Definite Weld On Coilover Parts List For s12 suspension

tommy on 01:19:06 PM / 06-Aug-11I just don't get it sometimes...

Come on guys, honestly, there is already a number of cheap option to convert from 4x4.5 to 5x4.5, why would someone weaken a perfectly good hub?

Plus IMO, there is enough good looking wheels that are 4x4.5 to stop anyone from wanting a 5x4.5... and those starion wheels are not what I'd call "a must have"... I really hope that guy didn't do that only to fit those wheels...

why not do it right the first time.

I still really, really do not understand this fascination with going 5 lug........
It's pretty pointless....

People go five lug so they aren't tempted to put good looking rims on their cars.

lol, yah man, these hoshinos are a problem!

Jay on 03:37:27 AM / 07-Aug-11I still really, really do not understand this fascination with going 5 lug........
It's pretty pointless....

What's a "decent" size? They have 4x114.3 in 15's, 16's, and 17's with multiple widths, lower offsets, and staggering. There are lots of 'em out there.

 Anything bigger on an S13/S14 isn't really beneficial at all. Bigger brakes fit under 17's fine. Even ones that are almost too big for the car. That's the only logical reason I can think of having bigger wheels than 17's...

But, I'm also wondering this question about the E30 world. They have a fascination with 5 lug too. Except, the E30 has 4x100. The M3, OR any E36 hub conversion 5 lug is 5x120.
Now I ask you rhetorically, Which one is going to have more wheel varieties? 4x100, or 5x120?

I just don't get it. And I probably never will.... It's almost as if people modify the car to suit a certain set of wheels. Instead of buying wheels that suit the car.

Also, slightly off topic but it should be known, that I have this vehement disgust for people that spend a bazillion dollars on wheels. They're wheels, Not gold ingots....
Example? BBS RS's. Why the fuck are they worth 2k+?!? Sure they're pretty. But not 2k pretty...

Im talking width and offset, a lot of wheel companys will make like a 4lug 17x7 +30 but the same wheel in 5lug will be made to 17x9 +30

for s12s, 4lug just has better wheels.

And drifting/driving on a 16x9 is way different than drift/driving on a 18x9

This past wednesday a friend and i were tandeming at our local spot, he was running 17s and 18s all day on his 1j s14, then when he put a pair of 16s on.... he just spun tire like crazy and just couldnt hook up.

A lot of guys have come to our local spot with SRs and what not, on 15s and sucked peepee, but we got them on some 17s and it made driving so much easier... same with guy comming with stock KAs running 17s, we put them on 15s and they can actually connect the straight.

Wiht 5lug, you just have more variety of wheel sizing, it probably wastn like that 6-7 years ago (idk, i was worried about masturbating then)  until everyone started going 5lug then the wheel companies followed.

im rambling.... This whole post is horribly written, but GETDAFUDGEOVERIT!
EDIT: S13/14 look dumb with anything smaller than 17s

Jay's point is the whole meaning behind the self quote in my sig.

I think quality and the material/manner in which the higher priced rims are made. Its all a matter of available funds and intended use of the wheels. When it comes to wheels, To each his own really. Not defending anyone really, just sayin... its not worth stressin over what other people are puttin on their cars. As long as any possible failure of their goods doesn't affect my car then all g haha

Jay on 03:53:02 AM / 08-Aug-11I just don't get it. And I probably never will.... It's almost as if people modify the car to suit a certain set of wheels. Instead of buying wheels that suit the car.

Also, slightly off topic but it should be known, that I have this vehement disgust for people that spend a bazillion dollars on wheels. They're wheels, Not gold ingots....
Example? BBS RS's. Why the fuck are they worth 2k+?!? Sure they're pretty. But not 2k pretty...

technically the rear is all bolt up or do we have to modify that?

Jay on 03:53:02 AM / 08-Aug-11I just don't get it. And I probably never will.... It's almost as if people modify the car to suit a certain set of wheels. Instead of buying wheels that suit the car.

Why did this thread go from DIY Coilover to WHEELS?

because racecar

Deezus on 07:11:33 AM / 10-Aug-11because racecar

somebody post a pic with the rear adjusters all the way down and specs on which springs you have... I'm trying to figure out if the eibach 600lb x 6.5" tall springs will go low enough

i want to see pics of cars with this mod.....please

I phail at going back to the topic =P

Pics?

I talked to my brother for a quick minute about what spring rates i should run in the front and then called t3 today. Ordered the 280zx GC coilovers with 400 lbs springs, the rcas and the caster camber plates. I already have mr2 struts on the car from my frankenshock setup with the canuck springs. I am thinking about going 400lbs in the back when the time comes.

My brother is running 350 in the front so that is how we decided 400 would be a good number...slightly heavier car with a slightly heavier engine. Parts should be here sometime next week...need to get new rotors, bearings, and pads for the front...i am going to strip the front down to just the tubes and take it down to the metal shop i used to work at and have them shorten the tubes and weld on the new sleeve. Then i will do the backs and install a cam bolt/file the mounting holes for the outer mustache bars in an attempt to correct the crazy neg camber going lower is going to induce. Hopefully this setup will work good on the autox this year with the steelies/slicks so i can beat up on those miatas.

I always love when people beat miatas.

I just got off the phone with fortune talking about weld-on tubes for cressidas...

They'll do coils with weld-on tubes if I can do 5 cars, and I'm going to get them dimensions for how the rear shock would have to work. They can make a coil-over shock that's roughly 12" compressed and however long extended, so it'd be a bolt-on setup to slam the S12. Only problem is, a custom rear shock to go low enough on the S12 is going to be a little more expensive, and nobody that owns an S12 wants to pay $1200 for coilovers.

