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Hello all. I think I have an idea about what I'm going to find but tomorrow morning I'm going to try to take my Datsun 910's front suspension apart and remove the springs to think about lowering it a couple of inches. I'm also going to measure the exact amount that I want to go down. As low as possible of course.
I've never done this before. What am I likely to screw up or not realise? Anybody got any practical advice or has done this before? And then, once I have the springs off I have to consider cutting them or locating shorter front springs. That'll be stage 2. More advice!
Thanks all.
Charlie
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Last Edit: Nov 10, 2005 10:51:58 GMT by charlie
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Mr K
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,993
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u have to bare in mind that springs arnt usually just slotted in - they are compressed into where they are - so grow in length even more when removed. also most lowering springs are abit stiffer. look up D faulkner springs - a huge range or universal springs at low prices (unless your springs arnt just strait coils). I'm sure there is someone in here who has done it before. i have never cut springs - just fitted coil over dampers with adjustable seats.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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If you cant get the lowered springs for your car then cutting the springs is fine. but only if theres no other lowering option IMO. Theres a general rule of thumb when cutting springs that i cant remember, as in 1 coil removed= X amount of mm lowered, I'm sure someone on here will be able to fill in the blanks there ;D
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make sure the wheels you have are gonna fit under the arches once youve lowered it.i wouldnt imagine you'd have much trouble if its only going down a bit. i chopped 5 inches out of the springs on my benz and the only prob i had was the 16s wouldnt go in the front arches. ;D
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Here's what I've decided to do. After a long conversation with a guy at a local mechanics I am planning to: 1. Remove the shocks (with springs attached) from the car 2. Invest in a spring compressor and remove the springs from the shocks 3. Buy a cheap angle grinder and cut one coil from each spring 4. Put it all back together and go for a spin in the car 5. If it's not low enough go back to step 1 and remove another coil. 6. If it all goes completely wrong, get a new set of springs from Nissan. Total cost should be zero apart from the spring compressor and the angle grinder. My mechanic and I agreed that as long as the car isn't going to be competitive or used as a performance car (it's still got the original 1.8 with twin SU carbs) I should keep the original shocks and the original springs will be fine. Maybe a bit of a harder ride. Good plan I think. I'll update you on progress and with a before and after picture. Thanks for the advice. Picture of what I'm aiming for below (3" drop on a coupe but not my car). Charlie
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cool, but on yours remember to put the mirrors on the wings. after mine were chopped the car still went down a little further while they were settling. after the springs were chopped and i let the trolley jack down we couldnt get it out! every time i went near the car i had the tape measure to see if it had sorted its self out. cant wait for the pics.
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Already has the chrome bullet mirrors on the wings. Pictures coming soon. Wednesday night I remove the springs and shocks. Saturday morning I put it back together. And take pictures. For some reason every time I go near the Datsun it starts raining.
Charlie
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Hi Charlie,
Good to see you on the Forum, I've got a 910 too, except its got a 4 door with a L16.... I basically did exactly the same on my B310 wagon, chopped the springs and got them heated up and re-formed (pig-tailed) I've had no problems at all. Its probabily best advised to get them done by experts but as long as you don't take the car on the track or drive it really recklessly , I reckon you'll be ok! I'd consider changing the bushes too.
Best of luck and I look forward to your efforts!
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Oy oy charlie, are you in the UK?
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Yes, I'm in Peckham south east London and the 910 coupe is in Surbiton, south west London. It's a garage thing. I don't have one. My mother does.
The Datsun 910 shares a large garage with a seriously stripped 68 Corvette. Pictures tomorrow.
Charlie
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Charlie Having read your list, I can safely say that no 6 is not an option ;D. The staff at Nissan will not even know that they produced a 910 bluebird range, thats how sad they are. The standard reply is that the 910 is not on the parts CD and they do not have microfiche readers to locate old parts. Moreover, if you do locate them, teh price will be nearly as much as you paid for the car ;D I know of 2 co's that will make springs for your car based on your own spec ie stiffness and ride height...they cost about £100 for all 4 Let me know should you want to go down that route
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I know of 2 co's that will make springs for your car based on your own spec ie stiffness and ride height...they cost about £100 for all 4 Tell us anyway! ;D
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You can get springs from Demon Tweaks in a range of diameters, coil thicknesses, heights, rates etc. .. Just need to find the size you want
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You can get springs from Demon Tweaks in a range of diameters, coil thicknesses, heights, rates etc. .. Just need to find the size you want Finding original spring size, length etc shouldn't be a problem, as I have just discovered on looking for info on behalf of HoTWire the genuine Nissan workshop manuals contain this data. I happen to know someone who has loads of these available.....
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[/quote] Tell us anyway! ;D[/quote] Coil Spring 0114 275 8573 Spring Coil 0114 273 1111 I have used both and have been totally satisfied by the products. As Spotted lausrel says, the Nissan manual will give you the spec of the factory springs. You then call these guys, pass on this info and state the specification of your new springs eg 2" lower and 30% stiffer. Its as easy as that. Hotwire, I thought that D Tweeks only cater for 2.25" and 1.9" ID springs which can only be used with adjustable threaded platforms?
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Hotwire, I thought that D Tweeks only cater for 2.25" and 1.9" ID springs which can only be used with adjustable threaded platforms? The current catalogue's range seemed more comprehensive than that... but you might have a point about being used with adjustable threaded platform... I'll have a look when I get home.
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Nov 10, 2005 10:49:57 GMT
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Yesterday I visited the Datsun and spent time pulling the suspension apart. Rear end - no problem. Stripped out the shocks and springs as complete units and took them home. I will review my approach to the cutting of the springs as they are tapered, flattened at the end and very old. It might be time for new springs as per Datsfun's suggestion. Then I looked at the front. What's going on there? The bottom of the shock is integral to the front hub. Three bolts hold the hub to the brake and other front suspension compnents. Am I being stupid? How do I get the front shocks and springs out? Are they resting in the tube that runs from the bottom of the spring down to the front hub? Pictures below. I stopped at that point. Need guidance! Charlie Datsun 910 : Datsun front end: Datsun back wheel and front wheel. You can see the car needs lowering a few inches: Got the springs and shocks off the car, and here's a shot of the back suspension and enpty strut tower looking up: Now confusion. Can someone please explain whats' going on here? The big rusty tube looks to be part of the front suspension. I expected to see an aftermarket shock here. Is it inside the tube? And finally the Datsun 910 up on jacks nestled against its ugly badass American cousin the 1968 street racer Corvette:
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Nov 10, 2005 11:09:43 GMT
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Nice koop! Did you buy it off Ebay fairly recently?
does the damper tube separate from the cast iron hub part? (the part into which the bottom balljoint is fixed)?
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Nov 10, 2005 11:39:58 GMT
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Yes. Bought it off Ebay recently. It doesn't look like the damper tube seperates but possibly that's because of the large volume of rust coating both the tube and the hub. Should they separate? I'm popping back at the weekend to try to get the front springs off. The less I have to destroy the front suspension the better.
Charlie
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Nov 10, 2005 11:48:08 GMT
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I’d be very surprised if the damper tube did not separate from the hub. Otherwise, when the shockers needed changing, you’d end up buying a new hub, wheelbearing etc! That can't be right.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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