Serious question
 

This question may be for the female Z owners, but I am sure I can get some feedback from the guys... So, here's the situation. I drove a Nismo a bit and LOVED it! Had to be the best car I think I have driven. I go on a little road trip (Spring to Katy) and it was the bumpiest ride I've experienced. Had to hold the girls the entire time! My question is, is there a big difference in the suspension between the Nismo and other Z's? Not sure I can handle the bouncing 24/7... I just don't think I can really know from a short test drive. Didn't notice the first time I drove the Nismo.

I don't have any girls but the Nismo is a lot stiffer then the non Nismo Z.

Ok, you two situations here....

1. Yes, the suspension is a lot more stiff than the "normal" 370z. It is a very stff ride. If you drive daily on bumpy roads, get ready to hold the twins.

2. There have been some members on these forums that have found out that the dealership has failed to pull out the spring spacers out from the front springs. When the Nismo is shipped, Nissan installed 2-3 spring spaces per side of each of the front springs. They did this so the nose of the Nismo doesn't scrap when its driven off the semi trailers during US deliveries. Bottom line, the spring spacers may have been on the springs when you drove the car which would have caused the extremely stiff ride.


If you go and visit the car again, turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and take a look at the front springs. You might need to rub your hand around the back side of the spring as well. Sometimes the Nissan dealership takes the outside facing spacer off but forget the pull the back facing spacer off.

There is a thread on this and I will try to find it...here are some pics of what you will be looking for...

http://www.the370z.com/new-nismo-370...uspension.html

Its Nissan's track ready Z, yes the ride is much softer in a non Nismo Z, go test ride one and see how the girls handle it.. In for video:tup:

^^^ This is why forums are the best - forgot about this, but it may or may not be the problem.

Do the Nismo "performance dampers" affect ride stiffness? What are they connected to (it's not too clear in the manual)? What exactly do they do?

The Nismo's suspension is tuned for a firmer ride and sharper handling. Compared to a standard 370Z Coupe, front spring rates have been dialed up 15 percent, rear spring rates 10 percent, front stabilizer bar rate upped 15 percent, and the rear stabilizer bar is 50 percent stiffer. The roll stiffness rate has been increased by 15 percent and front and rear damping factors have been increased by 40 percent and 140 percent, respectively.

Like others have said the suspensions is a little stiffer than the base Z, I don't know how long you have owned it? but some owners have had issues with the suspension still having the shipping spacers left on by accident, some found that them still on, and was the cause of there abnormally stiff ride. You may want to have it checked, to make sure thats not an issue? Here is the Nismo thread.

http://www.the370z.com/nismo-370z/12...ere-first.html

I'm thinking negative on the video, but thanks!

Get some prokits and make your car feel like mush. :D

I do happen to have the girls..and even in my Touring Sport, on a bumpy road, you had the bounce. :) My husband sort of liked it tho :D My little son, when in the car, would take the opportunity to make funny noises and listen to how the bouncing changed his voice. You get used to it :)

The performance dampeners are there to provide chassis rigidity, but only in reaction to current forces. They're horizontal gas tubes connected to the front of the chassis by the radiator and another back by the rear diff. The response is tailored to certain forces, so you get a different high-speed vs. low-speed reaction.

Got it daleks, tks! :tup: