Hi guys

 

I was chatting to Jim today at PowerZed and we got onto the subject of suspension. He told me that there was an option back in the day on UK models (and possibly US) to have electronically adjustable shocks. I’ve been surfing the net trying to find some more information but haven’t had much luck. So I was hoping that some of our more senior members might be able to tell me more about it, does anyone still have them on their car, where can you get the units etc...

 

Cheers,

Chris.

Hi guys

 

I was chatting to Jim today at PowerZed and we got onto the subject of suspension. He told me that there was an option back in the day on UK models (and possibly US) to have electronically adjustable shocks. I’ve been surfing the net trying to find some more information but haven’t had much luck. So I was hoping that some of our more senior members might be able to tell me more about it, does anyone still have them on their car, where can you get the units etc...

 

Cheers,

Chris.

 

It was standard on US TTs (I think for most model years).

 

Don't believe it was ever available on UK models (correct me if wrong)

It was standard on US TTs (I think for most model years).

 

Don't believe it was ever available on UK models (correct me if wrong)

 

Thanks. My bad, I must have misunderstood.

 

What I did find appeared to suggest that it adjusted the damping of the rear shock only.

Indeed, US TTs only if I remember correctly. Not just rears.

 

To clarify, all UK zeds had electronic rear shock absorbers as standard, they did not have the switch to operate it though like in the US, which incidentally they had front and rear electronic shock adjust.

 

The UK cars utilised the first click of the handbrake to activate the " harder" setting, well stronger rebound, the units were very expensive and often when it came to changing them, Jap spec non adjustable units were fitted, the valving on the Jap spec ones were equal to the harder setting of the UK one`s.

 

Given the taller springs ( and ride height ) and softer shock settings on the UK model it is the reason they then fitted larger anti-roll bars to try and control it.

 

Jeff

Edited April 24, 20187 yr by JeffTT

Indeed, US TTs only if I remember correctly. Not just rears.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]112052[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

Jim showed me a switch that also had the heated seat buttons on it, very cool. :cool3:

To clarify, all UK zeds had electronic rear shock absorbers as standard, they did not have the switch to operate it though like in the US, which incidentally they had front and rear electronic shock adjust.

 

The UK cars utilised the first click of the handbrake to activate the " harder" setting, well stronger rebound, the units were very expensive and often when it came to changing them, Jap spec non adjustable units were fitted, the valving on the Jap spec ones were equal to the harder setting of the UK one`s.

 

Given the taller springs ( and ride height ) and softer shock settings on the UK model it is the reason they then fitted larger anti-roll bars to try and control it.

 

Jeff

 

That’s really interesting Jeff. So all UK 300 had that as standard? I assume I should be able to find a cable that would sit on top of each damper hidden somewhere and if I brought UK standard dampers this should, if still working correctly, stiffen up the rear dampers?

I love the idea of having electronically adjustable setting and putting the car in 'sport mode', but realistically it's still not really sporty stiff, and you need to have the stock ride height so coilovers all the way for me.

I’m not up for “sporty stiff” anymore however do like the idea of flipping a button and having a slightly firmer ride should the occasion demand.

I’ve got adjustable dampers at the moment and, at the medium setting, find them too firm for the way I want to drive the car 90% of the time. This sounds like a perfect solution for me if I can get all four dampers working on the switch and hopefully lower the ride height.

That’s really interesting Jeff. So all UK 300 had that as standard? I assume I should be able to find a cable that would sit on top of each damper hidden somewhere and if I brought UK standard dampers this should, if still working correctly, stiffen up the rear dampers?

 

Yes there are little actuator motors sitting on top of the rear shocks and as typical zed has its own little ecu module behind the seats.

The madness is about 6 years ago or so I had a genuine Nissan four shock set up and US switch for sale on here and no-one was interested so they got binned !

 

Jeff

 

 

 

https://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?159116-Rare-suspension-find&highlight=shocks

Edited April 24, 20187 yr by JeffTT

:crying:

Maybe look into a Tein suspension setup with soft spring rates and their Electronic Damping Force Control (EDFC) option.

Maybe look into a Tein suspension setup with soft spring rates and their Electronic Damping Force Control (EDFC) option.

