I replaced my stock suspension with KW Variant 3 coilovers back in January. The coilover didn't come with it's own pillow mounts, so I had to use the stock one.
AFAIK, Nismo S-Tune also has to use the stock pillow mounts. There are quite a range of coilovers out there for a Z, and not all of them come with their own pillow mounts.
Is there any aftermarket pillow mounts I can get? Anybody making them in US? How about in Japan?
My friend who drives JDM Altezza in Korea also has a coilover that doesn't come with its own pillow mounts, and he bought a aftermarket pillow mounts imported from Japan for $300.
Does anybody know if there is aftermarket pillow mounts for Z?

 

You know, I really should know this, but I don't. The pillow mount is the part above the shock tower (ie inside the engine compartment or trunk), right? What are the advantages of upgraded pillow mounts? Less flex in the suspension?

 

I think they're not very common because the don't do much on a double wishbone suspension. There is not much load on the upper shock bushing area. Strut style suspensions put much more load on the upper shock mount since there is no upper control arm. Another reason you probably don't see them much for the Z is because most aftermaket pillow ***** allow camber adjustment. This again only applies to strut suspensions. On a double wishbone suspension, camber and caster cannot be adjusted that way.

 

Ah, I see. That was the reason. So it doesn't make that much difference anyway right? Hmm..

 

We have upper front and rear shock mounts that we use for our 350Z's in the GAC
Drop me an email and I can send you some pics.
BJ@350EVO.com

 

e-mail sent!

 

Is it necessary to purchase pillow mounts when getting KW coilovers? Is it a bad thing that the KW coilovers dont come with pillow mounts?

Thanks

 

FYI - the stock mounts are not pillow mounts, they are just strut tops. Pillow mounts implies there is a rotating bearing assembly in the center. the advanate is less camber deflection and more precise turn in overall. The downside can be noise, depending on the manufacturer. I know of no major companies offer just pillowball mounts for the Z, for the simple fact that the Z's camber can't be adjusted with them (which is why people fit these in the first place usually)

Adam

 

Here....

 

The JIC FLT A2s come with them.

 

On their site they also say they can be sold alone for $300-380 depending on application.

 

We have the shock tops in stock and the bearings are on the way. We would just need to know the diameter for the shock shaft to get the bushings that slip into the bearing.
We will have these available that fit the new Konis.

 

What does this do to improve the handling?

 

Here is the OEM front upper chock mount.
2.2 lbs.
Its the same theory as switching any other OEM rubber suspension bushings and going to a solid Delrin with Alum insert.
Helps suspension response and eliminates the "slop".

 

350EVO front shock top.
0.5 lbs
The bearing allows for smoother movement when needed VS rubber insert......
Its purely performance.

 

Interesting.

I hope you guys are better at engineering than spelling

 

Yeah its pretty bad isnt it?

 

Is that better?

 

Thanks BJ.

 

Hmm. Interesting.
So BJ, what's the price on your shock mounts? Also, what's the nagative thing about those shock mounts in terms of daily driving? Any squeakings? Noises?