Some of you may know that I have been working with Cobb for the design of some parts for the 350z. Well, I have done nothing but let them use my 07 for a testbed anyway They are starting to release some parts for both the 03-06 and the 07. They now have springs available as well as front and rear sway bars. Word has it that they will be doing a "stage 2" suspension kit that will include both the springs and swaybars together at a discounted price, so keep an eye out for that. Here is a link to the Cobb suspension page.
http://www.cobbtuning.com/categories/?id=3439

I will be having the springs and sway bars installed on Tuesday, and I will post some pictures then!

 

Web site say's .75"/.9" drop on 15% stiffer springs. If their development car was your 07 that mean's 361/492 spring rates. Can you confirm what they say the rates are (specific number's , not just %) and if the springs are linear or progressive?

Kind of interesting that the Hotchkis bar's are 4way adjustable in the front and the Hotchkis springs offer a simular drop.

 

I will ask Cobb and get back to you. I do not work there, so I do not know the numbers myself. And I believe the springs were developed on an 06, not sure though

 

Thanks, oem rates are as follow's

03/04
314/342

04.5/07
314/427

 

The rates for the Cobb springs are about 15% higher than the stock '06 rates front and rear. The Z has such a nice balance from the factory, we wanted to keep that yet give a lower stance with rate matched a bit better to the struts. And any fine tuning of balance can of course be done with the anti-roll bars.

BTW, I took my '06 out today on the Miller Motorsports west course. It was great. It was a Cobb track day so it was mostly Subarus and Evo's. But being an employee I only got about 5 laps, but that was enough time to get a better feel for the suspension. Up until now, testing had been done on the street. But now I can officially say they are great on the track too. Going to fast into a corner it had a mild but safe understeer. Taking a proper line in the corners I was able to get on the throttle very early on and power through with no udersteer. I was able to get it sideways if I tried, but it actually took an effort on my part.

 

I really wish I could have made it to Miller today with you guys.

 

Can you please ask if the sway bars are hollow or solid?

 

They are hollow.

 

Darn.

 

Are you out to leverage the highest possible amount of bar strength you can in the front for SCCA events? Otherwise do not try to run the stiffest bars you can find as a tuning method. High bar settings prevent independent suspension's from acting like independent suspension's, which is not a positive trait to give yourself. Sway's are ment to fine tune a already well sorted setup, use them to sweeten what is already sweet, to tune at the limit handling to your liking and your given setup. Avoid the numbers game and the fuzzy math by picking a front and rear adjustable setup that is made by a brand name you trust that sell's at a price point you feel is justified (check to see it's rear bar clears whatever exhaust system your running too). Their is nothing wrong with hollow bar construction in that context.

 

Got the springs and swaybars on today. Absolutely love it!!!! Car feels and looks great. I will get some pictures up asap.

 

did you take any pics of the drop yet?

 

Just got some pictures emailed to me from Cobb, so enjoy!

Side note - After having had this setup on for several days, I can tell you it feels amazing. In standard driving, ride quality feels stock, not harsh at all, but when I corner, I can feel a HUGE difference. It's incredible. Couldn't be much happier!

Before:

After:

 

but why opt for these when the Hotchkis, which is what these seem to be based on pictures and specs, is significantly less expensive? What makes this setup different, or more beneficial to vs the setups that are out there in wide use already I guess is what I am asking?

 

Good question, wonder if the Cobb guy can answer this, if they did any direct on track/off track comparo between the two, because lets be honest, both are very similar kits, and priced somewhat in the same ball park.

 

We did not compare ours and the Hotchkis. We did take it to the track to do same day comparison with stock suspension. We ran it with the Cobb stage 2 suspension first, then switched to stock. The improvement was just over 1.1 seconds on the Miller West track which is 1:49 on Cobb suspension.

 

From what I have read, Cobb has done some very badazz subarus, seen a few articles and I've been very impressed. I can still remember an article about the Cobb Coneblaster in Motor Trend. We will see if Z owners are as equally enthused about this kit.

 

I don't think anyone is questioning the quality of Cobb products. We all know what they've done for Subys.

I think the question here is for such a late comer to the market. Why are consumers going to pay a hefty chunk of change more for a product with no proven advantages over the tested long timers.

 

Oh I agree with you 110%, if I got some positive feedback that this kit was superior to the hotchkis, I might take the leap, but for what I have seen and read thus far, my vote would go to Hotchkis as the Cobb kit is too new.

I'll gladly offer my services to Cobb to test this kit free of charge and give feedback Hey, I'll even post a write up, as one of my best buddies has the hotchkis springs and sways on his Z, could do a nice little comparo between the two. Would be a nice article for people trying to decide on whats the ultimate 350z street spring/sway setup.

 

skated right around that one!