Hey guys, I have a 78 280z, and the struts are fubar'd so i wanna replace them, and i also wanna lower it a little bit. The ride height is just tooo high. So, my buddy is offering to sell me his struts that he has lying around for an awesome price. He has a 72 240. They are KYB struts, and motorsport springs. I really wanna get them, but will they fit? Thanks allot guys

No to both parts.

I told him today about how they wont fit. Telling him that I was told on a forum i go to. He got all mad and said that "he obviously doesnt know what he is talking about". What makes it so they dont fit? I need to shut this guy up. Thanks guys

quite simple look on motorsports website and they list diffrent part numbers for them , as well as victoria british , but yes Carl is correct again , ALL HAIL CARL

Will the struts and springs fit, yes they will fit, i.e.: bolt up. However, if you want to know if they will work for you, Carl is correct, no they won't work.

They drop the car to far, in that the 240 Struts are shorter than the 280 Strut and the springs are only going to make it worse. Speed bumps will be a mountain.

Hope this allows you to satisfy your friend.

Now if they had adjustible coil overs, you might make them work.

ecp48

I have a recently removed set of struts from a mfr date 6/77 280Z just sitting in my garage, wanna trade for his? I need another set of 72 pieces. PM me if you are interested.

If your buddy wants more proof of the folly of his ways, I would be happy to post a photo of a set of '72 struts next to a set from the '78 so he can figure out his info is wrong and his anger misplaced.

Will

Hmmm, depends exactly what you are asking.

I think you are asking: can i rip out the entire front suspention from, a 72 and put it in a 78. In which case, not sure, but i dont really see why not, since you are replacing the whole strut assembly.

Sounds like everyone replying, thinks you are asking: can i use 72 strut cartiges and springs in my 78 struts. In which case, no you cant.

Heres why:

72 struts tubes have a smaller internal diameter than the later tubes.

The later tubes are designed to have more travel (at the rear of the car at least, not sure about the front) than the 72 or so i have heard.

i put 280Z springs in the back of my 260z because the 260z springs were sprung(?). Now ive got an oober squishy suspension...saving up for the upgrade....

On a side note. I've been through 3 sets of rear shock cartiridges since finding my car in the fall of 1998. This seems to be a little too often. Any ideas on why my cartridges keep failing?

thx.

Have you put some oil or Transmission fluid in the tube with the shock-heat kills them, and the oil allows the heat to permeate the strut housing and dissapate, with only air in the tube, you have an insulating rather than a dissapating situation.

Will

I know that, but i dont know if i implimented that knowledge. I feel confident that i did... but i have forgot more important things before. Discounting heat, any other ideas?

Discounting heat, any other ideas?

What brand cartridges did you use?

So, the strut assm's are taller on the later S30's? How can that be? I was to believe that the S30's and R30's are basicaly the same body. Are the attachment points on a 77 280/260 higher than on my 72 240? I would seem to me that if all the attachment points (strut tower, Lower control arm) are the same, the overall heigth of the strut assembly (spindle to top spring retainer) would be the same as well. Did I miss something? I should buy a beat-up 77, just to disect as an educational exercise.