Hey y'all,

Got a 2004 350z suspension ready to bolt into my sedan. Anybody know the tightening torque values of the nuts involved (front & rear) ? I want to do this this weekend and I obviously don't have a sercice manual.

Thanks!



Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!

 

Dan,

I just got mine too! I planned to do the swap this weekend, but found that the my wheel lock adapter is missing Had to order a new one...

Here's what you need.

Front:

Three upper 12mm strut bolts = 26-30 ft-lbs
Lower strut bolt = 52-62 ft-lbs
Sway bar endlink = 59-70 ft-lbs
Speed sensor line = 10 ft-lbs

Rear:
Upper two 12mm strut bolts = 26-30 ft-lbs
Lower strut bolt = 74-88 ft-lbs
Spring pan bolts (if needed) = 48-59 ft-lbs

Make sure you post your thoughts on the improvement. Take some before and after pictures to post if possible. I took some "before" height measurements and will get some "after" too. I plan to post all of this as well; it'd be good to compare notes.

Jim

2004 Ivory Pearl 6MT Sedan

 

Jim, YOU DA MAN !!

Thanks a lot. It looks like tuesday evening for me if all works out. I'll try to take pics but who knows how late I'll be starting.

I'll let you all know how things turn out.



Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!

 

Was thinking of the same thing.
Any idea of how much this will drop the sedan?

Looking forward to pics when you get it finished.
Be sure to do before & after (from same angles)

<font color=blue>________________
04 Silverstone G35, 5AT, Prem, Aero
ES100 225/45-18 front 245/40-18 rear
Painted calipers, side marker signals
Debadged INFINITI</font color=blue>

 

I can send you the PDF of that page from the Z manual, I don't have it for the G35 yet. PM if you would like it.....

2004 6MT Sedan-- Diamond Graphite
Stoptech 13" Brake kit-- Nismo S-tune Suspension
2003 Nissan 350Z--SOLD

 

This is probably a dumb question, but i wanted to know how does it effect handling? I Assume the 350z suspension was specificaly designed for the weight and size of the 350z, so putting the suspenion on a car with different weight cause any handling problems?

 

The Z suspension offers a number of improvements. Biggest benefit is superior control of rate of weight transfer. Turn in performance is night and day better, as is brake dive, and squat during acceleration and gear changes is all but banished. Inside wheel traction is also improved while cornering. The suspension makes the car much easier to read and communicates much better with the driver and allows you to extract more from the car. The setup makes the car a lot more enjoyable to push hard, it it much more of a tool in your hands.The sport suspension was something I put up with, being sport only in word, the Z suspension actually delivers what the platform promises. Don't get me wrong, it still could use 15% to 25% greater spring stiffness, IMO. And some will consider the firmness of the shocks, over the top.

"All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke

G35 6mt

 

Hi Guys,

Did the swap this evening. Sorry, no pics. Drove it around the block to settle things and make sure nothing was wrong. Dropped the car 1" in the front and about 3/4" in back. This may change since the springs/struts came off a brand new Z.

Anyhoo, I hope to get the alignment checked this week. Then it's off to the canyon roads for some "testing"

More to follow,



Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!

 

If memory serves me right, weights of the Z, sedan, and coupe are all pretty close. I think the Z roadster is actually the heaviest of the bunch, and it doesn't use special springs. And as far as weight distribution is concerned, all 3 cars are close enought to 50/50 or 53/47.

Drew
2003 G35 Sedan 6MT / Black / Graphite / Prem / Aero

 

Update:

Getting alignment tomorrow to put it back to stock specs. Since I think the rear has a little more negative camber than the front ( making the rear stick better in turns ) I may have them bias the front to the more negative side of the stock allowable range and have the rear set toward the less negative side. This may help reduce understeer.

I did take the car on a short romp this afternoon. Sweeeet ! Much less dive/squat. Corners flatter and will hang the tail out a little under power.

The real test is after the alignment and off to the canyons.

Later

Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!

 

Dan,

Got my fronts swapped out last night (drove it with stock sport rears, and didn't like it at all) and my rears swapped out tonight. I went for a quick 30 min drive. Me likey! I'll get my "after" pictures to post.

I'm going to drive it for a few days and then post my thoughts...

Jim

 

I just got my car aligned this morning. The front camber increased slightly but was still in specs. The left rear wheel increased in camber but the rears are adjustable. All of the toe settings were off.

This is how the car should have come from the factory and the sport suspension should be the stock configuration. The car still has a decent enough ride ( zero complaints from sensitive wife ), but the float is gone along with dive/squat.

I took it for a VERY SPIRITED canyon run this afternoon. This taxed the shocks on occasion but the car handled things very well, especially for it's size. Having a ton of power never hurts either. If I drove the canyons every day like I used to I'd be looking to change the shocks.

Before hitting the canyons I was thinking that larger adjustable swaybars were unnecessary, but now I may invest in a set. Then some wider wheels.

Overall this has got to be one of the easiest and important mods that can be done.


Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!

 

Dan,

I agree. The 350Z setup would be the better baseline for the G35 sport suspension. I have had the Cusco adjustable sway bars for about 6 months and the car really does handle well with the 350Z shocks/springs. A little firmer would be nice, but the price can't be beat. I think the weak link is the "high" profile, skinny tires; unfortunately new wheels probably wouldn't pass the Wasteful Improvements Fund Executive board (W.I.F.E.)

Thanks for posting your alignment results too. I've been searching for this information without success. Everyone talks about needing pricey adjustable camber arms or toe adjusters. It's nice to know that the sedan can still be brought back into spec with the 350Z suspension. I'm not surprised since the 350Z & G35's supposedly use the same aluminum suspension members (any community expert confirmation here??). You would think they share a similar adjustment range too.

Jim

P.S. I haven't performed the wife test on the ride quality yet...

 

Hi Jim ( and others )

Yeah, it was nice to see that the car stayed relatively aligned. The amazing thing to me is that for such a small change in height ( 1" front and 1/2" rear ) how much of a significant difference it makes in the appearance of the car.

I don't want to go too low on the tires so I've been thinking of going to 17 x 8 wheels with about a 40mm offset. That should put things about an inch toward the outside so the wheel wells will look "filled". Then I can get some more use out of the stock tires. Although Goodyear specs show 7.5" as the maximum rim width for the stock tires it probably wouldn't hurt them too bad until I replace them with 235/50-17's.

I'm considering the Kinetix swaybars for now. I wonder if they use poly or rubber bushings ? I prefer rubber since poly ALWAYS squeaks. That's a vote in favor of the Nismo's, although they lack adjustability. We'll see.

Later

Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!

 

Oops, meant to say Hotchkiss sways, not Kinetix

My bad !

Dan
Stevenson Ranch, CA

2004 6mt Sedan: Black on Graphite.
Just splash guards and trunk mat - NO OTHER USELESS CRAP !!!