Nismo Springs/Shocks and Eibach sways on a Sport

Dembflyr · 03-15-2011, 08:38 AM

I finally got my stockpile out of my dining room and onto the car.

I installed the Nismo springs and shocks on my 09 Sport. These are not S Tune parts. I bought them slightly used off of a member here. I haven't seen much on here about this so here is my review.

First, there has been a few discussions about the Nismo springs on a Sport actually raising the front ride height. I did not actually measure before I did the install but from looking at the car after, there is no noticeable difference in the ride height.
I really did mean to measure to give a better review but I forgot and put the car on stands. I wasn't going to put it back down just to get a measurement.

I did measure afterward and I got 27 7/8 from the ground through the center of the wheel to the top of the wheel arch on both the front and back.

Here is a crappy iPhone pic of the new ride height:

All of the DIY's on here were extremely helpful. Thank you to all who have submitted one.

Here are some more pics:

I also installed the Eibach sway bars at the same time. This has been covered many times on here but here are a few pics of the Eibach set next to the stock.

Front

Rear

So after about 250 miles with this set up here are my thoughts. Keep in mind I have never driven a Nismo model.

The ride is much firmer. Almost to the point of being bouncy on some roads. If you are on roads that are segments of concrete rather then asphalt it is uncomfortable. Any bumps in the road are instantly transferred to your kidneys. I am being a bit facetious here but I want those of you who may be thinking of doing this to know it totally changes the feel of the sport model.

However, none of that matters when you hit the twisties.

The car is much more stable in corners then before. Not that it was bad, its just better now.
There is a stretch of road that I have driven with the stock set up and I felt like I pushed it as hard as I dared. Now as I go down that same road I feel like I could easily go harder.

I will get a better feel for it as time goes on.

For about half the price of a good coil over set up, you can find a set of used Nismo springs and struts and some new sway bars.

I hope this helps those of you looking into doing this swap

ZPirate · 03-15-2011, 09:25 AM

I have Nismo shocks/springs on my car along with Stillen sway bars. I agree with you assessment that the ride is firmer than stock. At first I was somewhat disappointed with the ride. However, once you get into the twisties there is a significant improvement in the way the car feels and handles over the stock set up. Overall I like the set up. And I agree with you that it is less costly than other options out there, although it lacks some of the adjustibility of coilovers.

Red__Zed · 03-15-2011, 12:35 PM

looks good!

Footloose301 · 06-21-2011, 09:00 PM

I can't tell a difference in ride height. Looks stock....

I'm sure it handles better though.

cotizi · 06-21-2011, 09:55 PM

been running the same setup for a year or so... the car feels great and its inspired a lot of confidence in my auto-x events. a 285 front tire helps too.

mbenetto · 10-09-2011, 07:53 PM

will nismo springs work on the touring model? also, do you think they will lower the car at all?

Dembflyr · 10-09-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbenetto

will nismo springs work on the touring model? also, do you think they will lower the car at all?

Yes. The suspension is no different between the base or touring.

I did not get any noticeable drop with these. But I was going for more of an improvement in handling rather than a lower ride height.

If you are looking for a drop as well, you may be better off going with different springs.

Dembflyr · 02-09-2012, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

I did not get any noticeable drop with these. But I was going for more of an improvement in handling rather than a lower ride height.

If you are looking for a drop as well, you may be better off going with different springs.

I feel that I should update this. I have been thinking about going back to my sport struts and picking up some Swift springs. I must be getting old because the ride with the nismo setup is just too stiff for me.

Also, there has been much speculation as to wether the nismo springs actually give you a drop. Well, I haven't measured the ride height since I did the install so today I grabbed a tape measure.
I don't know if it's from sitting for a while but the ride height is lower than before. Both from and rear are at 27 9/16 and before they were at 27 7/8.

I still think its a good bang for the buck mod and it keeps the suspension all factory components. If that is important to you.

I will be posting my nismo springs and struts in the for sale section in early March.

Unique_Z · 02-09-2012, 02:05 PM

Just a reminder though, the swift also have a pretty stiff rate. It feels bouncy with the roads in my country and my kidneys is killing me! I changed it to H&R and it felt better

Dembflyr · 02-09-2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwan72

Just a reminder though, the swift also have a pretty stiff rate. It feels bouncy with the roads in my country and my kidneys is killing me! I changed it to H&R and it felt better

Thanks for the heads up. I know that they are going to be stiffer than the sport but hopefully not as stiff as the nismo. At least that's what I've heard from another member that went from the nismo springs and struts to the swifts and sport struts.

Unique_Z · 02-09-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dembflyr

Thanks for the heads up. I know that they are going to be stiffer than the sport but hopefully not as stiff as the nismo. At least that's what I've heard from another member that went from the nismo springs and struts to the swifts and sport struts.

Sure no prob buddy, that's a great news for you then if the swifts are not stiffer than the nismo ones

fuct · 02-10-2012, 11:10 AM

The factory nismo springs felt much more bouncy than the teins im on now. just my 2 cents....

