SHO suspension

[jvc93//klze]

I just stepped down from a 300ZX to a 93 SHO. The suspension feels really soft compared to the z. Should it feel really soft or is there something wrong with it? The car has 147k and I know the struts were replaced at least once, but not recently. (2-3 years ago were replaced with oem Ford struts)

Does anyone have any ideas on stiffening the suspension? I dont want it to be overly stiff (**** on rough pavement) but I want the car to be able to handle decently. I was thinking about strut tower braces, but the car's a sedan.... not a hatchback that would flex. Swaybars are alot of work too and I'm not sure how much they'd help with the gooey feel in the suspension. Ive seen aluminum bushings but they seem like overkill and would be pretty harsh. ?????????

 

[Shoaz]

You definitely don't want aluminum bushings on the street in the suspension components. For the SHO there are aluminum subframe bushings that help tighten up the slack in the steering, and they're a pretty nice mod. They will have little to no effect on ride, though.

There are a number of spring and strut options for the SHOs, and a variety of factory swaybars available as well. If your springs are original they may be close to worn out, and stock struts are not exactly performance oriented.

Common aftermarket springs are progressive-rate and Eibach and Intrax make what are arguably the most popular. Tokico makes an aftermarket strut but has just announced that they will cease production after the current runs. They're still available (I think) on ebay, but if you decide you want a set, best get them soon. Koni makes strut inserts for the SHO as well and they're also quite nice.

So there are lots of options in this department. There are bushing kits available as well, mostly to replace the rubber bushings with TPR or other materials.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Strut tower braces do help especially in the rear. I would recommend those as they are easy to do and help.

Subframe connectors really help out a lot and really stiffen it up a lot. If I go down a driveway at the wrong angle I can 3wheel which is quit fun. I can jack up the car with only 3 jacks as well. They can be picked up for around $60.

The rear swaybar is easy to replace, but the front is harder, requiring to drop the subframe. You can upgrade to a Gen1 swaybarcombo.

I used the rear Gen3 subframe bushings as an upgrade for me as they are Delrin and have helped out a bit.

 

[somedude_001]

that is sad to hear the the tokico struts are being discontinued, I have intrax springs and tokico struts and the car handles extremely well and made a unimaginaable difference in the handling and it still rides pretty good, I also recently installed alu subframe bushings (ASFB) and they firmed up the steering a lot and it didn't affect the ride quality at all IMO.

the intrax springs lower the car 1.5" front and 1.0" in the rear leaving you with a agressive stance, and the tokico struts seem to be a somewhat popular strut option but many people go stiffer. I drive my SHO about 25K a year and I still find this suspention combo comfortable and a blast in the twisties!

http://sonikempire.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10008/normal_Picture 018.jpg

lets ask this way what is your budget to improve handling?

 

[SonicRiot]

I just stepped down from a 300ZX to a 93 SHO. The suspension feels really soft compared to the z. Should it feel really soft or is there something wrong with it?

Sure does feel softer... it's a mid-sized sedan with slightly beefier than base lower control arms... in the front. It's quite a far from a RWD coupe.

Does anyone have any ideas on stiffening the suspension? I dont want it to be overly stiff (**** on rough pavement) but I want the car to be able to handle decently. I was thinking about strut tower braces, but the car's a sedan.... not a hatchback that would flex. Swaybars are alot of work too and I'm not sure how much they'd help with the gooey feel in the suspension. Ive seen aluminum bushings but they seem like overkill and would be pretty harsh. ?????????

.83g is more than most drivers can even tickle on the street. I'd say you're more used to a RWD setup. A FWD will push through corners and sway bars will keep the car flatter, but TPR bushings will take up the slop. BTW, new sway bars are pretty easy to install, possibly the easiest of the suspension componenets.

For the SHO there are aluminum subframe bushings that help tighten up the slack in the steering, and they're a pretty nice mod. They will have little to no effect on ride, though.

I have AL SFBs on my SHO. I seriously disagree with this statement. The AL SFBs will have a drastic effect on ride and cause vibrations and bumps to become substantially worse. My SHO felt much less smooth and comfortable than stock. However, they will also dramatically increase turn-in response and are probably exactly what you're looking for to liven up the handling. Derlin and poly are available, but the effect isn't as dramatic in trade for a smoother ride.

Unless you're ready to pour a buttload of cash into a whole new suspension setup, I'd buy the AL SFBs and call it a day. Easy to install and remove if you're unhappy with the results.

