What Struts Should I Get?

Im getting ready to buy new struts for my 1984 200sx. But I have no idea what to get. Id like to use my car in solo2 compitions. From what I can tell they have never been replaced. Sorry if something like this has been posted already for some reason I could not find what I was looking for in the search, probably because I am new. Thanks in advance =)

i say go for tokico illuminas on all 4 corners

Yeah, Illuminas are much better than stock. I hate them, but they're still much better than stock, so it's a good route to go. You probably won't find a listing for them for the S12 200SX, so you'll need front 280ZX struts and rear Z31 300ZX shocks.

8way adjust agx's from kyb would be good ones to get as well

From some friends I know with other cars (Civic/Miata, as I don't believe there is an AGX made for the S130 or Z31 chassis), AGX's do not have the damping ability to keep up with really stiff springs as well as Illuminas or Konis (i.e. on full stiff, they're not as stiff as those other shocks mentioned). However they're probably great for the common S12 springs (Sus. Techniques or Turbo springs) and give you some adjustability. I just don't know what application you'd order since they probably don't list one for the S12 :-P There's probably some other strut-insert based suspension out there that they do make one for, and I don't see why you couldn't figure out a shock for the rear that would fit either. It would take some research on the free and compressed lengths and strut tube diameters...and then hope the damping is close for the S12's weight layout...

Yeah, Illuminas are much better than stock. I hate them, but they're still much better than stock, so it's a good route to go. You probably won't find a listing for them for the S12 200SX, so you'll need front 280ZX struts and rear Z31 300ZX shocks.

Thanks, But how do I go about getting tokico illuminas? Would I be able to get them installed? I dont know much about supension =/ Also if I ask for them for the 280ZX struts and rear Z31 300ZX versions of them? Im asuming that thoes will fit right in with out any mods. Also I thought we were Struts all around but I might be miss informed. sorry for asking so many questions.

do you have a ca18et or a ca20e? That will make a difference as to which shocks you can get for the 84 model year. If you have the non-turbo, the z31 shocks will not fit, as it has a solid rear axle.

Edit: Found your profile, yes, the Z31 shocks should work for you.

There are three places where you can get struts and shocks information, www.monroe.com, www.gabriel.com and www.kyb.com. FYI the 280ZX front strut will fit the 200 front but the Z31 rear shocks have bigger bottom pins. I don't recall anyone said they put Z31 rear shocks in but I guess you could if you swap the lower bushings and pins. You can get Koni reds for the 280ZX from www.classicgarage.com (as everyone should know by now) but if you want Koni reds for the rear you have to wait till I get my shipment from E-bay and do the appropriate conversions.

ok I went to www.classicgarage.com and they have the knoi yellows for the rear of the 200sx and the strut insearts for the 280zx. what is the difference form red and yellow also I need a quick fix, im going to AZ in 2 weeks. Also they guy said he would install them for 150 if I got them...is that too expensive? I like the tokico illuminas but they are to expensive for me. -_-

the koni reds are oem replacements like the kyb GR2..not much improvement over stock(there is..but not by a whole lot). koni yellows are 3 way adjustable (don't remember if it's only damping or only rebound..but it's only one of them)

ok...im going to get the koni yellows for now(for the rear at least) the front is proably going to end up koni reds unless I can find yellows for the front. Thanks alot for the help =)

http://www.koni-na.com/pdf/tech.pdf

http://www.koni-na.com/adjustment.html

I believe both reds and yellows are adjustable.

FYI the 280ZX front strut will fit the 200 front but the Z31 rear shocks have bigger bottom pins. I don't recall anyone said they put Z31 rear shocks in but I guess you could if you swap the lower bushings and pins.
I have Z31 Tokico Illuminas in my S12. They bolted right in without having to modify anything and I used my original hardware. ??? Maybe your information is wrong, or maybe there is a difference between the S12 VG30 and S12 CA IRS trailing arms.

I have an '87, but I think that they will fit all IRS models, because I don't think that they changed IRS between generations.

That is correct, all the S12 IRS, and Z31 IRS are the same...minus half shaft differences, and diff internals...8)

I have konis that are red and are adjustable, i guess they would be koni reds hehe

That is correct, all the S12 IRS, and Z31 IRS are the same...minus half shaft differences, and diff internals...8)

Nope, the 84 CA20E is not an IRS, but for a general description, I guess it would be a good idea to tell everyone that they all have IRS.

Long live the 84 CA20!

OK then back to the luminas idea...how do i get them i have looked on several websites but no luck. If you have a site you used for yours, posting it would be much appreciated. Also what year is the Z31 300zx (im assuming non-turbo model)?

Nope, the 84 CA20E is not an IRS, but for a general description, I guess it would be a good idea to tell everyone that they all have IRS.

Long live the 84 CA20!

if you read it again, he says all the S12 IRS, not all the S12s have IRS

Oh s#!t, I misread it. Sorry!

I have a question what do us 84 ca20 guys use. I read it all and got nothing from it.........

Just checked my KYB chart and the Z31 rear shocks do have the same bottom mount. The difference is that the rod is 1 inch longer.

OK then back to the luminas idea...how do i get them i have looked on several websites but no luck. If you have a site you used for yours, posting it would be much appreciated.

www.shox.com lists konis for Z31 and illuminas for Z31 and S130, if 280ZX konis are available they can probably get them as well. Call or Email and actually talk to a person, they can probably get more than what's listed.
I don't think you'd save any $ but you can get the Illuminas and other brands for Z cars from Victoria British (www.longmotor.com) or Motorsport (www.zcarparts.com), they're old mail-order favorites for Z-car people.
Z car parts are relatively easy to find, not sure what sites you've been looking on. Tirerack.com, for that matter, may have some of this stuff (haven't looked). Dunno if it matters what year Z31 BTW, the application notes tend to say 84-89 so probably no difference. Same goes for 79-83 280ZX.
<note>sorry if you're not in the US and these companies are not applicable to you, I forget how many different places you find S12's!

From some friends I know with other cars (Civic/Miata, as I don't believe there is an AGX made for the S130 or Z31 chassis), AGX's do not have the damping ability to keep up with really stiff springs as well as Illuminas or Konis (i.e. on full stiff, they're not as stiff as those other shocks mentioned). However they're probably great for the common S12 springs (Sus. Techniques or Turbo springs) and give you some adjustability. I just don't know what application you'd order since they probably don't list one for the S12 :-P There's probably some other strut-insert based suspension out there that they do make one for, and I don't see why you couldn't figure out a shock for the rear that would fit either. It would take some research on the free and compressed lengths and strut tube diameters...and then hope the damping is close for the S12's weight layout...
AGX actually works quite well with aftermarket performance springs, I have a set on my Eibach Prokits. I only wish AGX was made for 280ZX (and us).

www.shox.com (http://www.shox.com/) lists konis for Z31 and illuminas for Z31 and S130, if 280ZX konis are available they can probably get them as well. Call or Email and actually talk to a person, they can probably get more than what's listed.
I don't think you'd save any $ but you can get the Illuminas and other brands for Z cars from Victoria British (www.longmotor.com (http://www.longmotor.com/)) or Motorsport (www.zcarparts.com (http://www.zcarparts.com/)), they're old mail-order favorites for Z-car people.
Z car parts are relatively easy to find, not sure what sites you've been looking on. Tirerack.com, for that matter, may have some of this stuff (haven't looked). Dunno if it matters what year Z31 BTW, the application notes tend to say 84-89 so probably no difference. Same goes for 79-83 280ZX.
<note>sorry if you're not in the US and these companies are not applicable to you, I forget how many different places you find S12's!
Finding quality shocks and struts for 280ZX and Z31 isn't a problem. But just try to find ADJUSTABLES for either of them. I dare you!

Finding quality shocks and struts for 280ZX and Z31 isn't a problem. But just try to find ADJUSTABLES for either of them. I dare you!

http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=23-3985&Category_Code=PSDC02C

http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=23-3988&Category_Code=PSDC02C

http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=23-3989&Category_Code=PSDC02C

http://store.yahoo.com/classicgarage/rear19nis28i.html

http://store.yahoo.com/classicgarage/28in22andtur.html

http://store.yahoo.com/classicgarage/konstrutforn.html

http://store.yahoo.com/classicgarage/ni3019resh.html

hahah yeah I jsut found those too lol. Well I did dare ya :mrgreen:

So there's my adjustable fronts. And I know rear Z31's are around. My S12 floats like a butterfly, but I want it to sting like a bee, so I will end up using those Tokicos.

http://store.yahoo.com/classicgarage/2019allmodre.html

Those are the twist adjust ones, I'm looking for something that doesn't require me to remove the shock to adjust it. The Illuminas for the front work, I'll find the rears or someone on here will I'm sure.

MrBob's third link is for Z31 rear Illuminas.
http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=23-3989&Category_Code=PSDC02C
shox.com has them too. Tokico's website lists the part numbers you want:
280ZX front Illuminas: BZ3038
300ZX rear Illuminas: BE2740
I don't see why any Tokico reseller should not be able to get them for you. That said, are you sure twist adjustables wouldn't be fine? I hardly ever touch my Zcar's Illuminas. I suppose I wouldn't give up external adjustability if I didn't have to, though.

The suspension that there are links to, when they say they a-just deos it mean just the height or something else, besides the height....

It doesn't adjust height at all. It adjusts the bound and rebound rates of the shock.

If you are talking about the KYB Gas-A-Just then they don't adjust at all. They are just a fixed rate performance shock. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it.

if you get new shocks do you need to get new springs too? or would it be okay to use my old springs?

Your old springs may be sagging a bit, but it wouldn't hurt anything using your old springs with new shocks. You might get a little better handling with new springs, but I doubt it would be that noticeable.

contacted pdm-racing.com

1979-83 280ZX front Illuminas: BZ3038
PDM-Racing $177.80 Cad each plus taxes

1984-89 300ZX rear Illuminas: BE2740
PDM-Racing $141.20 Cad. each plus taxes

and then shipping. total of around $730 after taxes + shipping

I'll be calling around more.

The Specialty Shop has the rear Z31 Illuminas listed at $100 each USD. Here's their website: http://www.thespecshop.com/ They're listed under the T.S.S. Nissan Z31 300ZX link.

because PDM is local to me, I can pick them up myself..so no shipping charges.

I calculated that website cost + 14% tax + $20(5 day shipping cost) from UPS + converted to canadian $ at a rate of 1.3CAD per USD and it came out to be 7 cents more lol.

good if I had them shipped tho.

Do you guys up in Canada have to pay a 14% tax on everything from the U.S.? I shipped my stock VG30 exhaust manifolds to a guy in Canada a couple months back and he told me if I shipped it via USPS that he doesn't get taxed. He said he gets taxed if it's shipped via FedEx or UPS. ???

well..tax is 14%...I think duties at the border they tack on is the same..then there's another fee that they tack on(brokerage fees).

so shipping gets expensive. my dad and I usually have our stuff shipped to a family friend in washington state so we can just bring it over the border like we always had it.

Sweet deal. You should have those Illuminas shipped to your friends in Washington. Then again, you have to pay for fuel there and back, plus your time, etc. Probably still not worth it, eh?

no no, the price I calculated from that site WAS to the washington shipping addy.

nah, that family friend comes up every weekend to visit their daughter every weekend

OK let me through this one out if the shoks from the Z31 300ZX fit the back of the 87 s12 VG30E does that mean that the lowering springs for that car will work as well. and of +corse this qustion goes for the front 280
zx lowering springs.

bingo.

this was realized a while ago. ehhe

no no, the price I calculated from that site WAS to the washington shipping addy.

nah, that family friend comes up every weekend to visit their daughter every weekend

!

sounds like someone can help cjae get parts from canadian members without the high shipping

*ahem* ;)

</tangent>

!

sounds like someone can help cjae get parts from canadian members without the high shipping

*ahem* ;)

</tangent>

heh yea man...you just gotta come up here and pick it up.

OK a friend of Mine that had A 1987 200sx V6 said to use The 300zx shocks and springs in the front because the whight of the motor and that 240sx shocks and springs will work in the rear. any info on this setup.Your friend is wrong. Z31 300ZX springs won't fit in front. You need lowering springs from a 280ZX and front strut inserts for a 280ZX as well. For the rear, you can use lowering springs for a Z31 and shocks for a Z31. The 240SX rear suspension is COMPLETELY different than the S12. It wouldn't work without serious modification. A little searching goes a long way on this subject. Suspension Techniques makes the lowering springs you're looking for. Check the JC Whitney catalog.

cool thanks for all the help

Hey guys, i just recently bought a 1986 200sx from user Under_Control on this site and it has a CA18ET in it, and i really need suspension so let me get this straight after readin the posts i need to get 280zx front and Z31 300zx rear struts? I just read so many do's and dont's and that will work and that wont work on this thread that i dont kno what to do, so im ganna need a direct specific answer from u guys lol....now im thinkn about the Koni's but i need springs that will drop my 12 as low as possible, or can i jus cut the springs, how much of a difference will it make, its ganna be on 14s, so i need to get a set up quote. And i need specifics like years and etc. on the struts n springs. So if you guys can help that would be great. Thanks