Do spindle pins need to come out for springs/insulators?

[BitchinZ]

I have a 77 280Z. Im putting on lowering springs and 240Z spring top insulators on the rears. Do the spindle pins need to come out for this?

What all do you need to disconnect to get the suspension to drop low enough? Thanks.

[black gold man]

install rear struta - Google Search Edited November 4, 2013 by black gold man

[chaztg]

I have a 77 280Z. Im putting on lowering springs and 240Z spring top insulators on the rears. Do the spindle pins need to come out for this?

What all do you need to disconnect to get the suspension to drop low enough? Thanks.

No, but If your 280Z has stock springs in it, spring compressor(s) will be required to get the height of the entire strut/spring assembly down to a level to swing it out away from the wheelhouse and body. You will probably need to undo the halfshaft (at the wheel hub) and disconnect the hydraulic brake and parking brake lines so the control arm will drop low enough. If you want to take your chances without spring compressors, you can do all of the above, but place a floor jack under the A-arm and then undo the top 17mm or 19mm nut in the center of the strut cap and to release the spring tension, lower the jack SLOWLY. A buddy would be helpful for an extra set of hands and familiarity with this procedure would be even better. Use properly rated jack stands before you attempt any of this. If you are replacing the original springs with lowering springs, you may not even need to use compressors.

[240260280z]

240Z Strut Replacement

240Z Rear Strut Replacement

How to Replace Struts on a Datsun 240Z | eHow

Here is the 77 280z FSM. It has great step-by-step procedures: http://hammondsplains.com/fsm/77fsm.zip

[jmortensen]

FWIW you can disconnect the sway bar(s) and brake lines and pull the struts down out of the fenders and use your spring compressors right there and not have to take the entire strut assy out of the car.

[Zed Head]

To add a little to what Jon M. said - on the 280Z you'll need to loosen the control arm inner mounts a little bit to get the top of the strut out from under the fenderwell (I think JM has a 240Z). The 280Z strut is taller than the 240Z so it needs to drop down farther to clear (Blue's three 240Z links may not apply directly). But it is doable, I swapped my rear springs a while ago doing it that way. I think that I might have left the brake lines attached too, but it's risky. If things slip you can damage them.

If I recall, I also had to disconnect the halfshafts because they wouldn't drop down far enough otherwise.

The thing about these time-savers though, is that after your first try you'll probably get done and say "it would have been faster if I had just taken it out completely". You'll forget something or something will slip or you'll get in a bind and spend time thinking instead of doing. After you've done one, the short-cuts make more sense.