I'm getting tired of the harshness
 

The harshness of the ride of the Z is starting to annoy me. Yes, I do understand that the Z is a real sports car, or at least a close as a modern car can come to one. Mine is a stock Performance model.

What I'm finding increasingly annoying:

1) the impact harshness - when you hit a bump/dip the suspension seems to lack compliance resulting in sharp jolts being transmitted through the vehicle. Unlike the supple yet sporting suspension of a Porsche or BMW for example, this suspension does not absorp impacts well. The car handles well simply because it is stiffly sprung. But a well-engineered suspension should be compliant as well as controlled.

2) the interior rattles that are starting to creep up because of the impact harshness. Either the parts are not screwed down tight enough, or the sharp impacts from the suspension are overwhelming the integrity of the vehicle. It's starting to get buzzy and noisy in the interior. I'm going to be bringing the car in to the dealer to address the myriad of rattles, but I must say I've NEVER owned any car that has had as many rattles.

Hopefully the dealer will fix #2

The impact harshness, I'm hoping someone here can suggest a suspension fix. I know the stock Bridgestones are crap. I've got some 19" ADR M-sports in the box right now. I'm leaning toward Toyo T1s or Michelin Pilot A/S. I've read a lot of good stuff about these tires.

As for the suspension itself, I'm not convinced the NISMO s-tune will aleviate the impact harshness. Perhaps the upcoming Koni's will help. I've had konis before, and while they have a reputation of being hard riding, I found them to be a very nicely valved shock with a decent ride.

Has anyone here found a suspension that takes away a great deal of the impact harshness while retaining good handling?

And am a I correct in assuming that a change of tires will result in not only a better ride, but a much QUIETER tire?

Luxury Oriented coilovers....

TEIN Type CS
HKS Hipermax LS

Those coilovers have a lower springrate than stock I believe. They should give a comfier ride if that's what you are looking for.

Tires
 

Yes, if you buys "touring tires" they should be quieter and more comfortable. You will give away a little performance, but it should still be fine.

www.tirerack.com has some great tire comparisions. The customer survey results rates all the tires for noise / comfort / handling / etc. That is where I would start.

Tire Rack - Grand Touring - All Season Survey

Tire Rack = Grand Touring - Summer Tires Survey

Lastly, slightly higher profile tires will be more comfortable. Going from a 45 series high performance tire to a 50 series touring tire will make a difference you can feel.

Good luck

Konis or Nismo S-Tune IMHO.

Maybe you bought the wrong car, try the ride in the G35c. It has a longer wheelbase and a more cusioned ride. Still a great car, actually for what I paid for my Performance model, my dad got a new g35c w/ brembos, and Michelin Pilot Sports.

Putting the TEIN Luxry Springs on will smoothen up your ride...

We have them in stock and if you are in so-cal or want to make a drive, we can install and re-align your car too...

This is the cheepest solution...

Next would be Tein Basic's and then Nismo S-Tune. And you can only go up in price from there.

But the people we have installed any aftermarket or NISMO suspension on LOVE the car's ride with the new suspension.

Here is a link to Performance Nissans suspension products. We also cary JIC...

Performance Nissan Parts Suspension Products

Thanks for the responses so far!

Some more questions:

1) Tein luxury springs : Well, even the name suggests that the ride will be better, but at what cost? I bought the Z because it's a sports car. I'm not a track racer, but I want it all. Like I said, Porsches have good rides but they still handle well.

2) higher profile tires: again, this will likely degrade handling quite a bit won't it?

3) G35? I prefer the way the Z looks

4) Nismo S tune seems to be an interesting choice. It's factory and it's supposed to actually make the car handle better. I didn't know the ride actually improves. Well, I know it elminated the bounce, but I didn't know the ride got better as well. This may be the best choice so far.

5) What about Koni shocks? I guess nobody here has experience with them since they're not out yet?

6) Do the Toyo T1s or Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ride significantly better than the stockers? And do they have less harshness/noise? I know TireRacks surveys give the Michelins a high grade, but I'd like to hear comments from those who have the tire here.

Thanks, you guys are great!

With the TEIN Luxury springs you are looking at $195 plus install. The ride will be smoother yet still hug the turns and be sporty. The car will still grip the road... the biggest change is in the spring rate... it is more ballanced for our car.

BJ aka Dwnshift has the Konis as we speak.

Do the Tein luxury springs significantly lower the car? I really don't want that to happen - I've already had some close-call bad bottom-out incidents at stock location.

Here is the combo currently on my car - have 9500 miles so far, narry a rattle, and the car is as stiff and well assembled as my S4 was...and we are in the cold Northeast (NY to be exact), and I travel in NYC all the time.

RSR springs
Work Wheels (18's) with Toyo T1S's - these made the BIGGEST difference in overall ride quality vs the stock wheels and tires, which was a very pleasant surprise
NISMO sways.

Tires and tire pressure will have the biggest impact on overall ride quality - I would not bother with coilovers unless you are going to use the adjustability they afford you.

That being said, I am switching to coilovers shortly, so my RSR springs will be for sale if you want a good cheap set.

I would agree with the Tein CS they were made for those that specifically wanted a much more compliant ride..plus they are adjustable and work with EDFC if you want that too
http://www.tein.com/csdamp.html

I'd be careful about going to those 19" wheels you mentioned. Plus sizing usually results in a harsher ride all else being equal.

Do they result in significantly more body roll during hard cornering?

Eibach springs will give you more of a traditional suspention feel. (Less hammering). Many people DO NOT like them because of this. I do like the softer ride. Not radical, but the ride does improve.

I dont mind the harshness of the Z. I have 6,500 miles and i dont really notice it.

as I said, start with the simple stuff first.....the stock suspension is tuned quite nicely..its the stock tires that are in need of replacement, and I gaurantee will cure most if not all of the harshness.

My car ride exponentially better with the 18's and T1S that it did on the OEM 17's/Bridgestone combo.

The Teins are 11lbs stiffer in front, but 44lbs less stiff in the rear. I have ordered the Konis. I also have the A/Ss and they are a huge change for the better for my car.

My dilemma will be: If the Konis are still too stiff, I will get the Luxury Master springs and adjust the Konis as close to how I like the ride as possible. If they are still too stiff, I'll look at Touring tires and try to find some with decent compliance that doesn't degrade the handling too much.

Yes, whoever you may be, I should have gotten a G35 Coupe, but I preordered the Z in Feb.'02. When I took possesion of the Z, no G35 was out, so no other suggestions, please. I just bought a new Acura TL, and I will not be buying another new car, modifying the Z will still be much cheaper than buying a new car. OK? Sorry to be so abrupt, but its been a bad day.

I just installed 19inch Volk GT-C's with 225/275 Toyo T1S's, and an Eibach Pro-Kit....1inch drop at all corners. I can honestly say, that the freeway bouncing and harshness has been reduced 50-75%....seriously. It is a vastly superior ride to stock, and my alignment is just barely within spec.

Z1 Per, I can't navigate your site. Do I need to change a Java setting?