Nismo VS Sport Package Springs, Struts and Shocks

Read T · 01-15-2015, 04:56 PM

OEM base: ?
OEM base + sport: black spring and strut
Nismo 370Z: red spring, silver strut
Nismo S-Tune: red spring, silver strut
Nismo 370 RC: "nissan genuine"

As far as I can see it, these would be the different suspension setups. I am not sure if the valving is the same for USDM v Euro v JDM cars, or if the suspension was changed at all over the years. Also not sure if the Nismo S-Tune is the same as the Nismo 370Z. Also It would be awesome to find out the valving and spring rates for the different OEM components.

FWIW I replaced my sport package suspension with used parts (still lower mileage than mine) form a Nismo 370Z. Ride is much stiffer and more responsive. No change in height.

victorofhavoc · 01-15-2015, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Sort of -- they are stiffer and perform better, but really, the major advantage is that they are inexpensive.

If you want better than OEM on a budget, go for it. If you have a little cash to play with, I say pass on coilovers and get a set of Koni yellows plus swift springs.

I agree, but from a performance standpoint i'd never get swift springs. They're great for lowering your height while keeping the ride comfy and not blowing your stock strut, but they are progressive springs, and progressive springs are terrible for performance because they're not linear. With hard driving you'll get snap under and over steer. Either keep the stock springs or go to stiffer non-progressive springs...but that's for performance only. if you want a drop that's a different story

Read T · 01-15-2015, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

I agree, but from a performance standpoint i'd never get swift springs. They're great for lowering your height while keeping the ride comfy and not blowing your stock strut, but they are progressive springs, and progressive springs are terrible for performance because they're not linear. With hard driving you'll get snap under and over steer. Either keep the stock springs or go to stiffer non-progressive springs...but that's for performance only. if you want a drop that's a different story

If you are just after a drop, take 3/4 a coil off the springs

victorofhavoc · 01-15-2015, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Read T

If you are just after a drop, take 3/4 a coil off the springs

HAHAHA! In true Honda style!

Zoren 370 · 01-15-2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzwilliam

Is this a mod worth doing?

My suggestion is go drive a nismo and see if you like the stiffness the nismo brings then you should be able to answer your own question.

You will be the one driving your Z not us.

Whats comfortable with me might not be so with you.

Imo my coilovers made me feel Im driving a sports car.

kenchan · 01-15-2015, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo370

I have the nismo springs and would like to know what struts to match. It is a daily driver(65k) and not tracked. I just want less lean for aggressive driving and slight more stiffness for bad roads. I already have aftermarket fr.swaybar. KYB or koni good choice? which?

nismo springs on a base? will lift your car in the front especially. someone already tried that and ended up running swifts.

nis350 · 01-15-2015, 06:14 PM

FYI... Swift springs are linear and not progressive. IMO, they are probably one of the better after-market springs. There is plenty of info out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

I agree, but from a performance standpoint i'd never get swift springs. They're great for lowering your height while keeping the ride comfy and not blowing your stock strut, but they are progressive springs, and progressive springs are terrible for performance because they're not linear. With hard driving you'll get snap under and over steer. Either keep the stock springs or go to stiffer non-progressive springs...but that's for performance only. if you want a drop that's a different story

tzwilliam · 01-15-2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

nismo springs on a base? will lift your car in the front especially. someone already tried that and ended up running swifts.

Going from Base+Sport Package to Base+Nismo from what I've read the ride height will be lowered 0.4", is this true?

Rusty · 01-15-2015, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

no, not really. The consensus around this site seems to be

For looks: go Swift springs

For performance and looks: go coilover (not comfy though)

for performance and you don't care about looks: a set of good struts (however a lot of people here will disagree with the last bit because they care about looks or they haven't had enough hands on racing experience)

It all depends on what you want. I personally think the stock height is way too low, so I'm not going any lower, just getting better dampeners soon. If i pony up the money I'll have some custom built double adjustables for around $3k, but otherwise Koni are a good choice at $1k

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC416

I honestly thought I was the only person with the above opinion on here.

I'm not going lower then stock. I have replaced the black plastic piece under the spoiler twice now. Gets beat up on the track.

kenchan · 01-16-2015, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzwilliam

Going from Base+Sport Package to Base+Nismo from what I've read the ride height will be lowered 0.4", is this true?

If you're talking springs, then Nismo is apparently taller.

victorofhavoc · 01-16-2015, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

I'm not going lower then stock. I have replaced the black plastic piece under the spoiler twice now. Gets beat up on the track.

Haha, yeah that's pretty beat up on mine too now. I'm considering custom fabbing an under tray that has a splitter coming off to add some much needed front end downforce at high speed cornering, and keep things from getting thrashed on the track.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

FYI... Swift springs are linear and not progressive. IMO, they are probably one of the better after-market springs. There is plenty of info out there.

They sure don't look linear. Not arguing they're bad springs, they just aren't ideal for a performance situation. Anything that's supposedly stiffer but designed to mate with the stock dampeners is most of the time progressive and designed for looks and feel over performance.

carlitos_370z · 01-16-2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Sort of -- they are stiffer and perform better, but really, the major advantage is that they are inexpensive.

If you want better than OEM on a budget, go for it. If you have a little cash to play with, I say pass on coilovers and get a set of Koni yellows plus swift springs.

i already have the Swuft springs and i love them... eventually im going to buy the Koni struts for sure....

