Most practical way to go 3" lower on 910?

[weasel]

I am just getting into 910's and come from the oldschool corolla world. I know these have front inserts Macpherson strut suspension. I am wanting to barely tuck tire (0 finger gap) and want to run a good amount stiffer spring rates. What rates are you guys running at this ride height? Also is cutting the strut tube and fitting a shorter shock insert the way to go? If so, how much strut casing do I cut and what shock insert works best? Also, is there a ground control coilover spring/sleeve for these 910's or one from another car that fits these? The car is going to be my daily and honestly don't really need coilovers but imo is the easiest best bang for buck. No I don't want to cut stock springs to go lower. I am wanting a quality setup. Also what camber plates fit these?

[datzenmike]

Cutting the strut tub is one way to go. You can cut and re-thread the top or remove a section and re-weld the threaded top back on. You'll need shorter inserts that match the cut strut tube or are shorter than the tube. I'm guessing 1 1/2" shorter strut and lower 1 1/2" by adjusting the ride height, if on much stiffer springs and there is little risk of bottoming the strut.

 

I have a set of Maxima (910) struts on my 710  wagon and I worked the original Maxima spring rate out to 150 lb/in. just to see what they were. (the coil springs are too large a diameter for the 710) The string rate you want can only be decided by YOU. It's very personal and what works for some, or most, may not be agreeable for you. My 710 stock spring was 100 lb/in and I trimmed it to increase it to 150, a 50% increase. My front was lowered 2.5 inches using split collars (on top of the 3/4" shorter Maxima strut) and although some recommended over 200lb/in+ I find 150 is very firm, well, for me. Again, this is very subjective and like asking how much sugar I should you put in your coffee. Cutting the spring for free to get 200 lb/in is no different than buying a $100 set of 200 lb/in springs. Two hundred is two hundred. And the stock springs fit the top hats and the bottom perches. You could do this to find what you like and then buy 'quality springs' and switch them later.

 

The working out of any spring rate is not voodoo. Just make a few simple measurements of your spring, multiply and divide some numbers and .... that's it. By doing this you can work out in advance how much to trim in order to increase to a known value. It is one way though, increase the rate past what you like and you can't go back. Preferable to buying 2 or 3 sets of stiffer springs that are not what are advertised and are too soft or too hard.

 

So for $25 I have an adjustable ride height on 50% stiffer springs.

 

For an additional $17, I replaced the thin stock oil in the original dampers with 20W motorcycle shock oil to firm them up. Thicker is harder to push through the damper valves. If your dampers inside the strut tube have been replaced with inserts this won't work. 

 

Just an option. Something to think about.

[Lockleaf]

For modified coil over info, read Trashys 810 coilover thread. What he does should also work for you.

[datzenmike]

The 810 coils are smaller diameter and struts may be longer, otherwise.....

[ArchetypeDatsun]

Read threw this.

 

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/58104-1984-910-scraper-raper-the-shakotan-death-sled-with-twin-included/

[Trashy]

ya check my post, if you have access to a welder it really isnt hard, even if tubes are different size, you could make it work the same either way with a little ingenuity

Basically here is how the coils are together