I'm going to be getting something this month and I've always planned on getting the Nismo since it is stiffer than stock, and retains good ride quality.

My car is a daily driver and I've had too many cars with harsh rides so I'm taking it easy this time. I'm also going to do at least 4 track events per year and an occasional auto-x.

After searching for reviews on the Nismo it seems alot of people recommend Koni's and a aftermarket spring. I love Koni's and have had 2 sets of them on previous cars but, my problem is with the aftermarket springs. They all seem to lower the car too much or are softer than the stock springs or both. I dont want to put on a softer spring and lower my car wouldnt that defeat the purpose of making the car handle better?

So I'd like to hear some thoughts on the Nismo and then other spring set-up's and which are actually stiffer than stock.

 

After doing some research it looks like the RS-R Ti springs might be a good spring to match the Koni's, since they are stiffer, linear, and keep the same balance from front to rear. Also these will come in cheaper than the Nismo.

Does sound like a good combo?

 

I am running the Koni/Stock spring combo and I am happy with it. Really don't want to lower the car. The Konis were tested with the stock '03 springs FWIW.

 

that's the setup I have and it did the trick for me. but I'm not an auto-x'er, I just do road courses. I you do get the koni/rs-r setup, I recommend setting the shocks to med. front and med/firm in the rear.

 

I am interested in this as well, I am done having cars with harsh rides. I was hoping Koni would make those new FSD shocks for the 350Z but so far they have not said they would.

I am in the same boat about the springs too, have no idea what would give me a similar ride hight to Nismo. I may just break down and buy the Nismo at some point but who knows.

Chris

 

Im running Koni yellows w/ eibach springs & sways w/ 18" nitto nt555's. I love the setup car rides over bumps like a dream while sticking to the pavment.

Car is very low and has trouble working its way up an alliment rack

 

I just Installed the Nismo s-tune and it kicks ***. The only thing i dont like is the price. feels like a different car.

 

I just Installed the Nismo s-tune and it kicks ***. The only thing i dont like is the price.

 

I'm running the Koni Yellows w/ the Hotchkis TVS Stage 1 kit & I think the difference is night & day. Springs are linear as well & only lowers the car no more than an inch which means no need for aftermarket camber arms. You will still be able to stay within spec with your OEM camber arms. Currently they are set on the following:

Koni = Full Soft
Sways = Hard (F) & Medium (R)

 

Out of curiosity, did you install everything at once?

What makes konis "better" than stock shocks? Just the fact that they are adjustable, keeping the wheels to the ground better, better cornering, or what?

 

Yes, I installed everything at once so I can't really give you a review of how it was with each part.

As far as the Konis, the valving has been recalibrated to better suite the OEM suspension with the ability to adjust the rebound. This setup helps reduce the dreaded "bounce" symptom that a lot of the earlier Z's had. Here is a full review which may better explain this than I would: https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....highlight=koni . These shocks seem to be very popular with the AutoX folks so you can probably check in with them as well on how it handles at the track. I primarily got these particular shocks to help eliminate the "bounce" that my 03 Z had which was really annoying & I would say it does.

 

Thanks GTNPU for the link and review. I think I'm going with just hotchkis springs and sways for now, maybe down the road I'll get the koni's. For now, the 05 suspension doesn't seem bad at all to me.

 

I heard that the Koni shocks actually have less compression then the stock shocks. From what I have been told, this is not what you want for track use.

 

Jason H is running the Konis on his T2 car FWIW.

 

wired

i noticed you posted in another thread looking for spring suggestions as well. if you like the 2005 suspension (as you mentioned in your post), just be aware that by going hotchkis you will be decreasing the rear spring rates to similiar to the 2003 OEM rates, while slightly increasing front spring rate

>2004.5 OEM
front 310 or 314 lb/in depending on source
rear 427 lb/in

Hotchkis
front 340 lb/in
rear 330 lb/in

this will introduce more understeer and be less firm in the rear; if that's what your looking for, you got your springs! and I might add that many on this board have reported that they are very pleased with hotchkis springs.
if you want the car to behave similiar to the 2005 setup, RSR's may be a better choice
RSR
front 345 lb/in
rear 417 lb/in

both springs are linear or near linear just like stock
hope that helps

pp

 

Thanks for the recommendations -- I appreciate the info.

 

I have the Nismo suspension setup and really like it. It certainly took the bounce out of my 03 model. I have also heard good things about the Koni shocks and the Hotchkis sways and springs. About a year ago I went to a show sponsored by Hotchkis and looked at their suspension kits for the Z. If I didn't already have the Nismo kit I would have purchased the Hotchkis sways and springs. They are nice and the sway bars are adjustable.

 

I was pretty sure that they determined that the rears are around 350, but I could be wrong.

 

Looking at the spring specs, I may just start with the Hotchkis swaybars and see how that goes.

Chris

 

thawk
you are correct in that the 2003 - 2004 OEM rear rate has been reported on this board as anywhere between 330-350 lb/in

the 2004.5+ OEM rear rate has been reported as increased to 427 lb/in

since wired24/7 has a 2005 make year I showed his OEM rates compared to hotchkis. it should be noted again that many members are very pleased with the hotchkis spring rates and their product quality. this was only to assist in showing where he is now and where he would go

however, I have not personally measured the OEM spring rates, only repeating what has been reported by respected members of this board

pp