Upgraded to Z1 sway bars...

[GoldenUniverse]

Just finished getting Z1 swaybars and nismo links installed.

 

[MacCool]

Hey there! Just wanted to check in and see of you ever got to try out the softer setting on the sway bars.

I also don't want something too aggressive so I was hoping to get your feedback there.

Earlier this week I took it to a buddy who has a performance shop (just became aware that he’d opened it). We put it on the lift…I wanted to inspect because of the images of bent Nismo sway bars and annoying low-speed squeaking, as well as resetting from max-stiff to max-soft (Z1 bars have two holes, so three settings). Inspection showed that the bars were pristine and the bushings were bone dry (shop that installed them didn’t lube them even though they have zerks ). I moved all four end links to the outer-most hole (softest setting) and that turns out to be perfect for me (so far)…noticeably more pleasant for me to drive. If it turns out to be too soft after driving it a bit, I’ll move one end link on each bar to the inner mounting hole (intermediate stiffness) when I take the car back for oil/filter) next week.

 

[Paul]

Hi Mac, I'm from Sydney Australia. Thank you for your informative post re - Sway Bars. I actually ordered a set of Sway Bars from Whiteline ( An Australian company ) which should arrive shortly. Like yourself, I to found the new Z had a bit of body roll when driving spirited on the open roads. Fitting Sway Bars set correctly will definitely dial out some of that body roll set from factory settings. I have always set my Sway Bars on the softness setting on all my cars and it improves factory settings like night and day. Then a set of Michelins Pilot Sport 4s to finish it off. The Bridgestone's from factory are not my favorite choice of tyers in my honest opinion. Take care, Paul

 

[MacCool]

Hi Mac, I'm from Sydney Australia. Thank you for your informative post re - Sway Bars. I actually ordered a set of Sway Bars from Whiteline ( An Australian company ) which should arrive shortly. Like yourself, I to found the new Z had a bit of body roll when driving spirited on the open roads. Fitting Sway Bars set correctly will definitely dial out some of that body roll set from factory settings. I have always set my Sway Bars on the softness setting on all my cars and it improves factory settings like night and day. Then a set of Michelins Pilot Sport 4s to finish it off. The Bridgestone's from factory are not my favorite choice of tyers in my honest opinion. Take care, Paul

Solid plan, and very cost-efficient

 

[VR30Infection]

Interesting, the description does make sense though. How about rear traction? One thing I've been trying to really dial in is grip under open throttle. If it already breaks loose while at stock power it will be a mess as I dial it up. The R-pros are interesting because they're 16k spring rate in the front and 8k rear, which seems like it would give the car a good squat. But not totally sure. Still trying to wrap my head around how different sets will behave.

I was reading through this thread and thought I would help. The R-Pro kit is true coil over rear so the springs are closer to the wheel thus the spring rate doesn’t need to be as high. It has to do with the motion ratio of the suspension.

 

[5thZ]

Is the approach on the RZ34 similar to the 370z, for track purposes at least, to upgrade to a whiteline or Z1 front sway bar and leave the rear alone?

 

[VR30Infection]

Is the approach on the RZ34 similar to the 370z, for track purposes at least, to upgrade to a whiteline or Z1 front sway bar and leave the rear alone?

With the chassis being pretty much identical, if you had a 370 set up this way and wanted the same balance, then the answer would be yes. That being said, I do not think that “this is the way” I think that a lot of people take this approach but not everyone. There are a lot of factors to consider. If you want an understeer bias chassis and have the tendency to mash the throttle upon corner exit, then probably yes.

 

[weissk93]

So if I want the Z1 sway bars (with adjustable end links for maybe future upgrade), is the consensus to use the outer holes to get an OEM+ setup? Just looking to firm up the car when I make turns. I imagine these will feel a lot better than stock even on the "softest" Z1 settings. Can anyone confirm?

 

[VR30Infection]

So if I want the Z1 sway bars (with adjustable end links for maybe future upgrade), is the consensus to use the outer holes to get an OEM+ setup? Just looking to firm up the car when I make turns. I imagine these will feel a lot better than stock even on the "softest" Z1 settings. Can anyone confirm?

couple of questions…

1. Are you going to be installing them yourself?
2. Do you drive aggressively?
3. Have you ever pushed on the car in a corner hard enough to either loose front tire grip and have the car “push” or have you ever had the rear end step out on you?

 

[weissk93]

couple of questions…

1. Are you going to be installing them yourself?
2. Do you drive aggressively?
3. Have you ever pushed on the car in a corner hard enough to either loose front tire grip and have the car “push” or have you ever had the rear end step out on you?

Thanks for reply. I am having a shop install them. I like to punch the gas sometimes but I would not say I am aggressive driver. Rear end does not step out that much anymore now that I have Michelin Pilot Sports installed.

It seems that understeer is better than oversteer all else being equal for a normal driver. Therefore, either just installed a thicker front sway bar or installing both with the rear setting one step looser seems to be what people are saying.

Either way, it looks like the Z1 sway bars are out of stock until July. Nismo are out of stock too. What are people's thoughts on Stillen or any other brands I am missing?

 

[5thZ]

Thanks for reply. I am having a shop install them. I like to punch the gas sometimes but I would not say I am aggressive driver. Rear end does not step out that much anymore now that I have Michelin Pilot Sports installed.

It seems that understeer is better than oversteer all else being equal for a normal driver. Therefore, either just installed a thicker front sway bar or installing both with the rear setting one step looser seems to be what people are saying.

Either way, it looks like the Z1 sway bars are out of stock until July. Nismo are out of stock too. What are people's thoughts on Stillen or any other brands I am missing?

Hotchkis diameter is the same as the Z1 kit. The sway bars are the same (at least the front I am sure of) for the 370z and the Z

 

[peter]

Hi Mac, I'm from Sydney Australia. Thank you for your informative post re - Sway Bars. I actually ordered a set of Sway Bars from Whiteline ( An Australian company ) which should arrive shortly. Like yourself, I to found the new Z had a bit of body roll when driving spirited on the open roads. Fitting Sway Bars set correctly will definitely dial out some of that body roll set from factory settings. I have always set my Sway Bars on the softness setting on all my cars and it improves factory settings like night and day. Then a set of Michelins Pilot Sport 4s to finish it off. The Bridgestone's from factory are not my favorite choice of tyers in my honest opinion. Take care, Paul

I had the Whiteline kit installed, down in Wollongong, big difference

 

[VR30Infection]

You’re not going to go wrong really. Eibach makes them as well. The car is designed to understeer from the factory. I would personally just choose the ones that float your boat from a brand recognition standpoint or color and then just put them both on the softest setting (closest to the end). You really can’t go wrong with the companies that have been stated. Whiteline, Eibach, Stillen, Hotchkis. All good companies. Also, to adjust them is easy with hand tools so you can play around and test different settings.

 

[Bumflik]

 

[weissk93]

You’re not going to go wrong really. Eibach makes them as well. The car is designed to understeer from the factory. I would personally just choose the ones that float your boat from a brand recognition standpoint or color and then just put them both on the softest setting (closest to the end). You really can’t go wrong with the companies that have been stated. Whiteline, Eibach, Stillen, Hotchkis. All good companies. Also, to adjust them is easy with hand tools so you can play around and test different settings.

Thanks. If I went Stillen, which adjustable end links if I wanted to future proof. Will the Z1 end links work with Stillen or other swaybars?