Upgrading to Eurethane Bushings

[NCdatsunZ]

Hi I've been refreshing a 1972 240z and want to replace some worn bushings.

All of the bushings in my Z have pretty much had it. For instance, If I wiggle the front sway bar it will move about a half inch back and forth. I want to replace all of them with Urethane bushings, but I have a few questions.

1. How hard is the job? Refreshing this Z is the first car project I have ever done and I don't want to end up damaging the car.

2. Is there any special tools (read: expensive) required for doing the job?

3. Does the job require more than one person to do?

4. Is the MSA master urethane bushing kit the best kit?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[jfa.series1]

Given that you admit to this being your first car project, your caution is well advised. Altho your experience is lacking, how are your skills? Mechanically adept?

The suspension on your car is actually a very straightforward design and relatively easy to work on. Have you picked up any manuals - Haynes or others? If not, that is your starting point - read them and then read them again to get familiar with the parts, tools, techniques. Can you locate any other Z owners in your area to get some advice and/or mentoring from? For a novice, I do recommend you arrange for a buddy to assist during the actual work.

As to tools, nothing special or exotic is required. A good set of metric sockets + open and box end wrenches is usually adequate.

As to your choice of urethane bushings, be prepared for a much more solid (harsh?) ride. I know - been there, done that and going back to rubber! If you proceed, the MSA kit is probably as good as any. It is complete and a nice set of products - it is the one I bought.

Good luck with your project. Don't overlook the site's search function for the S30 Suspension section. Lots of folks have already been down the road, lots of tips and info has already been posted.

Jim

[NCdatsunZ]

Given that you admit to this being your first car project, your caution is well advised. Altho your experience is lacking, how are your skills? Mechanically adept?

The suspension on your car is actually a very straightforward design and relatively easy to work on. Have you picked up any manuals - Haynes or others? If not, that is your starting point - read them and then read them again to get familiar with the parts, tools, techniques. Can you locate any other Z owners in your area to get some advice and/or mentoring from? For a novice, I do recommend you arrange for a buddy to assist during the actual work.

As to tools, nothing special or exotic is required. A good set of metric sockets + open and box end wrenches is usually adequate.

As to your choice of urethane bushings, be prepared for a much more solid (harsh?) ride. I know - been there, done that and going back to rubber! If you proceed, the MSA kit is probably as good as any. It is complete and a nice set of products - it is the one I bought.

Good luck with your project. Don't overlook the site's search function for the S30 Suspension section. Lots of folks have already been down the road, lots of tips and info has already been posted.

Jim

I've got the FSM for my year Z as well as a haynes manual. I'd consider myself somewhat mechanically adept. I'm not really concerned about the ride. What I am concerned is safety. I don't like the idea of riding around with the bushings as bad as they are. There is also some play in the steering which I hope to eliminate.

Is there a master rubber bushing kit available anywhere?

[LeonV]

Suspension rebuilding and bushing upgrades: Blue's Tech Tips

[Hardway]

There are lots of write ups here on the boards documenting the process including my own. It can be done but taking stock of your tools and abilities if a wise exercise. Air tools are almost a requirement but a good socket set with a breaker bar can get it done too along with some other tools. The best piece of advice I can give it take your time and expect to run in to challenges. Do not expect to have it done in a weekend, or two, or three. The bushings in the hub assembly require pulling the spindle pins out. This can turn in to a huge project all by itself so you may opt not to replace those bushings and move on. Do a search for spindle pin removal, its all over the net.

Most owners have reported good results with poly bushings and the set from MSA or any other supplier should yield the same good results. This what I am currently doing on my '72 as the factory bushings and other suspension components were beyond shot.

Keep us posted on your project.

[siteunseen]

When I did mine a small bottle jack helped keep things in place while your trying to start the nuts. Use the Energy Suspension Hyper Flex kit, it's around $150, Energy Suspension HYPER-FLEX Master Bushing Kit 70-73 Nissan / Datsun 240Z - Part Number: 7.18101 - Sparktec Motorsports - Passenger Car Applications. I got the black set instead of red.

[jfa.series1]

There is no master rubber bushing kit available. With the exception of the steering rack, all of the bushings are still available from Nissan. The factory steering rack bushings are NLA. Beck/Arnley made OE-equivalent replacement rubber bushings, but those are getting hard to find. Rockauto recently had a single unit on closeout, the P/N's you would be looking for are 101-3630 and 101-3631. I found one side at Rockauto and the other on eBay.

[EuroDat]

When I did mine a small bottle jack helped keep things in place while your trying to start the nuts. Use the Energy Suspension Hyper Flex kit, it's around $150, Energy Suspension HYPER-FLEX Master Bushing Kit 70-73 Nissan / Datsun 240Z - Part Number: 7.18101 - Sparktec Motorsports - Passenger Car Applications. I got the black set instead of red.

I used the same Energy Suspension kit, but for the 280Z. One thing you should consider before you start is that the PU bushes transfer more road noise than the rubber and also make the ride harder.

The black bushes are graphite impregnated and dont require periodic lubricating.

Just my 2 cents

Chas

[CW240Z]

I just finished a complete front suspension rebuild on my 72. Like stated above, it is a straight forward design and job. However, the trickiest part was removing the strut inserts. That required a lot of heat and an air chisel on my part. I was able to do both sides by myself as well, but extra hands are always a plus. I went with the PU bushings and would recommend them.

Chase

[LeonV]

I used the same Energy Suspension kit, but for the 280Z. One thing you should consider before you start is that the PU bushes transfer more road noise than the rubber and also make the ride harder.

The black bushes are graphite impregnated and dont require periodic lubricating.

Just my 2 cents

Chas

I haven't felt the need to lubricate my red poly bushings in the 2 years I've been using them. The car will feel a lot tighter with the PU bushings. Use rubber on the TC rods if you're worried about harshness.

[Powderkeg]

Some recommend using Urethane and rubber on the T/C rod bushings. The reason given for not using all Urethane on them is there have been cases of the T/C rod breaking because of the lack of flex.

There is also a nylon (Delrin) ball and socket available from Black Dragon.

I found Blue's tips very helpful and the "Street Racing Suspensions" DVD from ZTherapy helpful.

Have fun!

Dave Ruiz

[EuroDat]

The T/C kit is a good investment. Motorsport! Tension Rod T/C Kit, 70-78 240Z-260Z-280Z - The Z Store! Nissan-Datsun 240Z-260Z-280Z-280ZX-300ZX(Z31/Z32)-350Z-370Z Parts.

It made my Z steer alot better over bumps in the corners.

You read a lot about the bolts for the sway bar being to short. I didnt have any problem. To fit the nut , I just used a block of wood between the bolt and the frame and jacked the LCA up until the thread was showing enough to fit the nut.

Last thing. The bushes for the sway bar have to be ordered apart for your size swaybar.

Chas

Edited February 11, 2013 by EuroDat