 

[jvc93//klze]

I had delrin subframe spacers on my z. They helped with the wheelhop on launches and kept the car from fishtailing so much when putting power to the pavement. I'd be more interested in a delrin or urethan bushing. Does anyone have any good sources for these? I dont know too many SHO parts distributers.



Thanks for the help too guys

 

[ManySHOs]

I would install Koni struts, eibach (or intrax) springs and aluminum subframe bushings.

For the ALSFB's, check www.shonutperformance.com

Eibachs and Koni's-I haven't ordered any in a LONG time but when I did, I set up a special rate through Daryl at www.shox.com. He would give it to anyone who called up and mentioned the shotimes group deal.

You might want to call and see if he can still hook you up.

Wider rims and tires will really help out. So will playing with sway bar sizes and adding a Quaife HLSD. It all depends on your budget though.

With this setup, the SHO will probably ride like the Z in it's standard ride mode. Nothing I've ever driven quite rode like the Z's sport mode (holy jounce Batman). Keep in mind that it will never handle like the Z though but it can be fairly satisfying.

At least the SHO doesn't have HICAS. (I had a bad experience with it once and almost crashed)

I would've traded my SHO for your Z.

Ian

 

[jvc93//klze]

I got the SHO cheap. It has plenty of problems and I really dont want to dump alot of cash into the car. Wheels and tires alone could easily cost more than the car did. A lsd, struts, and springs could easily cost more than the car itself too. I'm basicly looking for a cheap solution to the poor handling. I'm looking into changing the bushings right now. The SHO is cheap, kinda stylish, spacious transportation for me now. I just can't take turns like I used to in the 300zx. They are about the same curb weight though.

In the spring I'm looking at a Porsche 944 Turbo, 300ZX Twin Turbo, or 3000GT VR4..... whichever comes up and is in decent shape/ price for me. The SHO's only a daily driver.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

For delrin subframe bushings, use the Gen3 (96-99) rear subframe bushings. You can use them in the front and rear. I have them in mine and they do quite well.

 

[somedude_001]

if you just wa t to make a few cheep upgrades I would go with alum subframe bushings then, and if you need tires go with either 225/55/16 or 225/50/16 thit will make quite a difference especially 225/50/16, and FYI intrax springs are about $200 and can be installed in your driveway.

 

[Russsho]

Do not install Intrax or Eibach springs without changing struts. You need a firmer strut with performance springs, otherwise you'll "pogo" everytime you hit a bump. Go Tokico/Eibach, add a 26mm rsb with TPR bushings and you'll be pleasantly surprised how well your car will handle.

I can't tell from your original post, but if you're seriously expecting a SHO to handle like a Z, then you may need to adjust your expectations. You can make it do quite well for what it is, but unless you want to drop some serious money, and give up ride quality, it's still going to handle like a FWD sedan.

Edit-ASFBs do a great job at making the steering much more direct, but they also transmit a fair amount of NVH. If you're going balls-to-the-wall for handling, I highly reccommend them. Just be aware of their negative impact.

 

[jvc93//klze]

I'd like something similar in handling between the SHO and Z32. The two cars have the same curb weight, I really dont see why the SHO should handle so much worse. I was looking for any cheap solution to the extrememly poor handling and body roll. Like I said before struts and springs will run me around the price of the car. I put in a new head unit since I got one really cheap from a buddy. The SHO's a nice car, I just dont want to put alot into it. These cars are really depreciated though and I think theyre worth alot more than they sell for...... I dont want to invest alot of money into a car in only fair condition where any money put into the car will pretty much be lost in resale.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

if the car has 150k on it, then the suspension is simply worn out.

Every bushing, the coils, and the struts need to be replaced to bring it back.

Lots of body roll would point to saggy coils, and worn sway bar bushings.
But if you swap the sway bar bushings, you might as well swap the endlink bushing. And if you replace the coils, you might as well replace the stuts.

The list gets long and expensive quite fast.

BUT, you would be flat out amaized at how well these cars can be made to handle. A fresh suspension, even similar to a stock setup, handles remarkably well.

 

[TankII]

Stiffer rear bar with Hellwig bushings. Search for my posts on this.

Even doing just the bushings on the car which will cost less than $100 for all of them would make a huge difference if you put in the Hellwig bushings.

