Steve Edrington

I just dealt with the same issues of tire rub on my 1970 240z this week but mine was with OEM springs. I can tell you that coil overs with stiffer springs total took care of this. I have 225/60/14 and have no rub now and I love the ride! I also switched to Bilstein B8 Sport all around, spring rate at 300. Much better handling, no rub, and adjustable ride height. Highly recommended. Steve

What was that old line in Mr. Mom: "220/221 - whatever it takes"

I don't plan to lower it much. The spacer goes in the bottom of the strut - correct? In my mind, I'm thinking that rear springs with a higher just to offset more weight compared to stock. Any suggestions for a cheap solution on the rear springs? Even if it's off another Z year, I would prefer close to stock height, but more spring rate, but not too much so that it's a jarring uncomfortable ride. I've heard of 280ZX springs and maybe cutting them? What I don't want to get into is all the stuff to offset geometry by lowering the car. This is my 03/70 Z car that I've owned for 34 years, and I'm not going to race it, just fun drives that when I want to get on it, it will perform properly.

Leon, Found your thread on the parts, is it the B4-B30-U232B1 part number for the proper gland nuts? I have stock strut housings, can you enlighten me on what you did for the spacers for the front and rear?

I called Arizona Z a few days ago, he does not have them any more, just hasn't removed them from his site. Steve

Zed - thanks for the info on shocks, and you're right, I have misconceptions about how that works with shocks. erectorset - thank you for the good info, I will check that out. Thanks everyone! Steve

Ride quality is not bad, just getting the rear squatting too much on hard cornering and bigger bumps. Noise level is good, no squeaking. I'd have to look again to see what bushings are there, been a couple years during the restore. Thanks for the info! Steve

Back when I had Bilstein's on the rear, I had Koni's on the front. Never had a problem with them as I recall... Any advantage/disadvantage to gas inserts (Tokico) vs hydraulic (Koni)? Looks like the Tokico HP and the Illumina are about the only choices on gas, any comments on either of these? Very disappointed in the KYB gas that has literally been sitting until now.

Guidance on rolling the fender lips? My worry would be cracking of the paint...

This has been a looonggg restore, just now back on the road. These rub on the outside rear when hard cornering or 2 people are in the car with a bump or cornering. I'm definitely not 160lbs anymore, so more weight too. I used to have a set of Bilstein gas in the rears, they were great and stiff, and as I remember they even raised my ride height some from stock back then. These KYB's I installed new several years ago, so they've just been sitting and not used while restoring the car, but they have a bad spot on one of the fronts, and with the rear squatting... I don't have the receipts when I bought them 8 years ago, so according to KYB - too bad. I've replaced all my suspension bushings thru this restore, and used urethane where appropriate.

Do you have any feedback on the Tokico ILK252 or HPK251 Suspension kits? I think a lot of my problem is bad KYB inserts just squatting too much in the rear, but I might be interested in some stiffer springs while I'm there changing the inserts. I am not impressed with the KYB's, the warranty, or the KYB support people at all:( So correct me if I'm wrong, but stiffer springs, while lowering it, with stiffer inserts, should reduce my travel, therefore reduce the squat in the rear, and no more rub - right? These Tokico look to be about the only real option left, but I don't want to get into a whole changing of other suspension items because of the lowered springs. Am I opening a can of worms here? My setup is 225/60/14 tires on old 6 or 7 inch slots, don't know the offset. I've had them for 34 years!

Does anybody ever come across any Bilstein inserts for 240z anymore? I am in search of a full set front/rear. I had a set of Bilstein rears back in the 80's and I loved them. At one point I thought there were shorter ones available that would fit with a spacer in the bottom? I'm also looking for stiffer springs, but not too stiff. Any suggestions? I don't really want to do coilovers, or cut my struts, and I'm not racing, but want something stiffer than stock. Right now I'm running 225/60/14 on my old slot wheels and getting tire rub in the back when hard bumps or cornering happens. Thanks, Steve