I don't even have tracking numbers yet but I would like to be prepared to start my suspension installation as soon as the parts arrive. I ordered a JDM suspension kit for the Skyline 350gt coupe...aka Infiniti G35...coupe from Japanparts.com. I did not want the 1.25" total drop I would get from installing the 350z S-tune suspension on my G35 coupe even though the buying process would have been much easier and cheaper. I did order the S-tune sways from mynismo.com since I was very happy with my complete brake system upgrade that I received from them last September or so. Yes I have read many times about coilovers being better and adjustable...same with adjustable sway bars...but I don't think my amature driving skills and a few track days qualifies me as a better suspension engineer than those at Nismo.

Anyhoo that is what I hopefully get and some of the reasons why I chose what I did

First question...removing front struts

I have been studing directions I downloaded from 350zforum.com http://www.350zforum.com/tech/nismos...uspension.aspx and they instruct you to disconnect the hub assemble from the upper link. One post I read said the individual had a problem with that bolt spinning as they attempted to remove the nut I believe. One post I read said they used the stock jack to push the suspension down which does not sound like a good idea. One other person said they removed the two bolts holding in the upper arm of the suspension to the body of the car. I am inclinded to believe the tutorial I have down loaded and read is the best method, but are there any suggestions or tips from anyone...please?

Second wordy question...Potential parts to replace.

These parts are mentioned in the tutorial I mentioned...
rear upper spring insulator 55050-al506
rear lower spring insulator 55036-ag001
rear upper shock insulator 56217-am001
rear lower shock insulator 56218-ag000
rear shock body insulator 55338-al500

Is there any benefit to replacing these parts since I will be doing the labor and saving installation cost or just reuse the old ones?

 

Question 1: I have removed and replaced my front shocks a few times, and removed front shocks of a friend's Z also. I never encountered the problem you refer to. If you use a proper 6-pt socket and a breaker, you shouldn't have problems. Don't forget to use PB-Blaster on the nut. The added insurance never hurts...

Question 2: Reuse the old ones if they pass a visual inspection...make sure they aren't cracking or otherwise deteriorating. You wont have any issues if they look fine and are still flexible.

 

Oh, and FL represent! Bummer about all the rain lately though...

 

Awesome Thank you for the information. I won't complain about the rain though considering how dry it has been for so long. I am going to have to skip doing track days at Sebring to help offset the cost of buying the suspension but I a really excited about the upgrade! Now I must try to wait patiently the for parts to come...not easy.

 

the Z is probly the easiest car to do suspension work to that i have ever worked on... soo opena nd easy.

 

Because I have no life I take pictures of suspension parts straight from japan.





Does anyone have a Japanese to English converter!



I am a bit bummed the front struts did not come pre-assembled like I thought the US spec versions for the 350z do. I guess I will be renting a spring compressor... Hopefully the install will be this weekend.

 

Nice parts! FYI, you probably won't be needing a compressor for the fronts. For all of my installs, I haven't needed one anyway. The lower-than-stock springs will engage the threads on the piston without any issues. The only place you will have to be careful is when removing the upper strut mounting plate with the stock spring still compressed...I have done this several times without a compressor, but it can be a bit scary and you have to be very careful. It is by no means explosive, but if you remove the nut too quickly it can pack a wallop.

 

Well I have removed the front struts and they are at a local mechanic that is a life long friend of my neighbors along with the new struts and springs. He is going to assemble the new struts because I was fearful of the whole 300-500 pounds of pressure from the springs. I dropped them off before reading your post Quitman32 but it is cool. I got the car on jack stands, removed the old struts, removed the unter tray and "dry" fitted the new front Nismo sway bar in a little less than 2 hours. I would say that is great time and...so far easy job...for this amatuer mechanic only using hand tools.

My Stoptech SS lines almost proved to be too short when releasing the top link bolt. The steering knuckle leans out and it tugged the line a little but turning the wheel to the left for the left strut helped...and right for the right side. I don't think any damage to the lines occurs...the stress on the lines was not that much.

Today I will pic up the newly assembled struts, get them installed, and hopefully start on the back before I have to pick up my wife. The job will be finished Saturday. I will take a few pics today since I forgot the camera yesterday. I could never improve on the instructional post I linked to so I am not going to do a DIY thread like I did for the brakes and belt replacement.

 

Awesome update! Sounds like everything is going well.

