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Do I need bumpsteer spacers


johndias831

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A few questions for the suspension forum. I am about to start the 280zx front strut upgrade and I was wondering wether KYB front inserts where any good for just a simple street set up. Another question is I am going to lower the car very slightly wondering wether the steering geoemtry will be changed enough to need bumpsteer spacers.

Thank you 

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If the vehicle is at the recommended ride height it is relatively free of bump steer effect. The more the tie rod ends tilt up (lowering) or down (raising) the more bump steer that is introduced.  I guess try it and see. I put up with it for a while but the car would get squirrely on corners where there was a dip or bump on one side. I made my own spacers out of 1/4" aluminum. Turned out 2 per side was enough to level the steering tie rods. Wish I had done it sooner. I can't believe I drove with it like that.
 
Any raising or lowering will affect the tire toe-in, so the proper bump steer spacer will also correct this. I held a carpenter's level up to the tie rod and estimated how much more the steering knuckle needed to come down to make the tie rods level again to eliminate it.
 
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Nothing much to look at but they can't be seen anyway. They do their job and cost $5 for the scrap aluminum. Oh yeah, you'll need longer bolts so another $7 bucks.

 

T5Uheyn.jpg

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> I was wondering wether KYB front inserts where any good for just a simple street set up.

The KYB Illumina white adjustable struts are great and last almost forever. The standard blue or silver ones are disappointingly soft and wear out easily.

 

>Another question is I am going to lower the car very slightly wondering wether the steering geoemtry will be changed enough to need bumpsteer spacers.

 

The socalled bumpsteer spacers are really roll center correctors and recenter the control arm to horizontal at ride height. This is a good thing for several reasons. The more important benefit is the spacers move the calipers so that the brake pads may be used beyond half way. When the calipers suddenly stop working under heavy braking without warning it is a bad thing.

 

Dennis

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