Need strut suggestions

victorofhavoc · 12-24-2014, 09:52 AM

Hey guys, I'm looking to get new struts for my '14 Z sport.

Does anyone know of some good struts designed to mate with the stock Springs? I've only seen koni so far, but having driven a z on konis i was a bit disappointed as it felt the compression was too slow for the rebound of the strut and coming out of a corner the car seemed to squat and push itself up to create a bit more understeer. I know this might have been due to the adjustment made by the owner of that car, but I'm not certain I could get it more accurate without spending a lot of time at the track fine tuning it.

I've also seen that Nissan sells the s tune stuff. Does anyone know how those struts will do with stock Springs? Or does anyone know how they balance the car versus stock?

EDIT: No idea why I called them struts. I meant dampers. Looking for alternative after market dampening to mate with stock spring rates.

Super Werty · 12-24-2014, 11:20 AM

Plenty of adjustable coil overs out there. That sounds like what you would want.

victorofhavoc · 12-24-2014, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Werty

Plenty of adjustable coil overs out there. That sounds like what you would want.

unfortunately, coil overs would bump me out of the stock class in auto-x as well as sprint, time attack, and some hill climb races. The max I can do currently is struts.

Super Werty · 12-26-2014, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

unfortunately, coil overs would bump me out of the stock class in auto-x as well as sprint, time attack, and some hill climb races. The max I can do currently is struts.

There are coil overs kits(almost all of them actually) out there that don't convert the rear to struts(true type)

Or are you saying you can only use drop coils?

victorofhavoc · 12-27-2014, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Werty

There are coil overs kits(almost all of them actually) out there that don't convert the rear to struts(true type)

Or are you saying you can only use drop coils?

sorry, need to be more explicit on terminology. Just looking for dampers at the moment. No idea why I called it a strut. I blame the season

Super Werty · 12-27-2014, 04:08 PM

ah i see now. Yea I have only heard of the koni's being used. My guess is you can't really get a huge advantage from dampeners alone without other suspension additions

Spooler · 12-27-2014, 07:45 PM

Koni's are your option. Sounds like the guy with the Koni's didn't have them adjusted correctly.

victorofhavoc · 12-30-2014, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Werty

ah i see now. Yea I have only heard of the koni's being used. My guess is you can't really get a huge advantage from dampeners alone without other suspension additions

Well I'll be getting a front sway bar soon which will make the front end under-dampened for the stock spring. The rear will follow suit but nearly as bad as the front. A set of good dampeners will reduce some of the instant lean and squatting when changing directions quickly. Other suspension goodies would be nice, but I just don't want to sacrifice my ride height and classing as I stand right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooler

Koni's are your option. Sounds like the guy with the Koni's didn't have them adjusted correctly.

I tried them when he had it at full hard, varied front and rear (rear softer), and at full soft. Full soft was probably both his and mine best lap times for his Z, but it still felt as if it was pushing. I felt like the front needed a bit more dampening and the rear less still.

Are there really no other options but the Konis? Someone mentioned there's a company in Colorado that will custom build me some dampeners with external adjustment for compression and rebound but they're $4k a set

EDIT: Just found that Motion Control sells several dampener kits ranging from 2750$ to 7600$. It's kind of a ridiculous price but for 3500$ they do have a 2 way adjustable non-remote dampener. That would at least keep me in all of the classes I'm in now.... I need to find a sponsor, racing is expensive

gomer_110 · 12-30-2014, 01:17 PM

Get a hold of AST suspension. I have a set of AST single adjust currently. Bought them used from a member on here. They were specifically built for the SCCA street class. If money is only a second thought then I'd probably have a set of double adjust shocks custom built assuming your serious about autox. Another option is contact Anze engineering and see what they can do for you. They should be able to build a set to meet your needs.

victorofhavoc · 12-30-2014, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomer_110

Get a hold of AST suspension. I have a set of AST single adjust currently. Bought them used from a member on here. They were specifically built for the SCCA street class. If money is only a second thought then I'd probably have a set of double adjust shocks custom built assuming your serious about autox. Another option is contact Anze engineering and see what they can do for you. They should be able to build a set to meet your needs.