 

Have ridden in many Tein set up Zeds and even fitted a full electronic system and they are flipping hard !! often the adjustment is from very hard to stupidly crashing hard also the top bushes have a habit of wearing out very quickly and Tein will not sell you the top bearing / carrier direct but will do a service on them... just my opinion of course with my old age butt.

 

Jeff

I have the tein flex z coilovers and the edfc setup is definitely on my wishlist

 

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Have ridden in many Tein set up Zeds and even fitted a full electronic system and they are flipping hard !! often the adjustment is from very hard to stupidly crashing hard also the top bushes have a habit of wearing out very quickly and Tein will not sell you the top bearing / carrier direct but will do a service on them... just my opinion of course with my old age butt.

 

Jeff

On the softest settings mine are not much harder than stock. Slightly firmer but definitely not uncomfortable. On the hardest settings they definitely make the car uncomfortable on bumpy roads but for occasional track use its great.

 

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Thanks for the feedback regarding the Tein suspension. To be honest they sound like they’re going to be too firm for me though.

Mine came in with teins fitted, and when I fitted my wheels front right was rubbing over bumps, so as a short term quick fix I cranked the front shocks up to firmest to try and help. Having not used it much I've never turned it back down, and drove 120 miles at the weekend. I was very surprised, after not driving it for 10 months, how smooth the ride was! Interested to see what it will be like with them softened up again.

 

IMO if you want a better ride, get coilovers. My old zed had lowered springs with afaik stock dampers, and I always thought it rode/handled well. But it was like night and day after I drove my current one with the teins. Maybe see if you can have a ride in someone else's car with them fitted. I believe cheapo ones are much firmer though so you've got to make sure they're decent enough.

 

This post is getting long now but another thought, how old are your dampers? Maybe even new stock ones would be an improvement if they've seen some miles.

another thought, how old are your dampers? Maybe even new stock ones would be an improvement if they've seen some miles.

 

Thanks Chris, I currently have Tokico suspension, I’m not sure if oit’s been lowered, and they can’t have more than 16k on them.

 

 

Out of interest what is the best US 300zx site? I think it might be worth registering with those guys and have a chate to them about it.

Yes there are little actuator motors sitting on top of the rear shocks and as typical zed has its own little ecu module behind the seats.

 

Hi Jeff

 

Can you remember specifically where this ECU is (near side, off side, front or rear seat)? I want to go on a hunt around my car tomorrow to better understand the UK system on my car, if the actuators are still working and what it will take to install the US system.

 

Cheers,

Chris.

Hi Jeff

 

Can you remember specifically where this ECU is (near side, off side, front or rear seat)? I want to go on a hunt around my car tomorrow to better understand the UK system on my car, if the actuators are still working and what it will take to install the US system.

 

Cheers,

Chris.

 

Yes, its sits along side the interior light relay.

 

Its behind the rear side panel passenger side, remove the rear seat squab and the side panel can be undone and removed, its a slim silver box similar to the one on the picture below.

 

 

Jeff

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 20187 yr by JeffTT

The UK/Euro part# for the suspension controller is 25962-37P00 and the US version is 25962-33P00. They both look like

the image below. The difference between them is the UK/Euro is single channel for rear shocks whilst the US part is dual

channel for front and rear shocks.

 

 

Both are actuated between hard and soft settings by grounding pin 1 on the controller. This is the US circuit diagram:

Note: that you will need to include the diode shown to the UK circuit for the handbrake switch.

 

 

The full US wiring diagram is here:

 

fa-21.pdf

 

In the US the "touring/sport" switch was incorporated into the switch module near the gear stick:

 

Wow, great find! Thanks Andrew. :thumbup:

this what they look like on my UK spec TT , i discovered these last night when i was taking the rear interior out to give my z a thorough clean out . I dont have them on the front shocks just the rear and i don't have the sport switch

 

this what they look like on my UK spec TT , i discovered these last night when i was taking the rear interior out to give my z a thorough clean out . I dont have them on the front shocks just the rear and i don't have the sport switch

 

For UK/Euro specs that's as it should be.

Very clean Tom. :thumbup:

If you bring the handbrake up one click it should firm up the rear suspension. Let me know what you think of it please.

Anyone got any ideas why Nissan thought that was a good idea?

 

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