I definitely noticed the same when installing my Stoptech SS lines. At first I was a bit concerned, but after settling on a position that resulted in the least pressure on the lines I felt comfortable. Now, over one year later, the lines haven't exhibited any wear that warrants concern.

Be sure to give us a review of the suspension once you have it in and tested. Looking forward to it.

 

I have not moved the car any farther than to get it off the ramps after removing the jack stands. The installation went absolutely flawless. An amateur mechanic, me, with only hand tools and a very thorough set of directions took a total of seven relaxed hours over two afternoons to complete the job. My friend could not believe how easy the G's suspension is to work on and frankly...neither could I! I will have to drive the car probably about a total of 50 miles before getting an alignment Monday My impressions from driving around on public roads will be posted shortly after but I will not be back to Sebring until November

Some pics













My friends garage. He had a lot more fun than this picture shows!


Me and my "new" ride.


I will post better pictures when the car and myself are clean and there is natural light.

 

Infiniti advertised this car as a luxury sport coupe. I just wanted a semi-practical sports car which is why I ordered a manual without the sunroof, dual climate control, blah, blah, blah. Practicality is also what swayed my buying decision to the G35 instead of the 350z which I also like very much. My first impressions of the car just driving home from my friends house, who had a garage to work in, is that my luxury sport coupe is now a practical sports car. The ride is firm yet not jarring. Rocking the wheel back and forth showed that there is a lot less body roll. I think I am going to be very happy because my first impression is very positive. I will have some fun with it after the alignment and report back

 

These are the closest comparison pictures I think I have
Before

After


Before

After


Before

After


Strut shot

 

Hey "dothemath"....how you liking it so far, ride height and feel? Better than your first impression?........I hope you got your alignment done.

 

I hope I did not give the impression that I was not happy The ride is A LOT firmer and there is practically no body lean in regular city driving. I think the drop was only about half an inch which is fine. Today is the first day I have been able to drive the car and I only went 35-40 miles. I purposely ran directly over some man hole covers and a crossed a set of railroad tracks on the way home and car did not feeling like it was crashing over the bumps for as firm as it is The car tracks straight as an arrow and the alignment is scheduled for monday. The result so far is exactly what I was hoping for. After Monday's alignment I will push the car a little and I am sure I will be totally satisfied. The final test of track day will not be until November to help offset the cost of the upgrade. Normally my next track day at Sebring would be in April.

By the way, the "dothemath" screen name is because I teach high school math when not pretending to be a race car driver

 

Well I got the car aligned and the camber specs are -1.2 for the front and -1.8 for the rear with left and right sides matching for both front and rear. The front toe needed a slight correction and the rear right side toe was out the most for some reason.

I of course do not push car around an interstate ramp like I do at Sebring because I am in public and there is no room for error on a ramp. I will say though that I did take a few of my local ramps at a comfortable fast pace after my alignment The car is now even more sensitive to changes to steering angle. There is very little time between moving the wheel and the car reacting. Before you would have to wait as the weight shifted and the outer front tire loaded before the car would turn...that has deminished greatly. On the other hand, the car does not react, or should I say over-react, so much to adjustments in the throttle. For example, you are taking an exit ramp spiritedly which has a decreasing radius and you lift the throttle slightly to tighten your line...or you are at the track midturn and the yoohoo in front of you brakes unexpectedly. With the oem suspension you feel the rear lighten up and start to rotate but it can be too abrupt at times if the suspension is near its limits. That sensation seemed more controlled yesterday on a local freeway ramp that has a decreasing radius. There is less squat under braking and hard excelleration. There is another ramp that goes from being a tight left hander then crests to a slight right hand bend as you merge onto the freeway. Before you could feel the rear get light as you transition from left to right while going over the crest...that feeling was also more controlled. Basically I am getting used to the stiffer ride and the spirited handling on the streets by my first impression...ROCKS!

 

Thats good news....glad to hear you're loving the setup, just don't get carried away and wreck something. Drive safe, always.

 

I will take your advice to heart

Keeping a car one makes their own in one piece is important. Even more important is your safety and the safety of others. When the mechanic drove my car to check the alignment he pointed out a huge oak tree with massive scar on the trunk. It was the result of a young man playing with his newly turbo'd car and wrapping it around the tree. The driver died and he almost took two kids playing outside with him.