Suspension/Wheel alignment adjustability

[drunkenmaster]

What are the best options to provide worthwhile adjustability in the 240/260Z and what is of little use or not recommended?

Strut top plates

Adjustable control arms

Adjustable bushes

Camber pins/bolts

Adjustable radius/tc rods

[Curtis240Z]

Depends what you are planning to do with your Z (racing or daily driving).

[drunkenmaster]

Mainly a street car, but I do want to be able to set it up for optimum handling but I do not need anything extreme.

[Curtis240Z]

If your frame is straight then I would buy only the adjustable control arm bushings. Everything else will allow you more than -1 degree of camber. If you define optimum handling as more than -1 degree of camber then keep buying. It is always very subjective defining optimum handling versus even tire wear on the street.

[drunkenmaster]

Yes, I probably phrased my question wrongly.

+-1degree adjustment is plenty for the street.

Are camber bolts/pins able to be used on the Z as this is what I used on my previous car.

A tapered bolt between the strut and the hub.

[drunkenmaster]

Hmm...actually just thinking about when I pulled the front aprat, I cant recall a provision where camber bolts could be used.

Answered my own question I guess,

[Bambikiller240]

You can get an Aluminum & Delrin (a form of plastic/nylon/whatever) "bushing" to replace the OEM the Inner transverse link bushing. These have the bolt hole drilled off-center so that you can rotate them to achieve camber adjustment.

NOTE: There is no rubber, or polyurethane in this joint. It is solid mount and as a result you'll feel every pebble you drive over.

Picture is of a kit for a different model Datsun, but the bushing is almost identical to the part for the Z car. Kontrolle brand is an old company that is no longer in business. I'm pretty sure someone else makes them currently, but I don't know who.

[Curtis240Z]

The kit bambikiller is refering to is available from MSA (don't know who actually makes it).

[kmack]

The kit bambikiller is refering to is available from MSA (don't know who actually makes it).

I'm not sure who makes them now, but both MSA and VB carry the control arm bushings. I have them in my car, installation is easy. Only downside is everytime you make an adjustment on the bushing, you have to readjust the toe-in also. Not very good if you want to make different adjustments based on driving conditions.

[drunkenmaster]

Thanks guys,

The offset bushings I was considering were hopefully not of solid construction like the ones above. Using polyurethane centres or at least outers.

I need to find out exactly which is available for our cars.

[drunkenmaster]

Turns out the ones available here are also solid.

Hopefully it doesnt translate into too much of a ride comfort difference.

[Bambikiller240]

Turns out the ones available here are also solid.

Hopefully it doesnt translate into too much of a ride comfort difference.

It will be a decision only you can make for yourself.

I can tell you from my personal experience with these items that given the condition of roads here in Northern California that I would never again consider using them on a street driven car of mine. (a Track only car would be a different story)

It was nice to be able to dial in the camber to what I wanted it to be for optimum handling, but it also caused so much noise and vibration to be transferred to the chassis that I would do anything possible to avoid all but the smallest bits of debris in the roadway. Even small potholes in the road became my mortal enemy.

If you do choose to use them I would encourage you to consider a routine inpection of your chassis for cracks, failed welds, etc. Though I never found damage (I only had these camber bushings in the car for 3 years/ 25,000 miles and I avoided driving over EVERYTHING that I could) IMO the transmission of vibrations and shock to the chassis was so harsh that it would only be a matter of time before something failed.

$.02 American