how to soften ride for a 240

[Gav240z]

Yup, I spent over 20 years in the tire and suspension business, and the biggest ride improvement will be from tires - specifically nice soft 14" 70 series as noted. All the suspension tweaking you can do won't make as much difference as tires will.

I completely agree also.

As soon as a friend of mine put 17" rims on his Z with low profile tyres the whole car became very rough in terms of ride quality.

[jmark]

I am happy with Tokico HP's, Eibach springs, 15 x 7 Panasports and Dunlop Tires on my '71 240z.

[71ZZZZZ]

I am happy with Tokico HP's, Eibach springs, 15 x 7 Panasports and Dunlop Tires on my '71 240z.

jmark...I'll have essentially the same setup when I'm done but on 15 x 7 Riken RTXs...what tires are you running? What was the drop when you were done?

[kenz240z]

A sports car is meant to give the driver the feel of the road... buy a big old Buick or Oldsmobile, one with a couch for the front seat, you won't feel a thing.

[jmark]

jmark...I'll have essentially the same setup when I'm done but on 15 x 7 Riken RTXs...what tires are you running? What was the drop when you were done?

Not sure on the drop. I suspect it is what Eibach quotes in the literature. The previous owner installed my setup and I am happy with the ride/handling/look. Tires are Dunlop A2's.

[bpilati]

I've got a 73 240 that I bought in 76 and have kept it all these years. Everything is pretty much stock except for the radiator, ignition, and ac compressor.

Problem is that the 240 is in better shape than I am. I've got a bad case of sciatica (low back pain). I'd really like to drive the 240 a lot more but as you might guess the rough ride is really hell on the sciatica.

I know it needs new shocks so I am hoping that I can find some shocks that would soften it up. Any recommendations? I drove a 280zx for years but its got such a bad case of nippon skin cancer that it would be hopeless to fix up altho I may do that even though it looks like the devil since its ride is so much smoother even with bad shocks.

I thought about the springs. Its a little hard to believe that these progressive racing springs that lower it would ride any smoother but I'll listen. I'm not too crazy about lowering. It seems like the rock hauling trucks are always dropping thier load around here which is not good for low clearance vehicles.

My first visit and post to the classiczcar forum here. It seems like a nice group of folks. But then Z car guys always are.

Tks

Don

In the very near future you will be able to buy spring sets made to Nissan OEM specs for 240Z's. I worked with a spring manufacturer, and Carl Beck, to get OEM spec springs manufactured once again for those that do not want to lower their cars or use stiff springs. Keep your eye open on Courtesy Nissan's website.

DATSUN OEM SPRINGS ARE BACK!

[wa5ngp]

Thanks Bryan. I was thinking that this might be an alternative. What is the deal with the original springs? Do they go bad after time, lose their temper? They do seem to be VERY stiff.

I'm not wanting my 240 to ride like a Buick but if it rode more like an 81zx that would be perfect. Although I understand that's unlikely.

I haven't done much to this car in 30 years and my wife and I took it on a cross country run to Grand Canyon etc so I can't believe I was that more tolerant of rough ride in my crazy youth. OTOH maybe thats why I have nerve damage now. Hope not. I'm willing to blaim it on tennis. and running for now.

A progressive spring that's not lowered would be even better.

tks

Don

[bpilati]

No Z ever rode like a Buick, I can't imagine where anyone would get that idea. There is one person around here that thinks the Z handles like a wallowing hog or something like that. Anyway, your 30+ year old springs have probably sagged some and lost a bit of there rate. Springs that are too stiff can negatively affect handling as bad as springs that are too soft.

[kenz240z]

Even before I rebuilt the suspension on my Z, it never handled like a Buick or a wallowing hog. Who would think such a thing :stupid: ! It did have a harsh ride, though.. Every bump in the road was enough to rattle my teeth, it would jar the car so bad :hurt: .

My Z still had the original springs, although they seem to have held up well. Even so, I replaced them with Tokico HP red springs. The strut inserts were in bad shape, they were replaced with Tokico HP blues (I got the springs & strut inserts as a package on e-bay). The bushings on the car were in pretty bad shape, one of the rear transverse link inner bushings was rather deteriorated. Also, none of the struts had bump stops. So, I replaced all the old bushings with new urethane bushings from Energy Suspension.

Now, the completely rebuilt suspension gives a firm, comfortable ride . I didn't make before & after measurements of the ride height, but it seems about the same to my eye.

Fortunately for me, my lower back pain only troubles me every 2-3 years. When it hits, I can't even stand up :dead: . I've literally had to crawl upstairs to get to bed, because of the pain associated with trying to stand up straight after sitting. The rest of the time it is merely a tolerable discomfort.

