edekalil Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Any options on the best way and how much should you shorting it by? Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 How low to you want to go? You can just cut the perch and lower it to your liking. 1 Quote Link to comment
KoHeartsGPA Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Grind down the weld below the perch, buy couple clamps, slide perch down as needed. Recommended: 280zx strut insert, stiffer spring.....you can cut yours couple coils. 1 Quote Link to comment
KoHeartsGPA Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Here's all your info... http://community.ratsun.net/topic/67505-lowered-my-spring-perch-now-what/ 1 Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Well I have these older springs that are I think a couple inches shorter than original springs. But you have to shorting the strut to get more travel so they do not bottom out. I'm thinking it could be shortened to take a 280 zx Shock cartridge but would that give it enough travel with out bottoming out. I only plan to lower a wagon or car a couple of inches using these springs I have putting the locking collers below the old spring perch so the springs can sit on the perch like normal. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Keep in mind that you can't lower it forever. Every inch lower than the stock ride height is one inch closer to bottoming the strut out. Only way to be safe (totally safe) is a shorter strut like the zx / Maxima (an advantage to this is monster calipers and larger vented rotors) or cut your strut and fit MATCHING length inserts inside them. (requires welding) If only going a couple of inches you can lower the spring perch. Your suspension travel will be the same so hitting that same dip or bump on the ride home? Well you are now 2-3" closer to bottoming the exhaust out. If lowering, and you have the spring out anyway, judiciously trim it and the spring will become stiffer. Now the suspension travel is reduced and you have some leeway. You probably will find the ride is improved also as the stock springs are somewhat soft. There is some easy math for working out the spring rate if you take a few measurements on your coil spring. The PL510 coil should be 'about' 89 lb/in. You can confirm this and also work out how much to cut off to increase it by 50% say 150 lb/in. This is very conservative because once cut you can't put it back. This is what I did on my 710 coils so if I can work this out, I'm no math wizard, anyone can. If you need help let me know. Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Will do Mike and thanks for the info. I will get some pics of what I have from the past and see what my best options are to use it on my wagon for the front. I have the spacers for the rear axel. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Ahh good... a goon, way easier to lower than a sedan. The lowering is 'bolt in' easy. Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Ya I have found several older parts from the past not like what they have these days and figured why not use it, shorter springs bought that way back then not cut , camber plates, bumpsteer spacers, I figured shorting it to fit a 280zx cartridge and since it is older stuff I have the springs will fit the 510 perch and I can use the clamp on coller to support the perch. Just thought I would use it on the wagon I plan to get up and running. While it is on jack stands to redo the brakes it would be the easiest to install a setup to lower it a couple of inches or so. Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 I do have plans for a sedan but no real time yet to get back on it. I took it apart way way back and started but life got in the way. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 14, 2016 Report Share Posted March 14, 2016 Did you have a dog driving in your old avatar? Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 No it should be a pic of the wagon from back in the mid 90s when I first put on the springs and lowered the wagon with out shorting the strut and the perch in its original spot. Only problem was it would bottom out in the front and I believe the way to fix that was to shorting the strut back then it had something about with the shorter spring you lost some of the travel of the strut causing it to bottom out. 1 Quote Link to comment
Laecaon Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 280zx strut, Stock spring, lowered perch. 195 50 R15 tire. Never bottomed out. ZX struts are like 2" shorter. 3 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 Well if you can find them, as Laecaon suggested, replace them with struts from a '79-'83 280zx. They have a larger wheel bearing diameter than the 510, are shorter to begin with, much much larger caliper and a larger diameter vented rotor. I'm running a Maxima strut and although I didn't measure it, it is shorter as well. .........................................510...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,... A10...................................... zx struts. ZX is actually shorter because it's sitting on it's larger diameter rotor. The strut tube depth on the 510 is 405mm the zx is 376mm so 1.14" right there. The 510's tp hat probably lowers it also. 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 I didn't shorten my zx struts either. I am right above the point to where they will bottom out though. Initially they did.. then I just raised it a little bit more.. and problem solved. Lowered on 280zx struts and D50 springs. had an issue with the front end bottoming out. Fixed that today and drove around a bit. Aligned it with some string to 1/16th inch toe in on both. 1/8th overall. I need to take it in and have it done And get my wheels balanced. 3 Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 So if I get the stock 510 struts shortened to fit a 280zx insert I can set the stock 510 perch at a point where the ride height is good with the stock style springs that will lower the car 2 inches. I can use the collers that clamp together under the perch to keep the perch at the height that should work out I figure. I have some 280zx struts but want to use them on another 510 I have that I plan to put an L20B I have in. I'm just trying to use up some of the old school parts that are still fine so there not sitting around doing nothing. I figure I will buy newer up to date components for the car I plan to put L20B in later because that 510 is all apart and the other cars are all together and running at this time and that way I can keep them that way, I don't plan to drive them hard just around town. I hope that makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment
KoHeartsGPA Posted March 18, 2016 Report Share Posted March 18, 2016 That's what I'm doing, just oredered the clamps from fastenal $14ea :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
qwik510 Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 The Dime Quarterly online back issues have so much great information. 12 years worth of technical how to articles, and lots of other great 510 info. Link to back issues on google docs. https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0ByCvxnHNk90SYzc4N2E1MWEtMzg0MC00YTE4LTkxZGQtM2RjODA5ODA1YjU1/edit Here is an article on strut shortening. 3 Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Thanks I will check out the info and get them shortened to fit the 280zx insert and plan to use them on the goon because it will be the easiest to lower while it is up on jack stands while doing the brakes and clutch master and slave, wheel cylinders. I do miss the goon because I drove it from 88 to about 04 daily befor parking it for a way too long time. Thank you everyone. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Jesus, muffler clamps??? I feel way better now with my split collars. 2 Quote Link to comment
qwik510 Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Jesus, muffler clamps??? I feel way better now with my split collars. I'm running split collars too. Had them on this car since 2007. No issues. Had them on the car before that for 14 years. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted March 19, 2016 Report Share Posted March 19, 2016 Mine are 'rated' at 6K pounds each. I imagine under ideal conditions but even hand tight you can't slip them. It was mentioned that a sudden shock can exceed 6K maximum but not with tires, springs and good shocks to absorb it, I would think. I did hit some train tracks a bit hard once and pretty sure the front end came off the ground. Very firm ride no bottoming. After this I MIG'd a small weld under the collar so it can't slip down. I'm very happy to have made an adjustable ride height for about $25 and don't have ten times this tied up in coil overs that are just along for the ride. 1 Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 Thanks for the info Mike, I bought a couple of sets of those split collars you mentioned in another thread some time back from Granger's. So now I have to get back on the goon and lower it some. Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2016 I didn't shorten my zx struts either. I am right above the point to where they will bottom out though. Initially they did.. then I just raised it a little bit more.. and problem solved. Is that the car you used the bushings in I sent ya, it looks good. Quote Link to comment
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