I'd like to be around the $1000-1500 mark, but from the looks of things I doubt that's going to happen.

trying to fit into different race categories while aiming for certain classes really sucks. It's weird how SCCA is so concentrated in their efforts on classing..

how are you liking the AST? Are they easy to get right after a lap or so? Did they require a lot of initial tuning?

gomer_110 · 12-31-2014, 01:40 AM

I started off with them set the way the previous owner had them. After a couple events I had them adjusted how I like. Just remember they're only single adjust so there's not much to adjust.

dP3NGU1N · 12-31-2014, 02:16 AM

bilstein is also an option

victorofhavoc · 12-31-2014, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomer_110

I started off with them set the way the previous owner had them. After a couple events I had them adjusted how I like. Just remember they're only single adjust so there's not much to adjust.

Gotcha. I'm just wondering because with the stock spring rate and a front sway I would have to increase dampening in the front and slightly increase the rear to keep the car balanced. Then again I'm looking at a square tire setup too, so that might throw part of that out the window...

Quote:

Originally Posted by dP3NGU1N

bilstein is also an option

Do you know where I can find a set of those? I've been looking around and have only found coil-overs from Bilstein.

12-24-2014, 09:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
victorofhavoc Base Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kansas City Posts: 229 Drives: 2014 370z Rep Power: 13	Need damper suggestions Hey guys, I'm looking to get new struts for my '14 Z sport. Does anyone know of some good struts designed to mate with the stock Springs? I've only seen koni so far, but having driven a z on konis i was a bit disappointed as it felt the compression was too slow for the rebound of the strut and coming out of a corner the car seemed to squat and push itself up to create a bit more understeer. I know this might have been due to the adjustment made by the owner of that car, but I'm not certain I could get it more accurate without spending a lot of time at the track fine tuning it. I've also seen that Nissan sells the s tune stuff. Does anyone know how those struts will do with stock Springs? Or does anyone know how they balance the car versus stock? EDIT: No idea why I called them struts. I meant dampers. Looking for alternative after market dampening to mate with stock spring rates. __________________ Had a 2010 WRX- boy was it quick in a straight line, got a 2014 Z- man is she grippy in the corners-- then left the Z and later got a GTI, now back in an 09 racecar Z! Last edited by victorofhavoc; 12-27-2014 at 03:09 PM.

12-24-2014, 11:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Super Werty Track Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: AZ Posts: 668 Drives: '13 Sport Rep Power: 12	Plenty of adjustable coil overs out there. That sounds like what you would want. __________________ The Build

12-27-2014, 04:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Super Werty Track Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: AZ Posts: 668 Drives: '13 Sport Rep Power: 12	ah i see now. Yea I have only heard of the koni's being used. My guess is you can't really get a huge advantage from dampeners alone without other suspension additions __________________ The Build

12-27-2014, 07:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
Spooler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ga Posts: 13,558 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 2684391	Koni's are your option. Sounds like the guy with the Koni's didn't have them adjusted correctly. Last edited by Spooler; 12-27-2014 at 07:47 PM.

12-30-2014, 01:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
gomer_110 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Perrysburg, OH Posts: 17,992 Drives: '11 Nismo #528 GM Rep Power: 36940	Get a hold of AST suspension. I have a set of AST single adjust currently. Bought them used from a member on here. They were specifically built for the SCCA street class. If money is only a second thought then I'd probably have a set of double adjust shocks custom built assuming your serious about autox. Another option is contact Anze engineering and see what they can do for you. They should be able to build a set to meet your needs. __________________ '11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Uprev \| CSF \| Zspeed \| Z1 Motorsports \| AST \| Swift \| SPC \| SPL \| Whiteline \| Hotchkis \| Bride \| Schroth \| Robispec \| Cusco \| Nismo \| Volk \| Forgestar \| Hoosier \| RJM '17 Titan Bone Stock

12-31-2014, 01:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
gomer_110 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Perrysburg, OH Posts: 17,992 Drives: '11 Nismo #528 GM Rep Power: 36940	I started off with them set the way the previous owner had them. After a couple events I had them adjusted how I like. Just remember they're only single adjust so there's not much to adjust. __________________ '11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Uprev \| CSF \| Zspeed \| Z1 Motorsports \| AST \| Swift \| SPC \| SPL \| Whiteline \| Hotchkis \| Bride \| Schroth \| Robispec \| Cusco \| Nismo \| Volk \| Forgestar \| Hoosier \| RJM '17 Titan Bone Stock

12-31-2014, 02:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
dP3NGU1N A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Irvine Posts: 1,682 Drives: 13 PW sport 6mt Rep Power: 18	bilstein is also an option __________________ 35% Hooper Optik \| Takeda Attack CAI \| F.I. HFC \| Hotchkis Sway Bar \| Stillen 24row \| OS Giken Super Lock LSD \| TK Shift Knob \| EVO-R Carbon Diffuser

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