So after bending over and taking it to the tune of $1400 for S-tune springs and shocks, I installed them yesterday. The install went ok...the rear was a snap, but the front instructions said to remove the steering knuckle nut with the cotter pin....and the nut would continually spin with the bolt it was attached too inside the knuckle making it impossible to remove with hand tools (I don't have an air compressor with an impact gun). So I had to use my factory jack to push the A-arm down to get the spring and strut out.

After it was all installed. I took it for a short ride. Felt just about the same as stock going straight and had less lean in the corners. Came back and measured the "drop"...and there was NONE. The car isn't lower than stock at all. Furthermore, I went on my favorite "bouncy" highway to see how much the porpoising was reduced, and it feels pretty much exactly the same as stock...maybe a VERY slight reduction in bounce...but I still felt like I could be sick from the constant bouncing.

Just a note...I am on stock sway bars...so I'm assuming handling will be even better when I get some sways.

On another note, I measured the height again today after the car sat all night to see if it settled anymore....and it didn't.

Cliff notes: I spent $1400 on suspension that is supposed to get rid of the "bounce", handle better and actually lower the car...and the only thing it does is handle slightly better than stock.

 

Give the springs some time to settle. Your z should sit lower after those break-in.

 

Yup, you need to let the suspension settle. You will definitely notice a change at that point. I cannot even get my Z on the lift anymore without having to pull up on the wheel wells to lift the body.

 

It takes about 2 weeks or so for the springs to settle. Disapointed to hear about the bounce though.

 

I know springs need time to settle. Every time I've put lower suspension on a car previously, I've immediately seen a difference (70-80%) of the drop and then the last 20-30% comes in the following weeks. I guess since the drop is so minimal with the S-tune kit that I just need to wait it out.

 

yea...that's the thing that dissapointed me the most. Everyone says that it gets rid of bounce...so how do I still have BAD bounce??

 

thats a bummer....i am assuming you wanted to keep your warranty, thats the only reason i can think of to go with the nismo suspension....give it some time...you have buyers remorse right now and you are expecting more out of the package then what it can produce

 

s-tunes are actually pretty desent on a road course.

 

I bought the s-tune because I only wanted a minimal drop ( I did want one though) and I had only heard great things about it. The other option was the Tein Flex coilovers...but I decided I wanted a suspension that I didn't have to screw with once I installed it. If I need to "tune" the handling, I'll soon have the adjustable Hotchkis sways.

After driving it around today....I'm a little happier. The car's road manners on 99% of roads is MUCH improved and the handling is also much improved. Time to order some sways and head to the track again to really stretch the cars legs. The stock car understeered like a pig around the track.

 

Be sure to update us after it settles in. I'm interested in a set myself. Thanks!

 

It'll get better after a few more days. Just wait till you get it out on the track, though. You won't be disappointed.

 

I felt the same way after putting mine in. Disapointment, to say the least.

For me it took much more than two weeks but now I think there really is a benefit and the street with the porpoising actually has gotten much better!

hang in there

 

Is anyone serious about the "bounciness" that remains after installing the S-Tune kit?

I'm super annoyed by this since the Z32 doesn't bounce like this, even under Sport mode!

It's hard to take anyone out in my car because my date would have trouble sitting still while driving on the freeway (streets here aren't silky smooth). I look over and start cracking up because she couldn't stop hopping with the car even with the seat belts on. Last one thought I didn't know how to drive because the car kept bouncing. Argh! The roads here are a pain...

I was hoping the S-Tune kit is more stiff...

So now I'm debating since my car is a daily driver... S-Tune: Yay or nay?

 

BriGuyMax, in case it helps you to have this info,..............


Nismo S-tune progressive spring rates (also % stiffer vs oem)
Front:448 Rear:504 F+43% R+48%
Transfers +5% roll stiffness to rear

oem rates are 314/342 (linear)

 

Max,
Hang in there. I can guarantee you that if you get some adjustable sways, you are going to be much happier with the car's handling...particularly at the limit. Put on some 350Evo bars and set them to the middle setting front and rear. Set your street tire pressures to about a 4-5lb stagger front to rear...in other words, set the fronts to about 36 cold, and the rears to 31 cold. Then go out and do a few autocross runs. You will be smiling...trust me. The car will be far superior to stock.

 

Is the bounce only on 18" plus rims or all rims?
I ask because after driving my Sracer green sprung classic Mini around the SF Bay Area, I know where every dip, bump and crack is for 2 hundred miles in all directions and my stock suspended 17" 04 Enth. Z is perfectly behaved over all of it. I would venture to say it is even better than my wifes 03 Pathfinder.
Chris

 

That's the plan....do you know if the Hotchkis sways are adjustable???

 

I run 17s with snow tires in the winter and the bounce is the same. You have much nicer roads out in Cali than we do here because you don't have extreme cold temps in the winter with salt.

 

and I immediately noticed a difference in terms of bounce.....it was gone.....

I also noticed the car handled very well....alot more responsive than before the S-tune.

I never noticed much of a drop, but after reading this thread, it sounds like I may need to wait a while to really notice the difference.


So far.....it's ALOT better....the rears make sort of a creaking noise from a standing start....I assume that's just because they're new.

 

I have had my S-Tune suspension for about two weeks (including the Nismo sway bars). I immediately noticed a reduction in the bounce. Although the suspension is stiffer it actually rides better than the stock setup over most surfaces and it corners like crazy. There is also substantially less body roll and dive when braking hard.

I haven't actually measured the drop on my car but it looks lower than stock to the naked eye. It also looks lower to me now than it did when the suspension was installed.