L33T Z34 · 03-20-2012, 01:33 PM

I have the Nismo S-tune spring/shock combo w/Eibach sways installed on my base+sport. The handling and ride quality has improved IMO. This is what those cost cutters at Nissan should have done OEM!
The S-tune springs are slightly more stiff than sport springs, but nothing to extreme like some TEIN spring cars (3S, DSM, EVO) I've rode in.

03-15-2011, 08:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dembflyr Track Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 886 Drives: G37S Sedan Rep Power: 16	Nismo Springs/Shocks and Eibach sways on a Sport I finally got my stockpile out of my dining room and onto the car. I installed the Nismo springs and shocks on my 09 Sport. These are not S Tune parts. I bought them slightly used off of a member here. I haven't seen much on here about this so here is my review. First, there has been a few discussions about the Nismo springs on a Sport actually raising the front ride height. I did not actually measure before I did the install but from looking at the car after, there is no noticeable difference in the ride height. I really did mean to measure to give a better review but I forgot and put the car on stands. I wasn't going to put it back down just to get a measurement. I did measure afterward and I got 27 7/8 from the ground through the center of the wheel to the top of the wheel arch on both the front and back. Here is a crappy iPhone pic of the new ride height: All of the DIY's on here were extremely helpful. Thank you to all who have submitted one. Here are some more pics: I also installed the Eibach sway bars at the same time. This has been covered many times on here but here are a few pics of the Eibach set next to the stock. Front Rear So after about 250 miles with this set up here are my thoughts. Keep in mind I have never driven a Nismo model. The ride is much firmer. Almost to the point of being bouncy on some roads. If you are on roads that are segments of concrete rather then asphalt it is uncomfortable. Any bumps in the road are instantly transferred to your kidneys. I am being a bit facetious here but I want those of you who may be thinking of doing this to know it totally changes the feel of the sport model. However, none of that matters when you hit the twisties. The car is much more stable in corners then before. Not that it was bad, its just better now. There is a stretch of road that I have driven with the stock set up and I felt like I pushed it as hard as I dared. Now as I go down that same road I feel like I could easily go harder. I will get a better feel for it as time goes on. For about half the price of a good coil over set up, you can find a set of used Nismo springs and struts and some new sway bars. I hope this helps those of you looking into doing this swap __________________ 2012 G37S Sedan 6MT - Project Practicality 2009-6MT-Sport/Touring-Dembflyr's Journal-TT Build Thread-CAR IS SOLD

03-15-2011, 09:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
ZPirate Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 792 Drives: 09' 370Z & 03' 350Z Rep Power: 17	I have Nismo shocks/springs on my car along with Stillen sway bars. I agree with you assessment that the ride is firmer than stock. At first I was somewhat disappointed with the ride. However, once you get into the twisties there is a significant improvement in the way the car feels and handles over the stock set up. Overall I like the set up. And I agree with you that it is less costly than other options out there, although it lacks some of the adjustibility of coilovers. __________________ 2003 Daytona Blue 350Z Touring/Nismo 2009 Platinum Graphite 370Z Touring/Sport (Sold) 2009 BMW 135i/Dinan Stage 2 software upgrade/M3 suspension piecies/Koni Sports/ETS FMIC/Alufelgen SF-71 wheels

06-21-2011, 09:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Footloose301 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 2,659 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 21	I can't tell a difference in ride height. Looks stock.... I'm sure it handles better though. __________________ 2010 40th Anniversary 370Z

06-21-2011, 09:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
cotizi Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 391 Drives: 2012 VW GTI 6MT Rep Power: 217	been running the same setup for a year or so... the car feels great and its inspired a lot of confidence in my auto-x events. a 285 front tire helps too. __________________ Past - 2009 Silver 6MT Sport 370Z Current - 2012 VW GTI 6-Speed

02-09-2012, 02:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Unique_Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Brunei Posts: 1,515 Drives: 370Z, 180SX Rep Power: 17	Just a reminder though, the swift also have a pretty stiff rate. It feels bouncy with the roads in my country and my kidneys is killing me! I changed it to H&R and it felt better __________________ My Z Build UniqueZ

03-15-2011, 12:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 119	looks good!

10-09-2011, 07:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
mbenetto Base Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 72 Drives: PG 2009 370z Touring Rep Power: 13	will nismo springs work on the touring model? also, do you think they will lower the car at all?

02-10-2012, 11:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	The factory nismo springs felt much more bouncy than the teins im on now. just my 2 cents....

03-20-2012, 01:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
L33T Z34 Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ahnald, MO Age: 46 Posts: 387 Drives: 09 K51 G C Bw/S 6MT Rep Power: 0	I have the Nismo S-tune spring/shock combo w/Eibach sways installed on my base+sport. The handling and ride quality has improved IMO. This is what those cost cutters at Nissan should have done OEM! The S-tune springs are slightly more stiff than sport springs, but nothing to extreme like some TEIN spring cars (3S, DSM, EVO) I've rode in.

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