lowering 280z

11404 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by dreamteam, Mar 29, 2011

mydatsun280z

Discussion Starter · Mar 25, 2011

I was wondering if lowering my 280z would mess up wheel alignment? Does the drive shaft have to be shortened? With a 280z the control arms aren't adjustable. So if the alignment needed to be fixed, how would it fixed?

Thank you,
Caleb Taylor

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1 - 18 of 18 Posts

dreamteam

· #2 · Mar 25, 2011

Yep, lowering your car will mess things up' Factory ride height is that way for a reason.
That being said, it all depends on how much you lower your car
Taking one coil out of your springs probably won't affect your alignment much.
Going lower will likely require dropped spindles,now it gets expensive.
You may get more info at hybridz.org.

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skittle

· #3 · Mar 25, 2011

Driveshaft stays the same length, 1-2" drop is normal with aftermarket springs and struts. Lower than that you'll need to upgrade to coil overs.

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eddieeats

· #4 · Mar 26, 2011

I used Tokiko lowing springs which brought her down 1" then I used 14" wheels with 60's on them and that dropped her down another 2", I didn't mean to do that but after all the upgrades to the suspension she is on rails and the muffler sits about 4" off the ground now. I did have to install bump steer spacers up front to correct the steering for bump steer but no change with anything else.

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jeff g 78

· #5 · Mar 26, 2011

eddieeats said:
I used Tokiko lowing springs which brought her down 1" then I used 14" wheels with 60's on them and that dropped her down another 2"...

There is NO WAY your car dropped 2" with 60 series tires. At most it dropped 3/8" due to tire diameter.

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Riv

· #6 · Mar 26, 2011

I did the 1" Tokico Spring drop on my 78 and had no problem getting it aligned. I would get a pair of bump steer spacers because I have noticed a small jump over small bumpe & or pot holes. It's on the list.

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jeff g 78

· #7 · Mar 26, 2011

Riv said:
I did the 1" Tokico Spring drop on my 78 and had no problem getting it aligned. I would get a pair of bump steer spacers because I have noticed a small jump over small bumpe & or pot holes. It's on the list.

I did the crossmember mod on my 260 racecar and it has no bumpsteer. My '78 with tokico springs is terrible for bumpsteer, so I will do the mod on that car next.

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nilsey

· #8 · Mar 26, 2011

i lowered my 76 280Z with a tokico illumina shocks + springs kit. i found after a couple thousands miles that the front aligment was ok but that the rear had developed a toe in. I was experienceing wear on the outer edges of teh rear tires. i owned this car for serveal years porevious and had not noticed such wear.

i bought a camber kit from MSA for both front and rear and replaced the worn rear tires, took it to an alignment shop and had the car aligned and camber set. i haven't run enough miles yet to notice if it fixed my problems with uneven tire wear... if and when i do i'll post something on it.

here's teh history:

http://www.zcar.com/70-83_tech_disc...gs_lowering_888941.msg2655829.html#msg2655829

http://www.zcar.com/70-83_tech_disc...re_tread_wear_881007.msg881007.html#msg881007

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Matt 78Z

· #9 · Mar 28, 2011

You should keep an eye out for some drop spindles!

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jeff g 78

· #10 · Mar 28, 2011

Uh yeah....

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nilsey

· #11 · Mar 28, 2011

... yeah i should also mention i replaced the tesnion rod bushings with the T/C kit from MSA:

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/PSDC10/23-4190

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JohnH

· #12 · Mar 28, 2011

dreamteam said:
Yep, lowering your car will mess things up' Factory ride height is that way for a reason.
That being said, it all depends on how much you lower your car
Taking one coil out of your springs probably won't affect your alignment much.
Going lower will likely require dropped spindles,now it gets expensive.
You may get more info at hybridz.org.

Where can you find these dropped spindles for a Datsun Z car (s30)?

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dreamteam

· #13 · Mar 28, 2011

JohnH said:
Sorry, I don't know that you can. Fabrication may be the only way.

Where can you find these dropped spindles for a Datsun Z car (s30)?
[/quote]

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jeff g 78

· #14 · Mar 28, 2011

wow...

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skittle

· #15 · Mar 28, 2011

Dreamteam you might want to figure out how to use the quoting system a little better...

Just for chits and giggles what about airbag suspension huh? j/k

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JohnH

· #16 · Mar 28, 2011

dreamteam said:
JohnH said:

Sorry, I don't know that you can. Fabrication may be the only way.

Click to expand...

Where can you find these dropped spindles for a Datsun Z car (s30)?

[/quote]

That is what I'm getting at. No one that I know of makes them on mass for S30's. Datsun pickups yes. The spindles are non removable from the strut housing on s30's. Typically for lowering s30's beyond 2" the strut housing would be sectioned. The strut housing is cut down & a spring perch welded on to hold an adjustable collar. This is done to lower the car & to keep the shock travel within optimal working range. I believe there are non strut sectioning setups in the works but have not been following their development as I already have sectioned struts on my car.

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dreamteam

· #17 · Mar 29, 2011

skittle said:
Dreamteam you might want to figure out how to use the quoting system a little better...

Just for chits and giggles what about airbag suspension huh? j/k

Quoting system?, I'm lucky I can use the computer!

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dreamteam

· #18 · Mar 29, 2011

skittle said:
Dreamteam you might want to figure out how to use the quoting system a little better...

Just for chits and giggles what about airbag suspension huh? j/k

Quoting system? I'm lucky i can use the computer!

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