Blown Front Strut.

[BASHO]

When I bought my car it already had KingSprings lows, not superlows, according to Kings when I told them the ride hight was 350mm front and rear.

These are fitted to stock AFAIK OE origional shockys, the set up seemed somewhat harsh to me but this is my first Skyline so WTF would I know- (previously had REX's and an FC3C Rx7 amongst other rides).

The upshot of this set up is that one of the front struts has blown and is leaking , which all things being even isn't greatly surprising 10YO car, 79000ks, hard lowered springs, and sooo smooth roads, in spite of Kings assurances that they are 3kg/cm (and I'll bet the other strut aint far behind it).

I should note that one of the castor strut bushes poped last week and Auto-tech have fitted polyeurathane replacements both sides, the one that poped was the opposite side to the gorn strut.

I'm thinking that good replacements for the front struts would be Pedders Comfortlines to take a bit of the harshness out of the springs at the front with maybe 10mm shorter bumpstops for a tad more travel.

Pedders assure me that the shockys travel will be fine with that set up.

Has anyone tried this set up or have any any comments before I burn some more hard earned ?

[bradsm87]

Pedders are just re-branded monroes but more expensive. They're a very basic shock. Pretty much the shittest new shocks money can buy. I would HIGHLY recommend a set of Bilstein B6 shocks for amazing comfort AND handling or if ur too stingey, KYB Excel-G at the very least.

[_Ryan_]

they will go pop, do not purchase. monroes with lowered springs in my 31 lasted a fortnight, they were new, bilsteins lasted!

[nisskid]

i wouldnt.

[BASHO]

i wouldnt.

he-he, I ain't after these replys , thanks guys , bit of a problem as the R34GT-t dosen't have much spec'd specificly for it, Bilstein's and Koni's are a bit exy for me at around $385.00+ a corner , so it looks like KYB will be the go at around $215 a corner however Koni are only only spec'd as far as the R33, does anyone know if the R33 spec will be suitable for the R34.

OE are $205.00 but have only one in stock in Melb according to Nissan who should know, so that'll be + 10 days oooooooorr so (maybe) for delivery from the land of the rising currant and they're paid up front so if the dam things don't arrive I'll still be locked in and I can't keep driving with a busted shocky indeffinately.

Cheers again for the replys

[cazman]

he-he, I ain't after these replys , thanks guys , bit of a problem as the R34GT-t dosen't have much spec'd specificly for it, Bilstein's and Koni's are a bit exy for me at around $385.00+ a corner , so it looks like KYB will be the go at around $215 a corner however Koni are only only spec'd as far as the R33, does anyone know if the R33 spec will be suitable for the R34.

OE are $205.00 but have only one in stock in Melb according to Nissan who should know, so that'll be + 10 days oooooooorr so (maybe) for delivery from the land of the rising currant and they're paid up front so if the dam things don't arrive I'll still be locked in and I can't keep driving with a busted shocky indeffinately.

Cheers again for the replys

Bilstien are only $295 per corner. You CANT buy any other mono tube for that coin.

Dont waste time, but the bilsteins

[BASHO]

Bilstien are only $295 per corner. You CANT buy any other mono tube for that coin.

Dont waste time, but the bilsteins

Thanks mate could you possibly give me a link where I can get them from at that price, I live on the Gold Coast and that just isn't near what I've been quoted so far localy, I must be contacting the wrong places.

Also as a point of interest I've been quoted for a KYB front strut fit up when KYB Technical in Melbourne tell me that they don't have a listing for an R34--how does that work do KYB R33 shockys fit R34s ? ah hem.

[mosquitocoils]

I've been told by both my mechanic and wrecker-supplies-guy that R33 and R34 shocks are interchangeable.

[BASHO]

I've been told by both my mechanic and wrecker-supplies-guy that R33 and R34 shocks are interchangeable.

Thats what I thought as well until I found out that the R33 KYB front struts have different part nos for 08.93-11.94 2wd inc 4ws (NSF9053) and the R33GT-S & GT-R (NSF9058) and further the R34 2wd (GTV2.0 . 2.5GT . 2.5GTT) which have part No NSF9092.

The KYB R34 struts are not available through KYB in Australia , this I found out by phoning KYB Melb (03 9730 4999 (ask for Jason) they were however kind enough to point me to a supplier in NZ www.Georgestock.co.nz I have emailed them and requested cost, frieght cost and delivery time.

KYB also couldn't explain what the difference would be only that niether of the R33 struts was listed as an alternative should the correct R34 ones not be available.

I personaly have no idea, it could be spring seat hight or size variation, brake line clip difference, valving (as the R34 is a bit heavier ?) whatever-- and KYB couldn't tell me.

The above part Nos are all for GAS-A-JUST monotube gas. the part No for Super Twin Tube Gas is 341287 this is availabe for the R33 sedan & coupe 2wd inc 4ws 08.93-11.94 only.

