I have a 2004 Sedan that I'm looking to replace the shocks/struts on. I don't plan on lowering the car any. But I wouldn't mind a stiffer suspension. I'm at 100k miles and I'm fairly sure that these are the original shocks/struts. Are there some slightly more aggressive springs, but again I do not want to lower the ride at all... as it is the stock 19s rub the wheel wells when people are sitting in the back seat.

I've been looking at the Bilstein HD or KYB GR-2. Is there a significant difference between the two? The cost difference seems to be considerable. I've searched the forum here and have found a lot of people with lowered cars looking for recommendations on shocks but not many with stock shocks(ride height) and upgraded shocks/struts.

Can anyone recommend an upgraded shock? I wouldn't be opposed to new springs so long as I can maintain the stock ride height.

Thanks

 

If you have an 04 sedan, you do not have 'stock' 19s. If you mean stock coupe 19s (see my avatar) you should not rub, anyway, unless your tires are far too wide. If your sedan has black shocks, you could switch to the sedan sport setup (which has red shocks) and get a little stiffer setup. Or you could switch everything out for sport coupe springs/shocks (made by KYB IIRC) for only about 1/2" drop and stuffer yet.

It would cost you more to buy high-end shocks than to do the above, but from what I've heard, good aftermarket shocks like Tokico D-Specs or Konis are a nice addition.

 

For springs you could look for used ones from a sport model sedan.

Shocks/struts you could go adjustable - Tokico d-specs or Koni. I have d-spec rears on my 04x and like them a lot.

The other option of course is coilovers which will give you the ability to tailor ride height and stiffness. You can set the height to stock (or higher) with most if not all coils.

 

You're right I have the Coupe 19s, but they have 245/40-19 in back and they do rub when I have heavy passengers in the rear. This is what has led me to believe that lowering is not a possibility. What would cause this? Bad shocks/springs? If I got 350z or Coupe springs would it possibly be stiffer and not allow this sagging and eliminate the wheel rub?

 

I've got a set of stock 05 sedan sport shocks/struts and springs if you're interested.

If you are going to replace the shocks a good set for the price would be the Tokico HPs. They don't have the dampening adjustability the D Specs do but they are about $200 cheaper for all 4.

 

No, I have had coupe springs, z springs and sedan springs. My rear tire (passenger side only) would rub if I had rear passengers.

Are you sure your tires are rubbing? Do you have spacers?
I have 19x9.5 +40 offset w/255/35's in the rear and my tire would just slightly catch the inner fender upon hard cornering/rear passengers + cornering) I rolled my fender a little bit and it doesnt rub anymore...

If you want stiffer springs to keep from rubbing.....dont bother.
If you want a little stiffer spring for handling and want to lower slightly I would recomend Z fronts with coupe rears + tokico HP's.. firms the ride up nicely without being overly stiff.

just my .002 cents.

 

It shouldn't be too hard to eliminate the rubbing. Once you've got that squared away, go lower. The one inch drop you get from revised z suspension is really nice. Makes the car look better, it's cheap, and firms up the ride a bit without making it uncomfortable.
Also, if you're running Z suspension, you can just have the shop use alignment specs for a 350Z, and it should go into spec.

 

You should get your fenders rolled, then you wouldn't even need to worry about rubbing

 

grocery, I had zero problems with rubbing with 245/40s on the back, even with passengers in the back or massive amounts of tools and parts in the trunk, and only had to roll the rear fenders a little to eliminate rubbing with 255/35s. Make sure you're not running spacers, roll those fenders a bit if you need to, then feel free to drop her up to an inch.

 

I'm sure they were rubbing... but only when I have a heavy load of passengers. No spacers either.

The front height imo is too tall. I would like to lower the front for sure for looks and a stiffer ride. Would the car ride odd with lowering the front but keeping the rear stock? I plan to do the struts/shocks with the Tokico HPs.

If I go your recommended route with Z fronts and coupe rears... what shocks do I go with? The G35 struts/shocks all around or Z struts up front and coupe shocks in back?

 

^Either way will be fine.

 

Yeah, if you want a slight rake to your stance, go with the G/Z combo:



Easiest route is to go with the struts that come with the springs, especially on the front, since they usually come 'assembled', like so:

 

A note of caution on that ^ though... If you do decide to go with the Coupe/Z combo, don't get springs off a coupe with the sport package, the rear springs will be the same as revised Z springs, so you really won't accomplish anything.

I've been there.

 

My rears are coupe sports. OP, lots of good reading here:

https://g35driver.com/forums/brakes-...w-updates.html

 

^What year coupe sport?