Shocks

[vintageracer]

OK - Now is the time to start working on my 240z suspension since I got a base line on my car this weekend at WSIR. Shocks are the first to be replaced, from reading here it seems there are early struts and late model. I already have the coil over kits installed and camber adjusters with some blown Tokico :tapemouth Illumina shocks and want to go with a better shock setup. Which from reading sounds about right with the spring setup - 250 /F & 275 /R I haven't pulled these apart yet so I don't know which struts I have nor do I know how to tell the difference yet. There is a diameter difference from what I understand. Any help there would be appreciated!

I know Mark Belrose likes the Ground Control he has and I love the idea of the adjustability and capable of being rebuilt since I'm used to this in my spitfire with my koni adjustables. Seems like the Koni's are harder to find and work with the later model struts only? Any comments nor help would be great!

thanks,

John W.

[2ManyZs]

The outer strut housing diameter on a 240 strut is 2 inches or 50.8mm and the later 280 housings are 5mm larger in diameter (or close to that) as far as I know.

Don't forget to double check the lenght of the strut insert you take out to make sure the ones you buy will actually fit. There's probably a bit of variance in body length between all the manufacturers.

As far as insert choice, I guess I'd take a consensus of what other racers are using and go by that. I've heard good and bad on the Advance Designs from GC as well as the Tokico's and Koni's......It's about the same as asking which tire is best, you'll get a myriad of opinions depending on who you ask and how big their budget is.

[Ron Carter]

I would consult Eric Messley and or Don Oldenberg here in Southern California. I believe that Eric worked on your car for the previous owner BTW.

Koni, Ground Control and Tokico are your best choices. Penske are available but $$$$

[hmsports]

I'd swap them -- 275 front and 250 rear. Also, try the Koni inserts. They are $155 each from True Choice. I think they are the 8610-1149. I wouldn't waste the money on the super expensive three or five way adjustable. They are only good for the last few tenths and you can better use the money on tires or track time. Just my opinion.

[MistressMotorsp]

I second the Koni recommendation, Messley can get them as well. Having tried 300 front and 275 pound rear springs, then switching them to 275 front and 300 rear (required a matching sway bar change), I liked the lighter fronts better. More bite under braking and turn in, lap times were quicker at WSIR as well.

Mike

[260DET]

I'm in the process of fitting a pair of double adjustable Koni 8611-1257 inserts to the front. Working out how to easily access the bottom bump adjusters is the fun part but we're getting there.

The reason why I'm going to this trouble and expense with my road/track car is in the belief that being able to greatly increase bump for the circuit will help significantly. Assuming that bearable bump for road use is a lot less than optimum track bump.

[vintageracer]

I second the Koni recommendation, Messley can get them as well. Having tried 300 front and 275 pound rear springs, then switching them to 275 front and 300 rear (required a matching sway bar change), I liked the lighter fronts better. More bite under braking and turn in, lap times were quicker at WSIR as well.

Mike

Going with your setup! Got the Koni's installed-

Springs you suggested as well -

See you at Willow Springs for the BB Bash!

[260DET]

The Koni 8611-1257 front inserts are on and working well, the present setting is six clicks out on the bump and its nice and firm, although it probably could go a bit more for the track.

Mine has 275F/300R springs too, with 22mm front 16mm rear anti sway bars, which seems about right. What bars are you blokes using?

[260DET]

Shhhhh..... Secret Squirrel :tapemouth

[Steve Parmley]

Did your adjustment hole idea work for accessing the bottom of the strut insert?

[260DET]

Using a flexible shaft screwdriver? No, you couldn't put sufficient pressure on the handle without it all wobbling around. Note that a 30mm high aluminium spacer was used under the bottom of the shock insert.

So I just cut a slot in the bottom side of the strut base so an ordinary screwdriver can be used, at an angle. That works ok, its not like you are going to be changing the setting all the time.

[sopwith21]

Speaking of shocks... there were a lot of naysayers when I mounted Tokico 5-way adjustables on my 260z a couple of months ago. The jury is still out since I've only put about 100 miles on them at speed, but so far I LOVE THEM.

I've never had a strut or shock on any type of race car that was so easily adjustable (five seconds with a screwdriver) and so sensitive to change. Each of the struts have positions 1-5 available, and I started with all of them on 4 and began adjusting from that point. Even changing one strut by just one click made a noticable difference, and the adjustability that the struts build into my suspension is fantastic. I have tremendous confidence in them and its great to be able to manipulate the car's handling with such a fine tune adjustment. With 5 way adjustable struts you can REALLY fine tune the suspension.

Another great thing is the ability to set the car up for left or right hand turns. When we run a track clockwise, I can get a touch more bite out of all the right hand corners by dropping the left rear strut just one notch, without sacrificing anything on right hand turns at all. So on a 15-turn track with ten rights and five lefts, you can gain a bit of time out of ten corners and break even on the other five. Same thing works in reverse for counter clockwise courses.

So I am surprised and happy to say that so far, it was money well spent. The adjustability that these struts bring to our team is extremely valuable and helpful.