Quick question, My zed has been lowered by 2" , now can someone who knows how the original suspension is set up, tell me the way or ways it might have been done. I would look under it if i could get my head under the car, and in any case, i probably wouldn't know what i was looking for..

 

Cheers

 

Rich

chances are that you have after market coilovers fitted, either that or (god forbid) some ones cut a coil off the springs

thanks, so what was the original suspension like?

 

R

2" higher :D

 

still coil overs

Smart Ar$e... ( I did pml)

 

What i meant to as was what was the type of original suspension, i assume it was a strut with a spring ..probably replaced by coilovers??, so whats the difference between strut and spring and coilovers , surely the description of "coilover" is applicable to both

 

I'm not to hot on suspension (as you can tell) i'm trying to find out if i can make the suspension softer

 

But..if i can and the suspension lets the ..well i dunno,,the body work?.. whatever the suspension is attached to, bounce up further, wont it hit something and damage it, so is it the done thing that when you lower a car you HAVE to stiffen up the suspension?

 

Any advice will be gratefully accepted..

 

Rich

I take it your car is that low, you feel all the bumps in the road. sounds like you might have stiffened springs on there as well then. could try softer springs if your dampers are ok.

 

As far as im aware, coil overs, are basically the whole unit name for damper with spring already attached, (someone will correct me if im wrong here) lowering springs will lower the car and push the dampers down, giving them less travel. softer springs will give you the floaty feeling, but can effect cornering and grip

 

Harder springs will give a firmer ride, but improve handling and grip

 

thats if i got that right. been a while since i did anything with suspension.

Hi Vod, I'm assuming "new" coilovers have been put on to give the lowered look (which is really mean) I hope they haven't just thrown on different springs that are 2" lower!! . So is there any way to find out if the units are adjustable in any way. ?

 

Cheers

Hi Rich,

 

People get confused with the different terminology, a coil-over-spring is basically the damper with a spring over - just the conventional sort fitted to most cars. the following picture shows this:

 

 

there is no adjustment, however the coiled spring part can be changed for a shorter, stiffer version.

 

The term 'coilovers' of modern days relates to the following picture:

 

 

note the blue collars at the bottom under the spring -these can be rotated on a thread to effectively lower or raise the ride height. some coilovers also have adjustment at the top, like these:

 

 

if you cant see any fancy colours under there then chances are they are standard nissan dampers with aftermarket lower springs on, but generally all lowering kits will stiffen the ride up as they are aimed at 'spirited' driving etc.

 

hope that helps :thumbup:

Hi Vod, I'm assuming "new" coilovers have been put on to give the lowered look (which is really mean) I hope they haven't just thrown on different springs that are 2" lower!! . So is there any way to find out if the units are adjustable in any way. ?

 

Cheers

 

Open the bonnet and have a look at the top of the strut, adjustable coil overs have the adjuster on the top. Coil overs are one complete unit, and should be changed as one when the shock starts to leak, normal suspension on the other hand, you can change the spring seperate to the shock.

 

Can you get a good picture up of the strut top?

And what baz said lol but with pictures

mine was a prettier response :tt2:

 

you could go back to standard suspension, but I'm guessing you like the lowered look? or not too bothered?

mine was a prettier response :tt2:

 

you could go back to standard suspension, but I'm guessing you like the lowered look? or not too bothered?

 

im missing my lowered look i can tell you, just not missing the fact i couldnt get a jack under it lol

I need some rear coilovers as mine are leaky :(

I just Luvvvvvvvvvv the lowered look, its what makes me want to keep her, when i've finished a trip, get out and walk away, i turn around and look at her.....wow , so mean and she's a beast..

 

i might just "say" i've softened it up and i doubt she'll just accept it...worth a try

 

Ric

I just Luvvvvvvvvvv the lowered look, its what makes me want to keep her, when i've finished a trip, get out and walk away, i turn around and look at her.....wow , so mean and she's a beast..

 

i might just "say" i've softened it up and i doubt she'll just accept it...worth a try

 

Ric

 

Say your taking it to the garage for softer springs. head off to a mates house or something else for a few hours, take it back and say, "they changed them" and when she goes for a ride if she complanes its still to firm just reply "thats the softest springs they do for lowered shocks and that your suspension can only handle certain springs. lol

 

Just pray shes not to car savvy,

Vox, i might just do that, she's not car savvy at all, all she dors is get in it and drives around, she has no idea that the petrol fairy fills it up, the mechanical fairy fixes it or that the tax/insurance/MOTfairies come around once a year.

 

One flaw in you brilliant idea, i have no friends..

 

So back to square one

 

Oh "Baz" great pictures and write up, much appreciated

 

Rich