TankII

 

[SonicRiot]

I'm sorry, this is bogus man.
You can't seriously expect a nearly 13 year old FWD sedan with the stock suspension and 150K miles to handle like a sports car. That's a very unreralistic expectation unless you're willing to spend a buttload of cash. Even still, it's not a Japanese sports coupe and never will be, and it was never meant to be! The front two wheels are designed to quite literally drag a four door car to transport a family of five comfortably. It just so happens the SHO models came with a higher output powertrain to hustle the perpetually late chronic procrastinators around in hopes of getting somewhere ontime!

Remember, the suspension of and SHO is simply a beefier version of the base Taurus.

Any suspension modification you do at this point in time will only make the rest of the worn componenets seem more worn and spell certain doom even earlier than originally anticipated. Just drive the **** out of it and buy your sports car in the spring.

I'm not bashing you, just ya know, keep it real.


BTW, a note. That says chronic procrastinators, for all you sick-minded skim readers!

 

[SolidState]

wha?

I don't see anyone suggesting that the SHO will handle like a sports car...in fact, everyone is saying the opposite...

 

[wood_e]

The SHO's a nice car, I just dont want to put alot into it.

Good luck there buddy..... the cheap ends up being expensive

 

[ManySHOs]

I'd like something similar in handling between the SHO and Z32. The two cars have the same curb weight, I really dont see why the SHO should handle so much worse. I was looking for any cheap solution to the extrememly poor handling and body roll. Like I said before struts and springs will run me around the price of the car. I put in a new head unit since I got one really cheap from a buddy. The SHO's a nice car, I just dont want to put alot into it. These cars are really depreciated though and I think theyre worth alot more than they sell for...... I dont want to invest alot of money into a car in only fair condition where any money put into the car will pretty much be lost in resale.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think that you bought the wrong car. The SHO can be made to handle decently but with the mileage that your car has and your budget I don't see that you have any real options to do anything.

A lot of us maintain and modify these cars as both daily drivers and project cars. Most of us are well aware that a simple scratch will total the car and that any repair (parts alone) is usually higher than the value of the car. That's the price of SHO ownership.

Regardless if you are driving a Geo Metro, an SHO or a Lamborghini Diablo with high mileage, I would still replace the struts and springs with new units. It's a safety issue. If you want better handling, this is a good opportunity to go with uprated struts and stiffer springs. Do not install stiff springs with factory (or even worse, blown) struts. Only install them with Tokico or Koni struts.

Or just sell the car. You might be happier with something else. This is not a cheap car to own.

It's not a dig; just a friendly suggestion.

Ian

 

[Eliw]

that is sad to hear the the tokico struts are being discontinued, I have intrax springs and tokico struts and the car handles extremely well and made a unimaginaable difference in the handling and it still rides pretty good, I also recently installed alu subframe bushings (ASFB) and they firmed up the steering a lot and it didn't affect the ride quality at all IMO.

the intrax springs lower the car 1.5" front and 1.0" in the rear leaving you with a agressive stance, and the tokico struts seem to be a somewhat popular strut option but many people go stiffer. I drive my SHO about 25K a year and I still find this suspention combo comfortable and a blast in the twisties!

http://sonikempire.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10008/normal_Picture%20018.jpg

lets ask this way what is your budget to improve handling?

Tokicos are being discontinued?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[SHO92]

If you really want to get the car to handle better, and not spend much, I wouldn't go with the subframe bushings. I would find a 26mm rear sway bar and get some new bushings and endlinks for it. That would be the best bang for your buck as I see it.

But I also have to agree with others in this thread and say that it would probably be a futile attempt to get the car to handle better. It's probably a given that the rear springs are sagging and not to far fetched that a strut or 2 is leaking. The bushings are well worn by now also.

There is no way to get the SHO to handle anywhere near the Z by only spending a few hundred at most.

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=54093 <- that post is a good example of what you'd spend just to get the car to handle about how it did when it left the plant. That still is nothing like the Z.

I've been driving a 93 Z for the past few weeks trying to get some bugs worked out of it and maintenence done before it goes into the garage for the winter time. The car handles extremely well, and my well modded SHO could only dream of handleing like this factory Z. I am very happy with how my SHO handles, it just isn't in the same league as the Z. The 2 cars having the same curb weight is at the very end of the list when comparing handling capabilities of the 2 cars. The Z's much shorter wheel base is much higher up that list as to why the SHO doesn't handle as well though.

I say drive the SHO like it is for the winter and then sell it to get what you want in the spring. You won't be able to use much of the improved handling this winter anyway.