The rears are easy, we can just run foxbody mustang agxs with springs and sleeves.

^or if your too cheap for AGXs, get Strange Engineering 10-Way shocks for Mustang, like 60bux iirc.
Mustang guys seem to love 'em.

SomeoneWhoIsntMe on 03:54:33 PM / 26-Aug-11They'll do coils with weld-on tubes if I can do 5 cars, and I'm going to get them dimensions for how the rear shock would have to work. They can make a coil-over shock that's roughly 12" compressed and however long extended, so it'd be a bolt-on setup to slam the S12. Only problem is, a custom rear shock to go low enough on the S12 is going to be a little more expensive, and nobody that owns an S12 wants to pay $1200 for coilovers.

Wolf Dilworth on 11:41:45 PM / 26-Aug-11If you are talking about using the shock mounting points for weight baring hard points, I would advise strongly against it.  Those shock brackets are not strong enough to take the load.  Prolly fail at the worst possible time, like in a corner.  You can use your imagination...  It would be a crying shame to loose an S-12 to something so stupid.

Everyone who has done an s13 rear end conversion has enforced the crap out of the rear shock towers. Everyone so far who has done rear coils with the stock s12 rear end has split the shock from the spring. Its easier to do, and you dont have to worry about the shock towers being too weak. E30s have the same basic rear end design and if you buy rear coil overs for an e30 they have you split the coils.

SomeoneWhoIsntMe on 02:30:41 PM / 27-Aug-11http://redz31.net/pages/coilovers.html

a BUNCH of people with z31's have done it.... if the s12 trunk is actually weaker and this is a problem, it wouldn't be difficult to weld a brace in

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312052_10150768919125387_695415386_20497893_7716057_n.jpg)

^^Awsome man! I just finished mine recently too!

Sam. Would you measure the height of your gc springs for me?  I would like to try this with strange eng mustang front coilover sleeves and custom springs.  I like them because they have needle bearings integrated into the top hat.

...I am reffering to the lower mount point.  It was never designed to carry the weight of the rear end.  Yes, the tower is a poor design with the single through point.  Failure at the upper end of the shock will probably not lead to a total loss of control, however, failure at the bottom...   That will not fare so well.  The whole thing is just a bad idea.  Just because it has been done and has not failed, yet, does not mean that it is a good idea to do it. 

Do you want to be liable to Tommy's parents when they find out the "tragic accident" that caused their little Tommy's death was caused by your reckless alterations to your cars suspension? 

If I were a fab shop, I would never even think about selling such a "kit".  Food for thought...

8SixS12 on 06:21:44 PM / 30-Aug-11Sam. Would you measure the height of your gc springs for me?  I would like to try this with strange eng mustang front coilover sleeves and custom springs.  I like them because they have needle bearings integrated into the top hat. 

The bottom mounting point on the control arm for the shock has never been an issue...people have been setting up full track setup Z31's using bolt on coilovers with that factory lower mounting point for almost 20 years...it's very strong...feel free to continue to worry needlessly though if you like.  I personally know of many setups just like this with LOTS of hard track miles and tens of thousands of hard street driving miles on them.

I wanted the front gc coil free height measurement.  I'm trying to build a set with mustang front sleeves and Koni yellows.

I get what you mean now....i was exhausted yesterday from working on the car all day. I will see what I can do for you in a day or two when I get some time. I went to get the car aligned today and my tie rod end on the passenger side was shot...so I have to wait for a new one to come from Spokane...prolly get the car aligned next week now. They told me they would only charge me 15 bucks to change out the tie rod end tho and 35 for the alignment so I was like you guys can just change it before the alignment then.

Cool thanks.  That sux about these cars since their so old. Stuff just keeps breaking.  I was just going to do the S13 conv. but I wanted to see if I could make this work before I fork over 1100 funtickets for megans or BCs.  So Sam are you going with the same setup as EightySix in the rear too?

Correct, same set up in the rear. Only problem is I wanted to use 400 lbs springs in the back, and the lowest they had was 550....

Taris Blue on 12:14:21 PM / 31-Aug-11I personally know of many setups just like this with LOTS of hard track miles and tens of thousands of hard street driving miles on them.

Stock shocks - 23" extended, 15.875" compressed
SN95 shocks - 19.125" extended, 14.5" compressed

If I have new strut rods machined for s13 rear coilovers so they work with sandwich bushings instead of a camber plate, I can end up with something that at it's lowest setting is something like 16.5" extended and 13" or so compressed...

I'm going to measure on my s12 to be sure, but I feel like this would be pretty swell.

I'll fix links soon been busy nice to see people retaining there stock components w some fab work I favor this method now to just use f31 tubes and ill be happy

david b told me that t3 will be updating their website soon with an actual s12 link....they are working on a 4 link for him for his sra.

Nice man! How is the ride with the rear 500lbs springs?

It isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...haha.

Would you recommend them for daily driving?

So far I would say they aren't too bad for daily. I am getting an alignment tomorrow so I will be able to drive it harder and more. I have just been driving it to work and back and it feels ok. I want to drive it on some more varied road conditions though.

Good to know cuz ill be upping my rates 350 is too soft...

the lowest daymotorsports.com had in the sss blue coils in the size we need was 550. I took the car over some bumpy roads and around some of my favorite close stomping grounds today and it was fine. I am still learning the cars handling characteristic right now though. It feels like i have more grip in the back right now than i do in the front. Also the car has more grip...but when it looses grip its twitchier. I want to put star specs on the front and see what that does. The canucks where more predictable....but there is way more potential with this set up. Also, braking into a corner....the car brakes way harder now....i was super impressed.

so on the lower perch, if one were to weld in a ring for the spring to sit; would that curb some of the fear factor of these failing?