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struts and springs for street car with light track use.

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Old Feb 16, 2017 | 07:23 AM
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Default struts and springs for street car with light track use.

So I have a 2003 track model car that I got my hands on 2007 nismo struts and springs from a buddy. They only have 30k miles on them. I just got 370z sport wheels. Tires size I'm going with is 255/35r19 front 285/35r19 rear.

With the 19's is my size going to look like a truck? If so I was looking at a couple options.

Cut the nismo springs.
BILSTEIN B12 Pro-Kit Suspension Kit NISSAN 350Z B12 Pro-Kit Suspension Kit
I love bilstein but not a fan of EIBACH.
BILSTEIN Performance - B8 Performance Plus with TEIN S.Tech Lowering Springs

I'm looking for performance first looks second on this part of the car. I don't want to lower any more than 1.3 inch I live in a city that doesn't take care of there roads.
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Old Feb 16, 2017 | 12:20 PM
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It depends more on the overall profile of your wheel than the rim size.






Have you ever thought about going with a coil system? So you can adjust accordingly?


B14's PSS are only a couple hundred more than B12's + springs.
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Old Feb 16, 2017 | 12:54 PM
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I rode in a 350z with tein lowering springs...worst ride ever. I'll take stock anyday over the slight performance increase with stiffer springs. Tires will make most of the difference anyways.
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Old Feb 16, 2017 | 01:22 PM
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I ditched my tein for eibach with a quickness.....hated the tein's
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Old Feb 16, 2017 | 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by ssmokeyy
So I have a 2003 track model car that I got my hands on 2007 nismo struts and springs from a buddy. They only have 30k miles on them. I just got 370z sport wheels. Tires size I'm going with is 255/35r19 front 285/35r19 rear.

With the 19's is my size going to look like a truck? If so I was looking at a couple options.

Cut the nismo springs.
BILSTEIN B12 Pro-Kit Suspension Kit NISSAN 350Z B12 Pro-Kit Suspension Kit
I love bilstein but not a fan of EIBACH.
BILSTEIN Performance - B8 Performance Plus with TEIN S.Tech Lowering Springs

I'm looking for performance first looks second on this part of the car. I don't want to lower any more than 1.3 inch I live in a city that doesn't take care of there roads.

CK makes a good point about height adjustability for track use. But you really have to just weigh the street vs. track ratio to make a decision.

The PSS shocks aren't drastically different (comfort) than B6/B8.... but as you adjust height downwards to lower the car, it does firm up simply from the compression on the spring..

I'm big on static (as many might know if you've read my pro-Bilstein input) and while you may not like Eibach (for whatever reason.... I love my ProKits), there's a LOT of different springs you can choose to pair nicely with the 'Steins as they'll handle most any rate street spring you throw at them.

H&R, Tanabe GF210s, Swift, among the most mentioned favorably.

S'far as your wheels/tires, perfect size. Those are the closest ones to stock (a little taller but F/R ratio is perfect). FWIW, that's my go-to setup NOW and I love it. (Although all my other 4-5 sets of past and present 19s are 245/275 with only the newest in the sizes you mention. Either setup is close enough).

I'm entertaining the thought of running those Sport Z34 wheels with the spare tires I have but not in any hurry. Was going to run my Nismo Z34s but those are now on my son's car.
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Old Feb 18, 2017 | 04:55 PM
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I would love to run H&R sport springs but it seems like not many people use them on are cars. If u could with the swift spec r springs or eibach pro do I have to get toe and camber kits? Is the eibach better handling than factory spring? I'm going to use the factory 350z nismo struts until I order better ones later

Last edited by ssmokeyy; Feb 18, 2017 at 05:16 PM.
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Old Feb 18, 2017 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by ssmokeyy
I would love to run H&R sport springs but it seems like not many people use them on are cars. If u could with the swift spec r springs or eibach pro do I have to get toe and camber kits? Is the eibach better handling than factory spring? I'm going to use the factory 350z nismo struts until I order better ones later
GENERAL rule of thumb:

If you stay above -25mm/-1" lowering (less than), the odds are good that you'll be OK without alignment correction. Camber and front caster will still be affected but likely you will stay within or just slightly out of range. No big deal. Toe will be the most affected but at least standard toe adjustment when you go for alignment can be done without any addit. hardware.

