Nissan 370Z Forum - Umbrella VRH Cup kit review..

Sup guys.. wanted to do a small write up about these..

I just installed the Umbrella VRH cup kit on my Z. Basically what I was looking for was being able to keep the functionality and feel of my coilovers, but be able to raise the car when coming up to a nasty bump or curb.
I'm currently running KWV3 coils with OEM type rears. I had looked at the KW HLS kit but for the money and the fact that it lowers automatically after 15-20 seconds, it kinda turned me off..

That being said, I contacted Ravi at Umbrella Auto Design. Since my coils are OEM type rears (separate spring and shock) he could only do the front kit.. Although I've heard from Umbrella that they are working on a solution for the rear.

Also since the KWv3's re-use the OEM top mounts, I had to buy a pillowball mount for this kit to work.. Probably wouldn't have been an issue with other coilovers that supply their own top-mounts.. My existing springs were swapped out with a shorter set on my coils.

But basically the kit is pretty simple.. First is a compressor and small air tank.

Looks like this:

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m...rella_tank.jpg

Umbrella also supplies air lines and connectors, as well as relays and a switch for all of the electrical connections.. Only thing I supplied myself was an 8gauge wire from the battery.

I wasn't sure at the time where the hell I was going to put this. The compressor/tank combo is like 8-9 inches square.. tank is about the size of a football. But after I got the kit, I found a perfect spot here...

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m..._installed.jpg

Had to cut away some of the styofoam that holds the stupid tow hook, but its a perfect spot in my opinion.

I ran the switch up into the center console into one of the 3 dead switches for the heated seats in the touring package.

And ran the air line up along the passenger side rail under the trim thru the firewall and out behind the battery. Same path as the power wires for my amp and the new one for the compressor. The air line is pretty solid, didn't have to worry about crimping or crushing it.. just make sure there's no hard bends in it.

Next is the coilovers. I sent mine to Ravi@Umbrella so he could assemble them. He actually puts the cups through some sustained high pressure tests so I knew I wouldn't have an issue once I got them back. Here is what they look like assembled.

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m...rella_cups.jpg

Notice the little silver fitting on the bottom coilover on the cup.. that's the air line connection.. Basically took a tee off the main air line from the tank (supplied in the kit) and sent one line to each coil.. there's a couple existing holes there under the brake and battery compartment covers to snake the air lines through.. I've been since told you should try to keep an equal distance between the 2 air line runs to each side, so that the cups inflate evenly, however I didn't and honestly haven't had any issue with uneven lift.

Only issue I did have was a lot of squeaking when I would raise the car.. turned out to be my stupid sway bar bushings that the I forgot to grease up when I put my new sway bar in earlier in the year.. After I greased those up, no more squeaks..

As for the ride.. its perfect, just like it used to be. Just now I can hit a switch and the car raises up a good 2 inches for mega clearance..

Here is a little vid I put together to show the kit in action.. check the mad video editing skillz..

Umbrella VRH Cup Kit for 370Z - YouTube

All in all its exactly what I wanted. To have the ability to keep the car stupid low, still have the feel and functionality of my coilovers, be able to raise the car in a second to clear any obstacles, and leave it up until I say to lower it again.. (something the KW HLS kit can't do)

Any questions guys hit me up here or hit up Ravi directly at umbrellaautodesign.com. Ravi was super cool to work with and was always available to answer any questions I had.