybody bought/drove them. Perhaps Swifts are best paired with factory shocks afterall? Perhaps Koni is better paired with a softer spring rate...or for the hardcore guys?

Just trying to give you guys honest feedback. I'll keep you posted.

Originally Posted by Arnold K. (Post 1656364)

You really don't need to replace struts with Swifts.

If anything just get tighter bars, instead.

Originally Posted by ZForce (Post 1656366)

It does not matter what size wheel you break in (settle) the swift springs with...

Originally Posted by KamiSpeed (Post 1674062)

From what I've heard the Koni work like they're suppose to, it just so happens that reduces comfort haha. I think its a trade off and works best for some but not all

Originally Posted by corner3garage (Post 1674028)

Has anyone noticed any issues using the koni shocks?

Originally Posted by Alchemy (Post 1675167)

Yeah, the big issue Im having is that my car seems to handle fvcking awesome now. Is this normal??

Originally Posted by corner3garage (Post 1683413)

LOL ok this made my day!

Originally Posted by RN SHRRK (Post 1683519)

Ok, so I've read almost all 71 pages of this post and am still trying to get the best answer. I'm putting on my Swifts and 20mm spacers in the rear, 15mm in the front. Will the spacers make it necessary to need a camber kit? Or at least a rear kit? And if so, can I drive it around like that for a week until I get the alignment?
Sorry if i missed the answer in a previous post.

Originally Posted by KingZee (Post 1674942)

exactly...I've learned not to expect comfort when I'm chasing performance and not to expect performance when I'm chasing comfort. Simple rule of thumb.

Originally Posted by tjlazer (Post 1683622)

The spacers will not cause the need for camber kits, the lower ride height due to lowering springs will. Some are getting away from using camber kits, some are not. You won't know until you drop it and allow the springs to settle.

Originally Posted by RN SHRRK (Post 1685099)

Thanks so much. That's what I was kinda figuring by reading, but wanted to make sure. Can't wait to get mine installed!

Originally Posted by sfearl1 (Post 1685127)

are you still on stock wheels? you might not like that spacer combo after the drop. i'm on 20/25 and would almost be willing to go 25/30 now that i have my swifts installed.

i just had an alignment after letting them settle and here are my specs w/o camber kits fr/r...

front camber left: -1.6
front camber right: -1.5
front toe left/right: 0

rear camber left: -2.5
rear camber right: -2.5
rear toe left/right: 0.15

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685130)

That's a lot of camber in the rear, maybe get just rear arms?

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685244)

My swifts springs are on their way to my house so I hope I can stay in spec. if not than camber arms are next. (o and I'll probably need spacers for the stock rays)

Originally Posted by onzedge (Post 1685261)

Mr. Zman8 -- if I were you, I would get the camber arms right away. I honsestly do not think there would have been enough adjustment in my stock arms when I installed the Swifts.

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685244)

My swifts springs are on their way to my house so I hope I can stay in spec. if not than camber arms are next. (o and I'll probably need spacers for the stock rays)

Originally Posted by kenchan (Post 1685265)

or just sell the wheels to me and you go aftermarket. :p

btw, are you doing the install yourself? :)

Originally Posted by Alchemy (Post 1685270)

You will love the Swifts ZMan. You will also want spacers. I got my settings to 1.6 front and 2.2 rear without camber arms. I do plan on gettin some myself eventually though.

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685269)

hmm good advice I will look into prices/brands (I think we have at least 10 vendors on here that sell camber arms)

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685272)

:icon17::rolleyes:

Yes I plan to. Money saved on install labor goes to future mod budget.

Originally Posted by onzedge (Post 1685281)

There are many choices of vendor. I think mine are from concept Z performance and went with the SPC.

Think about it -- it is only about 200 extra dollars, you will already have the car on a a lift and what happens if your stock ones don't cut it?

Anyway... Just food for thought.

Originally Posted by kenchan (Post 1685294)

:icon18: sounds good. the thing about the rear camber arms is they are hard to get them the right length so it might be better to let a shop that can do alignments install them right then and there for you. :D

which alignment shop are you planning to take your car to? not some tire place right?

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685301)

Yes from what I have been reading most people get about -2.1 to -2.5 in the rear which is more than I would want. I may have to order a set for the rear then.

Quick noob question, How does the install change (both springs and camber arms) if my car is not on a lift and instead is on jack stands in the garage?

My logic is that for camber arms the suspension system should be preloaded when you set the initial adjustments.

Originally Posted by ZMan8 (Post 1685305)

we have a few alignment shops here (one is Touge Factory, which has a very good rep among the drifters around here)

I started doing some research and never finished.

Originally Posted by onzedge (Post 1685310)

The install does not care if your car is on jacks or a lift. The lift I used was the kind that allows the wheels to hang. For the intial adjustment, make the new camber arms slightly shorter than the stock arms -- to start. Then get your car to an alignment shop.

Originally Posted by kenchan

ahhh, sounds good. found their site. looks like they do everything.

as for preloading your suspension before torque down, just use your hydraulic under the bottom of your rotor and load it that way. i do that all the time.
make sure you dont raise it up too high though. lol

at the very end put your car on ramps and re check torque after your quick test drive.

Originally Posted by kenchan (Post 1685313)

ahhh, sounds good. found their site. looks like they do everything. :tup:

as for preloading your suspension before torque down, just use your hydraulic under the bottom of your rotor and load it that way. i do that all the time. :)
make sure you dont raise it up too high though. lol :icon17:

at the very end put your car on ramps and re check torque after your quick test drive. :tup: