Rear Suspension Upgrade

I don't own a s12 I own a 88 z31 turbo, but am currently looking at getting a 85 for my nephew to fix up. I just was wondering if it is possible for you guys to use a s13/z32 rear end in your cars. I am talking the whole crossmember and all? On z31.com we have had a couple people put those rear ends into the 300zx by fabrication mounts allowing them to open the world of aftermarket that was shunned to the 80's nissans. If you could do that and swap the front with s13 spindles and such you could have a crapload of suspension aftermarket opened up to your cars.

The S12 and Z31 share almost identical (perhaps exactly identical) rear suspension cradles. If you want to go to the trouble of inserting a S13/Z32/R32 etc rear end then it can be done on the S12 pretty much the same as putting it on a Z31.
Using S13 struts up front (aftermarket only cos the OEM ones don't fit in the towers) is an easy swap so getting S13 front hubs on is no problem.

the z31 guys do it cause our cars are crap for traction after about 400-450hp. with the added width, and various adjustments and parts available for the other style it allows a whole new world to open up. I am still a bit a way from needing it done on my car. I am only in the 300hp range at max. Haven't dynoed it yet though. It does make a huge difference according to those that have done it.

Ya it all depends on your usage and power output. With my car having less than 300hp and being used for drift it certainly isn't a priority for me or most other people i don't think. If i was going big power i'd probably just use a different car hehe. But then again that wouldn't be as much fun...

1. DO A SEARCH next time!

2. PUT POSTS IN PROPER SECTIONS!!!

3. I am glad I'm not Dan, because I'd just start deleting things and/or newbies.

I mean seriously, you can only see the suspension section from the MAIN FORUM PAGE. Lazy.

the z31 guys do it cause our cars are crap for traction after about 400-450hp. with the added width, and various adjustments and parts available for the other style it allows a whole new world to open up.
I'm not sure what makes you think Z32 rear suspension gives you better traction. With fairly stiff springs/shocks on the stock Z31/S12 rear suspension, you will have superior traction that with the Z32 rear suspension. The reason the Z31 isn't getting traction is that when the car squats hard, it adds negative camber, which in turn, takes away a lot of contact patch. With stiff springs and shocks, you don't get so much squat, so your contact patch stays larger. The Z32 rear suspension has an anti-squat geometry. This is great for a road course, but for a drag style start, it is awful because you don't get the weight tranfer needed for that added traction. Hell, I gt crap for traction out of my Z32 when it was on the road. Nothing but tire smoke through 2nd gear. It was running about 400hp at the wheels. If it's better traction for road racing, then yes, the Z32 rear suspension is far superior, but for drag...........not even close.

If it's for drag you could get a early CA20E car, swap the live axle and beef the mounts up. It's an option i was going to go with until i was offered an IRS cheap, i still think the live axle might have been a better option tho.

I'm not sure what makes you think Z32 rear suspension gives you better traction. With fairly stiff springs/shocks on the stock Z31/S12 rear suspension, you will have superior traction that with the Z32 rear suspension. The reason the Z31 isn't getting traction is that when the car squats hard, it adds negative camber, which in turn, takes away a lot of contact patch. With stiff springs and shocks, you don't get so much squat, so your contact patch stays larger. The Z32 rear suspension has an anti-squat geometry. This is great for a road course, but for a drag style start, it is awful because you don't get the weight tranfer needed for that added traction. Hell, I gt crap for traction out of my Z32 when it was on the road. Nothing but tire smoke through 2nd gear. It was running about 400hp at the wheels. If it's better traction for road racing, then yes, the Z32 rear suspension is far superior, but for drag...........not even close.
anti squat geometry doesn't reduce weight transfer it simply prevents the rear wheels going into bump (thus neg camber) when you launch..... i don't know any drag car with specially designed suspension that wouldn't have anti-squat.
Weight transfer is a function of CG height it has nothing to do with spring stiffness when its comes to longitudinal weight-transfer. stiffning your rear springs has a similar effect to anti lift in that it increases you pitch stiffness thus for a give acceleration you will get less bump in the suspension and thus less camber change.
and yes for drag live axle if it can take the torque (didn't gerry say something about 4-link not being able to take too much more torque)is better. As there is no camber change in the wheels (because there is a solid axle between them.

didn't gerry say something about 4-link not being able to take too much more torque
Gerry is probably refferring to durability. 910 bluebirds with SR or CA swaps commonly tear their 4 link mounts out of that car, causing damage to the floorpan etc. It's easy enough to beef up the areas in question (which is what alot of people do now they know the weaknesses). The S12 is very similar but now that i own a 910 as well i think the gazelle is a good deal beefier than the 910. The 910 is a much lighter cheaper kind of build with mountings in much different spots (the 910 is related to the R30 floorpan from what i can see with the S12 being related to the Z31) to the S12. Doesn't mean it won't tear the mounts out over time but it might not either.

yeah cool thanks for clearing that up man. i've been wondering what he meant for a while...