350Z Owners - Do You Think The Ride Is Too Harsh?

It's common to all cars using large wheels with ultra low profile tires. What they "screwed up" was going with the -rice boy- look with giant wheels and super low profile tires. You cannot get that combo to ride smooth without making the susp extra mushy. Seen people "upgrade" older z's and it does the same thing to them, makes a smooth riding, good performing car feel every bump in the road.

There might be some tires that flex a bit more that would help? That's what I'd be looking into.

First of all there are no rice boys here. When gas cost as much as it does fuel efficiency is a good thing,

As for your 350Z I was under the impression that the different models had different springs with different ride qualities. If this is true it might be worth investigating. If that does not work try a set of progressive rate springs and shocks or a set of adjustable shocks. Generally they allow enough movement of the suspension at low speeds to be comfortable, but at higher speeds they stiffen up for highway use. I have a 300Z who's suspension behaves this way. I have driven a 300Z TT with a modified suspension that was hard like a rock, the owner replaced the adjustable shocks with a single rate shock that was too stiff. Another side affect was squealing of the tires in turns at relatively low speeds. The shocks would not allow enough movement for the suspension geometry to act right in the turns. My Z would be faster in the curves than the modified TT.

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All of the springs are the same non progressive ones on all models.

I switched to German made Eibach Pro Kit springs, much better but lowers your car. I also got rid of the stock bricks as tires and switched to Falken 451's.

Smooth.

~«©¿©»~

No. Try not. Do or do not, there is no try. Max

Did you do it all at once? If not, which seemed to help the ride more? Just wondering, TIA

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The springs more than the tires, no more bounce or understear either.

~«©¿©»~

No. Try not. Do or do not, there is no try. Max

Thanx.

I dont want to be rude at all but why did you by a Z? this isnt a civic or Integra that "looks" sporty. its a sports car. If you have soft suppen'. and fat tires you will roll and kill yourself in a turn. what you want is what ford did to the mustang. soft ride but fast. But in a mustang dont turn fast. you will die.

but on the other side have you ever driven a FX? handles just like the Z. and it is a softer ride. so maybe you can have a suppension package that works on both levels.

peace.

Very good response. Finally someone who knows cars besides racism.

OK guys, I get the message that new springs will soften the harsh ride of my

Yes. By nature American muscle cars ride rough. But it is a matter of taste. The Camaro rides stiffer than the Trans Am, they change the spring and shock rates between models. And the Corvette rides even stiffer, but remember it is a sports car. Not a Cadillac. If you want to handle like you are on rails you need a stiff suspension and sway bars. Now comes the fun part.

If you use variable rate springs, modify the shock valving (some have speed sensitive valves) and modify the sway bars you can tune you suspension to vary between soft and firm. Of course this is best left to an automotive engineer or someone with deep pockets. The BMW has extensive tuning from the factory. If you add in that some cars have active suspensions the possibilities are endless.

-LJ

Rubber makes or breaks the vibration Even on my 280Z, When I bought a set of Michelin XWX VR70 rated a long time ago, they were completly different from H rated tires. For the extra speed rating they make the tire very stiff. The newer xtreme low profiles add to the stiffness. My MXV4 HR70's I now drive on are tame compared to the XWX's. The old

greg

Corvettes are AWFUL as far as the ride.

Thanks, that is what I wanted to hear. Now I don't feel so bad about the harsh ride of my Z.