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

FYI... Swift springs are linear and not progressive. IMO, they are probably one of the better after-market springs. There is plenty of info out there.

i come from an Sti with BC Racing Coilovers and a few more suspension upgrades and trust me when i install the Swift springs on my 2013 Z + Sport Package i fall in love... the call turn perfect, drop was perfect... best springs i ever run on a car....

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

I agreee but from a performance standpoint i'd never get swift springs. They're great for lowering your height while keeping the ride comfy and not blowing your stock strut, but they are progressive springs, and progressive springs are terrible for performance because they're not linear. With hard driving you'll get snap under and over steer. Either keep the stock springs or go to stiffer non-progressive springs...but that's for performance only. if you want a drop that's a different story

Dude i dont know were do you find the info... but you are completely wrong about Swift Springs.... the performance from those springs i cant tell you from my personal experience that work 99% perfect... and im runing just the spring with OEM Struts and SPC rear camber arms.... My car is a DD, i spend 70% of my trip from my house to my work in turns and the other 30% on highway... the car run just perfect... the drop its perfect.... everything its perfect.... even making Touge hahaha!! just do a research and you would see what im talking about

I know read somewhere that people use the KW coilovers with Swift Springs... i think was on a build on a coverage from Speedhunters...

victorofhavoc · 01-16-2015, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlitos_370z

Dude i dont know were do you find the info... but you are completely wrong about Swift Springs.... the performance from those springs i cant tell you from my personal experience that work 99% perfect... and im runing just the spring with OEM Struts and SPC rear camber arms.... My car is a DD, i spend 70% of my trip from my house to my work in turns and the other 30% on highway... the car run just perfect... the drop its perfect.... everything its perfect.... even making Touge hahaha!! just do a research and you would see what im talking about

I know read somewhere that people use the KW coilovers with Swift Springs... i think was on a build on a coverage from Speedhunters...

You driving to work has nothing to do with performance. Sorry, but when I'm talking performance I'm speaking track, autox, time attack, etc. Swift does make a great spring, but we're talking linear springs designed to go on coilovers or designed to be mated with a high end dampener.

They're stiffer, lower, and progressive which means you don't have the amount of suspension travel you actually need to keep the car planted, but because of the stiffness you feel like you're cornering better.

Again I'm talking performance only, i'm sure they're great as a DD and you like the drop.

carlitos_370z · 01-16-2015, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorofhavoc

You driving to work has nothing to do with performance. Sorry, but when I'm talking performance I'm speaking track, autox, time attack, etc. Swift does make a great spring, but we're talking linear springs designed to go on coilovers or designed to be mated with a high end dampener.

They're stiffer, lower, and progressive which means you don't have the amount of suspension travel you actually need to keep the car planted, but because of the stiffness you feel like you're cornering better.

Again I'm talking performance only, i'm sure they're great as a DD and you like the drop.

when i say i expend 70% of my trip in turns... do you think that i take it all the time like a grand pa

looool!!! dude!!! shame on you... who have an sport car to drive slow.... BTW i dont need to drive on a track when the street that i use looks like a nurburgring track hahaha!!! of course i know when i do this runs... i dont want hurt no one... anyway they are good springs and everyone can think that they want... but my 2 cents... when you do it use the correct info... if you dont like it well you can use other way... i just mention the Swift Springs cause i buy them and a lot of people use this springs for the track, auto x, etc.... By the way i do my research first to see if they work

after read a lot of pages and thread... they are the best for the pocket

victorofhavoc · 01-16-2015, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlitos_370z

when i say i expend 70% of my trip in turns... do you think that i take it all the time like a grand pa

looool!!! dude!!! shame on you... who have an sport car to drive slow.... BTW i dont need to drive on a track when the street that i use looks like a nurburgring track hahaha!!! of course i know when i do this runs... i dont want hurt no one... anyway they are good springs and everyone can think that they want... but my 2 cents... when you do it use the correct info... if you dont like it well you can use other way... i just mention the Swift Springs cause i buy them and a lot of people use this springs for the track, auto x, etc.... By the way i do my research first to see if they work

after read a lot of pages and thread... they are the best for the pocket

I have a sports car to drive it slow. It goes the speed limit to work and around town every once in a while. most of the time it sits in the garage, until i pull it out to use it for auto-x, track,time attack, and this next year i'll attempt a hill climb for the first time. I answered a performance minded question with a performance minded answer. What you feel works for your daily commute is subjective

01-15-2015, 04:56 PM	#16 (permalink)
Read T A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,046 Drives: 11 Nissan 370z BC 6M Rep Power: 17	OEM base: ? OEM base + sport: black spring and strut Nismo 370Z: red spring, silver strut Nismo S-Tune: red spring, silver strut Nismo 370 RC: "nissan genuine" As far as I can see it, these would be the different suspension setups. I am not sure if the valving is the same for USDM v Euro v JDM cars, or if the suspension was changed at all over the years. Also not sure if the Nismo S-Tune is the same as the Nismo 370Z. Also It would be awesome to find out the valving and spring rates for the different OEM components. FWIW I replaced my sport package suspension with used parts (still lower mileage than mine) form a Nismo 370Z. Ride is much stiffer and more responsive. No change in height. danegrey likes this. __________________ 2011 Nissan 370z Black Cherry Sport Pkg - Daily Driver, , 1960 Morgan +4 fun car, 1986 BMW 325ES, 1998 M3 and 1996 Spec Miata - Race Cars SUPPORT TEAM WINSOME RACING - WRL, CHUMP, LEMONS Last edited by Read T; 01-15-2015 at 04:59 PM.

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