Does Eibach handle better than stock? Stock-stock springs? Or stock Nismo springs?

OK, I didn't look to see what car you have but I would say that if you're running a full Nismo shock/spring combination, it's hard to beat that combination s'far as a factory set up is concerned (unless shocks are worn). Therefore, Eibach will offer only a marginal increase in performance.

But if not full Nismo and/or your shocks are worn, Eibach will easily outperform so long as you have good Nismo shocks or other aftermarket performance shock that can tame them.

EDIT: Just went back to your original post and see the setup.... see comment above now highlighted.

Last edited by MicVelo; Feb 18, 2017 at 09:17 PM.
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Old Feb 18, 2017 | 10:24 PM
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I have the 350z nismo strut and spring set but haven't ever used them yet. I would love to but my fear is im going to look like a truck with them. Still thinking about cutting one coil off. There so stiff that it should be stiff enough to handle good.
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Old Feb 19, 2017 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by ssmokeyy
I have the 350z nismo strut and spring set but haven't ever used them yet. I would love to but my fear is im going to look like a truck with them. Still thinking about cutting one coil off. There so stiff that it should be stiff enough to handle good.
Not a good idea.

The MATCHED Nismo spring/shock combination is what makes the Nismo suspension so good. It's firm and controlled. Cutting the spring changes that dynamic and will accelerate wear of the shocks as they work overtime to control the increased compression/rebound stiffness of the cut spring.

"Lots of people cut springs." Don't make it right.

Don't understand your "truck" comments.... Nismo suspension retains near identical ride height to non-Nismo.
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Old Feb 19, 2017 | 03:30 PM
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Doesn't the gap change going from 18 inch factory tire size to 19 inch wheels?
If not I will just use the nismo stuff but I think its going to make the car higher and I will need drop springs to change that height. So at this point I'm thinking eibach pro kit with sway bars. I also have nismo sway bars but kinda want to make it a bigger upgrade.
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Old Feb 19, 2017 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by ssmokeyy
Doesn't the gap change going from 18 inch factory tire size to 19 inch wheels?
If not I will just use the nismo stuff but I think its going to make the car higher and I will need drop springs to change that height. So at this point I'm thinking eibach pro kit with sway bars. I also have nismo sway bars but kinda want to make it a bigger upgrade.
No, not if you use the proper tires to maintain the same rolling diameter, the wheel size is almost irrelevant.

Look at this example:

Using 18" OEM as the baseline/benchmark -

Size Tire Diameter (in.)

225 45% 18 25.97 Stock Reference Size
245 45% 18 26.68 Stock Reference Size

Compare to:

Stock 17s

225 50% 17 25.86 Stock 17
235 50% 17 26.25

Alternative 19s
245 35% 19 25.75 F or
255 35% 19 26.03 F

275 35% 19 26.58 R or
285 35% 19 26.85 R

All of these tires are within about 6mm (max delta) of each other or "same" rolling diameter (negligible difference except for 17" rear) . Difference is in the aspect ratio (or sidewall height as a percentage of the tread width).

So, bigger wheel, shorter sidewalls. Smaller wheel, taller sidewall. Relative same height overall.
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Old Feb 19, 2017 | 08:02 PM
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Oem nismo or nismo Stune
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Old Feb 19, 2017 | 10:06 PM
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Oem nismo.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 02:09 PM
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Does any one have pictures of oem nismo setup with 19 inch wheels on there car? If so can u post them up.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:04 PM
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Doesn't look like a truck to me.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:30 PM
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No it doesn't. Is that you're car? I'm going to go with the setup I have now. I like that look.
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Old Feb 20, 2017 | 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by ssmokeyy
No it doesn't. Is that you're car? I'm going to go with the setup I have now. I like that look.
WAS my car. Sold to fellow my350Z member.
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Old Feb 21, 2017 | 04:18 PM
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I just went with the HKS hipermax 4 GT's (cheap on amazon, lol). I love the lower than stock preconfigured setup they have. Two finger fitment all around. Came from GF210's and stock struts which was lower, I hated how bouncy that setup was.
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Old Apr 1, 2017 | 04:04 PM
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To answer your question, no you will not look like a truck. I think you need to study tires so that you understand what happens when you chose 19" wheels. Your tire's outside diameter remains the same unless you go with a wheel larger than 20" which is just ridiculous on a Z. Please see tire rack website.
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