Lower Rear Strut Tops

[C.A.R.]

Guys,

Today I fitted the front strut tops into the rear of my 2+2.

I'd already lowered it with Kings 'Lows', but I felt it needed to go a bit lower in the rear.

As you can see there is a noticeable difference in rear ride height - much flatter.

The front strut tops are a bit over an inch shorter then the rears on late 260 2 seaters & 2+2's (see pic).

 

Quick step-by-step Guide:

 

Jack up car & place on Axel stands.

Remove road wheels.

Undo the sway bar thats bolted to the lower A arm & move up out of the way.

Place a brake line pincher onto the rubber brake and unto the rubber brake hose from the body.

Undo the half-shaft from the hub via the 4 14mm nuts.

Undo the 3 nuts that hold the strut in the strut tower & slide the strut out.

Undo the 17mm nut & remove the strut top (use spring compressors to compress the spring if you have the std springs still in).

Swap the tops over.

Install is the reverse of the removal.

[Toecutter]

Yes definatley noticable. Sits just right now...hmmm who would have thought you could do that!? Good work.

 

Sulio

[reverendzed]

Go Lurch! that's cool.....Ben reackons he wants the cred for coming up with the idea?  I reackon we should call it a combined effort ha, Ha

[C.A.R.]

A combined effort sounds about right

Though really, we have Nat0 to thank for telling us in the first place!

[reverendzed]

yeah that's right! this is what makes this forum great, the ability to share information and ideas that not only saves a few bucks but also inspires some creativity.

[gav240z]

I know a certain someone who used to use those strut tops as engine mounts in a 300zx (Z32). They seem to be a universal tool!.

 

Should sell them on Ebay for big money! .

 

As a side note, I've bee told the 260z's changed their strut tower design to accommodate for the Rally cars. Apparently the early 240z rally cars butchered their strut towers in the gruelling rallies of the 70's . So they redesigned and strengthened them in the later RS30 series chassis.

 

*Might be the reason for the extra rubber.

 

Not that Lurch has any kiddies in the back seat .

[C.A.R.]

I certainly hope not Gav!

[zedevan]

does a similar thing work on a later 260z 2 seater? as the lowered king springs didn't do enough for my liking at the rear of my car either

[C.A.R.]

Evan,

If yours is a later 260 2 seater with the taller rear strut towers, then yes,

this conversion will work for you also

[zedevan]

yeah it is, so thats awesome news for once! lol

 

where's the best place to buy the parts from? (not that i'm in a rush, this wont be done for atleast a year...)

 

i reakon this would be a good write up for another one of your helpful how-to's lurch, i've heard you just undo the bolts with the car up and rotate the strut out?

[C.A.R.]

Updated just for you Evan

[Glen]

Thats awesome lurch thanks!

[NZeder]

man where have you guys been - hell zed boys have been doing this for years. And if you want to go lower you can heat up the whole 240z top and the bonding of the rubber bit breaks away from the metal shell. You then remove the rubber bit, cut it down lower still then place it back into the metal shell, then cut the metal shell ie hack saw straight lines down to the new rubber height then fold the metal over to 1. hold the rubber in place etc I would also bond the rubber back in too. This was what racers here in NZ were doing in the 70's and 80's with 260z and 240z. My 260z had these lower 240z top installed since 1991 I thought everybody knew this trick.

[Scoota G]

I think the Motto here is Don't be afraid to Yell out if you have ideas or info. Seriously yell as loud as you can 

[zedevan]

yeah it's great info, I guess I must of been in primary school? Lol, so the tops are availble through nissan dealerships? Anywhere cheaper online?

[620Z]

That looks much better Lurch. Good job. Make sure the tyres won't rub on thos bumps before the next Tassie trip. 

[C.A.R.]

I've already driven it round the roads here Craig - not a problem

[stevo_gj]

Stupid question but... can I just check that when you say swap out the rear strut tops, you mean with a spare set and not swapping front to back? 

[C.A.R.]

NOT swapping front to back Steve.

 

You need to get a 2nd pair of short strut tops to fit into the rear.

[stevo_gj]

I think working in a mine is making me retarded

 

thanks...

[Rhino73z]

Some neat tricks there guys.  Thanks for sharing. 

[nat0_240_chevZ]

there is an easy way to check too, reach your hand up under the guard and slide your fingers up and feel for the short or tall tops, just watch out for spider, redbacks especially as this is where they like to live

 

 

nat0

[herrods]

IF you had a car that had a bit of a nose down attitude...

 

and you swapped front to rear...

 

would you end up level? or with a nose up attitude..

 

or are you just poop for brains...

[C.A.R.]

IF you had a car that had a bit of a nose down attitude...

 

and you swapped front to rear...

 

would you end up level? or with a nose up attitude..

 

or are you just poop for brains...

 

Depends how bad the slant is. Give it a go & see.

[zeds4ever]

Thanks for the heads up on the "Strut tower" mods Lurch. I'm looking at fitting King springs all round eventually but have been told that the lowest avlble is 50mm rear & 35mm front. Using your method will give me the adtnl drop i'm seeking on my 76 260 2str. Been advised to take msrmnt from centre of wheel to bottom of wheel arch to obtain clearances reqrd. Is this correct to your thinking. I thought it was just a matter of RTA NSW rqrmnts

100mm grnd clrnce to anything underneath & then chose hght  to your desire.

 

                                                                          Regards: Alan.