The only other thing I can think of would be to replace the strapping in the seat. While the drivers seat in my Z is in good cosmetic shape, the seat bottom is kind of saggy . Another option would be to put in a different seat from another car, something with better lumbar support, etc... It might make a big difference in comfort when you drive your Z .

[bpilati]

Kenny, I bought a seat kit from Les Cannaday (seat covers and foam) for $395. I did the driver's seat, big improvement. I also added some jute padding in the lumbar area, it worked well. Now I had replaced the elastic straps that support the foam cushion. I did not buy the kit that is available. I made it up myself long before the kit was available. It is the same elastic strapping material (only one layer thinner), and for the lateral strap (under the butt) I used nylon seatbelt strap because it doesnt' stretch as much. I also put some canvass between the straps and foam to help the foam last longer. The seat is awesome, and I think the extra lumbar padding would help your back. Also, the new foam is a must in my opinion, because the old foam is somewhat compressed and worn.

I'm getting ready to do my suspension as well. New OEM spec springs, KYB shocks, Energy Suspension Polyurethane in key locations, Suspension Techniques sway bar kit, and KYB bump stops. I don't like the red bushings in the sway bar kit but I guess I'm stuck with it.

[wa5ngp]

I've got seats from a Mitsubishi Ecclipse and they have lots of nice foam, bolster support and all that. They are probalby the best thing there was about the Mitsubishi. Odd how something like a steel spring would go bad over time. I guess with heat and whatever the temper of it changes. My buick is my Suburban. 280zx as everyone knows is lots softer and is tolerable on a bad pain day actually. Probably for ride the oem stuff is the best to go with since I'm not wanting to race it, at most only autocross.

tks

[Carl Beck]

I've got seats from a Mitsubishi Ecclipse and they have lots of nice foam, bolster support and all that. They are probalby the best thing there was about the Mitsubishi. Odd how something like a steel spring would go bad over time. I guess with heat and whatever the temper of it changes. My buick is my Suburban. 280zx as everyone knows is lots softer and is tolerable on a bad pain day actually. Probably for ride the oem stuff is the best to go with since I'm not wanting to race it, at most only autocross.

tks

Hi Don (everyone):

I hate to tell you - but yes - 30 years of wear and tear on the old body makes a HUGE difference in how much "seat time" you can tolerate in a 240-Z!! I used to drive Coast to Coast back in the early 70's - I'd drive 36 hours straight though and arrive at my destination ready to Party.

A couple years ago, I drove from the Tampa Bay area up to Atlanta... two hours into the trip I was taking Advil to relive the pain in my hips and lower back!!

We also have a Yukon XL... and I could sit in that for hours and hours without a problem. Both the seating position and seat support are critical to our comfort. So I swapped out the stock 240-Z seats for a set from an Acura Integra (95-98 I think)... HUGE difference!! Eight hour trips are a pleasure again and 12 hour trips are even more fun!! Far more support to your lower back and hips.. as well as your legs.

SPRINGS:

Any steel will suffer fatigue and lose strength when it's been flexed enough. Your coil spring is simply a bar of steel, a lever.. that is constantly flexed as you drive. Depending on the degree and amount of flex... some springs are fine after 30 years - others can be shot in 10 years. On average, I'd guess that the original springs in most Datsun 240-Z's are well below factory tolerances by now if the car has been driven an average amount (say 100K + miles)..

Thanks to Bryan's tireless efforts, we had the US Spec. Stock Springs reproduced in limited quantity. If you call David House at Courtesy, tell him you are a member of either the Internet Z Car Club (IZCC) or the Classic Z Car Club - you will get the special pricing we worked out for our members. Retail on the Internet will be $259.95 for a complete set of four springs (very very reasonable by todays standards), and the club price will be $229.95 plus shipping (a bargain!).

These springs are produced by a major OEM to the US car manufacturers, shot peened for stress relief, sprayed with the semigloss black and dabbed with the correct color paint dabs.. Each Set consists of One Right Front, One Left Front and Two Rears - sorry but sold only as complete sets.

If you think you want a new set of Stock Springs - buy them now. As I said, the quantity we had produced is limited. (only 20 sets available.. and most likely less than that now). Grab them and stick them on the shelf for later if your not ready to swap out your tired old springs yet.

When you call Courtesy - ask to speak to David House as he is aware of the special club pricing... tell'em Carl told you to call. Our thanks to Courtesy Parts for helping us make this project happen.

Getting old is not for sissy's... "If I had thought I'd live this long, I'd have taken better care of my body".

regards,

Carl

Carl Beck

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com