Edited August 25, 2009 by BASHO

[mosquitocoils]

Oh wow, jeez... I'm glad I didn't pick up those 34 shocks then. Mind you they may still fit, but they use a different part number. I don't know enough about these things though, so I'm going to leave it there.

[bradsm87]

How much did ur r34 gtt cost and u won't spend $300 a shock on it?

[BASHO]

How much did ur r34 gtt cost and u won't spend $300 a shock on it?

Is this aimed at me ? if it is add something usefull or piss off, how much I paid for my R34 and what I'm prepared to pay is none of your friken buisness.

If it's not aimed at me sorry, pls ignore the previous comment.

The fact of the matter is there is only a couple of brands I have found so far that actualy has any struts specific (claimed) to the R34GT-t and thats Pedders (Monroe?), which have received a luke warm reception on here and KONI but KONI specs the same for R33 and I think r32 ad nausiem one size fits all--sure it does --and at around $385.00 a corner + fitting it's simply robbery.

KYB specs front (adjustables only)-NSF9092- these are not available in Australia and NZ seems to be out of stock until 28-10-09. No prices as yet.

Bilstein has NOTHING for an R34 and you'll be luck to get anything for an R33 either according to Bilstien Melbourne this morning, they will custom at around $400 a corner but need an OE Factory shock to start from.(very reasonable considering it's a custom jobby)

I have looked at various coilovers and the spring rates are far higher than I want and an absolutely silly waste in every direction on a general dutys street car.

Nissan OE struts are available @ $205.57ea but don't seem to work overly well with the Kingsprings that came with the car however that may be because the springs are very fresh and need to wear in a little.

So it's not just about money atall it's about getting the right part (and price) and not just using the "well it fits so it must be right and pay plenty and it must be good" adages.

Edited August 26, 2009 by BASHO

[bradsm87]

Sorry mate i don't mean how much u paid specifically. I more meant that they're a great high quality car and not cheap so why not put the quality parts in it it deserves rather than spoiling a $25k car to save $200.

[mosquitocoils]

Basho... I don't really have a suggestion as far as parts go, but if you wanted to save some money you could try installing yourself. It doesn't take that much, a mid-level toolkit will do fine, maybe with a good breaker bar to get the pesky lug off the bottom of the strut.

I wasn't really mechanically minded until I got my skyline... but have learnt heaps from doing things like this myself.

[BASHO]

Sorry mate i don't mean how much u paid specifically. I more meant that they're a great high quality car and not cheap so why not put the quality parts in it it deserves rather than spoiling a $25k car to save $200.

And I'm in agreement , however , of the only couple I've come across that are actualy for the R34GT-t it turns out that one brand has been rated rather poorly by people who have actualy used them and the other is not actualy specific but generic too, it seems, nearly anything with an R3 prefix, ie R32 R33 R34 is extortionaly priced and with no certainty that it will be 'the goods' so to speak, potentialy $800 out the door and 3 months later no further forward.

I have in any event decided to go with stock for the time being as I have been assured that the springs are not so low as to cause a problem and that the passenger shocky that blew was more likely a casualty in spite of rather than because of the springs.

I will be doing the fitting myself, and it aint the money--I actualy enjoy working on the car.

Oh yup--I swapped the R34 for $7k cash and a demonstrator MY08 TK09 Barina with 2700ks on it he he which I aquired in a moment of madness when petrol looked like hitting 2 bucks/ltr last year..

[08r3308]

used kyb before i got coilovers , kyb were fine on my car was 2" lowered with springs

[mosquitocoils]

I will be doing the fitting myself, and it aint the money--I actualy enjoy working on the car.

I hear you mate... I'm very happy with what I now know how to do, such a rewarding feeling when it goes right.

[_Ryan_]

Get Koni's at trade price... you are being ripped... a set of reds should be 700ish, Yellows a bit more(but bloody worth it), Personally I would prefer Bilsteins, but Koni's are cheaper/easier to re-valve, so Koni yellows should be considered.

Edited August 26, 2009 by RB_Ryan

[cazman]

Get Koni's at trade price... you are being ripped... a set of reds should be 700ish, Yellows a bit more(but bloody worth it), Personally I would prefer Bilsteins, but Koni's are cheaper/easier to re-valve, so Koni yellows should be considered.

Theyre not called red/yellow anymore, havent been for years.

They are also fairly terrible, read a few more reviews if you need confirmation,

Also the Konis are not easy to rebuild. Not bya long shot. not here or in the USA. At least the bilstein you "could" rebuild yourself if you set out to do it. But you CANT rebuild konis.

[skins]

My 33 is going into pedder's next week for a set of XA extreme coil overs. I'll let you know how they are when they are finished.