Hello all,

I've been having this dilemma after dropping my g35x with unrevised z springs. I've posted similar threads on the "sticky about x's" but I figured maybe the general public can help me on this. I'll try to make it brief as possible. After the dropped, my rear has severe negative camber (-2.5 and -2.9). The ride is a little stiff and the oem shocks doesn't seem like it can handle the z springs. I also might be getting rub on the fender after the drop (small cuts on the top side wall of the tire). So here's my dilemma:

1) Slap the stock springs back in, shell out a few more hundred bucks, call it a day and go back to stock. Seems like the consensus is, I shouldn't do this because the drop just looks so damn good.

2) I am fine with the front drop but the rear drop is bit low for me especially when I load people in the back. I can try coupe springs in the back but I am getting conflicting issue about the height of coupe springs vs z springs. I was under the impression that coupe springs can bring the car another half inch higher so I can get the camber back to a closer spec. Yet, I've also read that the coupe springs are the same heights as the z springs.

3) Fix the rear camber with a kit and then roll the fenders afterward. I don't have a clue how the camber kits work. If you guys can shed some light, I would greatly appreciate. Where does the camber kit mount? Will the camber kit need to be removed if I need suspension work in the future (like changing shocks/springs). What camber kit works for the X? I've read Kinetics are affordable. How much does it cost to install rear camber kit?

Sorry to have such a long post. If you guys want to see pictures or more details, let me know and I'll post them.

As always...thanks for any response.

 

The rear camber is adjustable to a degree, unlike the front. I'd say spend the $50-70 and get some Coupe springs and install them in the rear just to see what happens. The X's suspension is a bit different than my RWD's so maybe there is the possibility that the Coupe springs may raise the rear of your X.

 

the rear geometry of the X is the same as the RWD. no worries there.

dropping your vehicle on springs is never a perminent solution.
someone mentioned tein helping him out with a full blown kit.
I would say just bare with the ride untill that kit comes out.

you will be fine, no worries

 

The kit is for shocks/springs right? Not a camber kit?

Neal, don't you need to fix your camber issue too? I believed you have toe issue also.

 

Get a realignment ... they can def. do better than that.

I have pretty much the same set up as you and my camber is still off, but acceptable in my opinion and much better than that. and I had to go back for a 2nd alignment to get the numbers I have (see here)

 

well, IMO, you should go with some coupe/Z shocks (revised) that can handle the punishment of the Z springs that are shorter and have more spring force.

OR

If you wanna do it right (and have the right budget), you can go for sth like Tokico D-spec, which has many postive comments from users on this board

 

Hmm...thanks. I'll see if anyone is selling coupe springs. The thing is everytime I try something, I need to shell out labor $. It's adding up.

 

toe sh-moe!

my car is fine!



I dont care, ill just wait until a kit comes out. my tires seem to be running fine

 

How much did you pay for your lifetime alignment at firestone? Maybe I should get a lifetime alignment so I can have it adjust a few times. Right now I am paying $60 per alignment.

Since you have the same tire size as mines, are you getting any tire rub? My offset is higher than yours but I think I am getting small little cuts on the top of the tire sidewall (which might be from rubbing)

 

Let's see if you guys can take a stab at this for me.

I just noticed 3 of the 4 avon tires have very small horizontal cuts on the top of the sidewalls. I understand if the rears are being cut by the inner fender but I don't see how that can happen to one of the front tires. Has anyone noticed their tires with little cuts after being lowered?

Below is a shot of the cut being circled in green. The rest of that "line across" are from the tire gel that I applied a couple days ago. If I use fingernail and push the "cut area" up or down, it's clearly a cut inside. Not deep but it's not a scratch for sure.

Is this what happens when the tire rubs against the fender. I've never lowered any of my previous cars before so I don't know what the symptons are when the tire rubs against the fender.

 

I don't know much about rubbing & what the cuts would look like, but let me ask you two questions which may put your mind at ease:

1) Do you know for a fact that these weren't there when you got your tires?
2) (more importantly) - are the cuts in random places like you circled, all the way around the tire, or just in select spots? The reason I ask this is if your tire were rubbing, how could it "cut" in only these small locations only? I would think that if you tire were to "rub", then it would be a much longer area that is affected (since your tire is spinning at a very high RPM while driving, the area that will have contact will be very large) and also, I don't think you'd get a literal "cut" in the tire, yet you would have more like an abrasion from rubbing.

Anyone agree/disagree with me?

 

1) That I am not sure. I never pay attention to the sidwall before. Sorry...

2) There are small cuts. But they are all about the same size and. It's random around the tire. Maybe 5 or 6 spots. The reason I asked is because I never had tire/fender rub so I don't have a clue how it looks.

 

Hey bro if you want to fix your rubbing roll your fenders.

I own a professional fender rolling tool that I have rented out to a few forum members for $40 + shipping. You can find them online for rental at about $50-75. I offer the $40 rental to G35 forum members only so if you are interested or want more information then send me a PM, but rolling your fenders is the clean way to fix the rubbing issues once and for all without damaging your car.

Gl

 

DaveB, should I just get the coupe springs or should I consider coupe shocks or z shocks for the rear also? Since I believe the rear is the same for awd and rwd. Will those combo throw the car off???

I got a couple of sellers PMed me for their 04 coupe springs. One of them have 30k miles and the other 40k miles. Is that alot of mileage on the springs?