CAMBER question with lowering springs

[rvlbrs]

Do you have specs from a recent alignment? I’m not going to be able to help with that, but I think the numbers would help get some precise answers.

Let me see if I can find my alignment sheet and i'll definitely get back to you! Thanks!

 

[VR30Infection]

RE: Non Nismo vs Nismo.
Two things.
1. the Nismo 370 was a little lower than the standard Z so automatically the front camber numbers would be different. So the factory targets would be with this in mind.
2. Nismo may have more aggressive settings due to it being a more performance oriented setup.

 

[trackratZ]

Just the thread I need. I'm chewing through tires on this car. It's extremely frustrating at this point. Lowered on Swift springs and on 25mm spacers front a back. Stance is nice but the inner tire wear is killing me every 6 months. For those versed in alignments, should I search for a better suited shop that's mastered alignments or should I look into buying some suspension items?

Lowered stance always gives more inner tire wear on double wishbone, like my setup above they had to reduce the rear camber because of lowering on the Swifts. A good shop can align/balance your car to reduce that wear.

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

Just the thread I need. I'm chewing through tires on this car. It's extremely frustrating at this point. Lowered on Swift springs and on 25mm spacers front a back. Stance is nice but the inner tire wear is killing me every 6 months. For those versed in alignments, should I search for a better suited shop that's mastered alignments or should I look into buying some suspension items?

To keep the toe in spec, which eats tires fast. The factory camber can only be adjusted so much without it affecting the toe adjustment. Toe will effect Camber, and Camber will effect Toe

If you dont want camber wear. Save money from going to a different shop and purchase aftermarket adjustable camber arms. This will get you in spec

 

[VR30Infection]

The front camber cannot be adjusted from the factory at all. The rear can be put into spec no problem with a 1.2” lower stance.

 

[alutwon]

The front camber cannot be adjusted from the factory at all. The rear can be put into spec no problem with a 1.2” lower stance.

I gather to lower the car properly we need adjustable front upper control arms. The next question is which ones to get?

 

[VR30Infection]

I gather to lower the car properly we need adjustable front upper control arms. The next question is which ones to get?

if you care more about tire wear than cornering performance and you want to keep factory specs. Then yes. I’m about 1 1/4” lower than factory and my front end is still just under -2 camber. So I don’t consider it a “Need”. In fact once I get adjustable front uppers I might go even more aggressive.

 

[FSUZ33]

Not installed yet, as coilovers haven’t arrived, but I went with the Z1 forged with Street bushings (urethane). There’s chatter from the past about the bushings being noisy, but they arent rubber like the OEM bushings, so if they’re not lubed good they’re going to make noise. The current bushings are Energy Suspension, and are dry as a bone straight out of the box. I got an 8oz tub of Formula 5 lube from Energy and gave them a good slopping. Then put the rest in a grease gun and filled them the rest of the way up. The Energy bushings look a little higher quality than the pics on Z1’s website, assume those are the previous version, but that‘s just my opinion.

One good thing about the Z1 is you can buy the Street and Race rod ends separately, so it’s not expensive if you want to switch from one to the other.

There are others, but brands like SPL and NISMO (made by, and identical to SPL other than the color) are heim joint rather than bushings. The Z1 Race ends are heim joint. They’ll offer a more precise feel, but are inherently noisier than bushings. If you’ve run a car with heim joint arms you’ll already know more than me about the experience. My $0.02, and from research only, if you‘re looking for heim/race arms, go with a good brand. Lower tier parts will very likely have lower tier rod endseparately/joints, and that’s one part of control arms you’ll already want the best you can afford.

 

[trackratZ]

I gather to lower the car properly we need adjustable front upper control arms. The next question is which ones to get?

Get the SPLs, quality and ease of adjustments, used quite a bit by the track community. Holds up very well.

 

[OptionZero]

I gather to lower the car properly we need adjustable front upper control arms. The next question is which ones to get?

SPL Parts (or this Nismo recolor)
durable enough for heavy track use
fully adjustable camber/caster
adjustment ON CAR
stateside support
extensive history with Nissan platforms and other brands too

 

[chadgigachad]

SPL Parts (or this Nismo recolor)
durable enough for heavy track use
fully adjustable camber/caster
adjustment ON CAR
stateside support
extensive history with Nissan platforms and other brands too

I did research on going fully adjustable, and the consensus with the 370z community was to go full SPL. Unfortunately I didn't find many useful reports for any of the other Z suspension makers. GKTech seemed interesting, but any discussion was quickly reduced to "buy SPL" (despite SPL being significantly more expensive then the alternatives).

 

[Who.Am.Eye.2716]

I did research on going fully adjustable, and the consensus with the 370z community was to go full SPL. Unfortunately I didn't find many useful reports for any of the other Z suspension makers. GKTech seemed interesting, but any discussion was quickly reduced to "buy SPL" (despite SPL being significantly more expensive then the alternatives).

Referral to purchase SPL is either they are rich and brand loyal, or go by the motto, "buy once, cry once". GKtech is a good affordable brand for suspension.

 

[alutwon]

are the SPL arms only available with the metal spherical bushings? since my car doesn't see the track I'd rather have nice comfortable rubber bushings, especially since lowering the car is already going to make the ride harsher.

 

[OptionZero]

Referral to purchase SPL is either they are rich and brand loyal, or go by the motto, "buy once, cry once". GKtech is a good affordable brand for suspension.

Referral to SPL is that they are actually that good. From suspension techs that work on the cars to people who use them at the track, across different brands or platforms, over many years.

No negative experience with GK Tech. They are an Australian brand, seems like they're getting their US side up. Seen then mostly used in drift community, as they offer steering mods for greater angle.

are the SPL arms only available with the metal spherical bushings? since my car doesn't see the track I'd rather have nice comfortable rubber bushings, especially since lowering the car is already going to make the ride harsher.

Spherical only. Its not a big deal. Lower profile tires and spring/damping are far greater factors in ride quality.

And I gotta say. . . you bought a $50,000 sports car. C'mon. No sense cheaping out on suspension, and worrying about ride quality is hilarious. Get better coilovers and the ride's fine.

 

[chadgigachad]

Referral to SPL is that they are actually that good. From suspension techs that work on the cars to people who use them at the track, across different brands or platforms, over many years.

No negative experience with GK Tech. They are an Australian brand, seems like they're getting their US side up. Seen then mostly used in drift community, as they offer steering mods for greater angle.



Spherical only. Its not a big deal. Lower profile tires and spring/damping are far greater factors in ride quality.

And I gotta say. . . you bought a $50,000 sports car. C'mon. No sense cheaping out on suspension, and worrying about ride quality is hilarious. Get better coilovers and the ride's fine.

Personally, I've got no issue with the buy once, cry once mentality. But when a full set of SPL FUCAs, midlinks, rear toe + camber arms is knocking at $5k, I'd be looking for savings.