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R33: Suspension - Fitting Pineapples

Lazy-Bastard

By Lazy-Bastard,
in Tutorials / DIY / FAQ

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Lazy-Bastard Grand Master

Lazy-Bastard

Posted
Posted

Available all over the place in kits, but I discovered Fulcrum sell them separately so went out and grabbed some.

Large ones (80mm OD) for $17.56ea

Small ones (69.5mm OD) for $14.10ea

I just got the 4, but I suppose if I ever wanted to change the setup i could just go back and get another 2 small ones.

Their small ones don't come with a cut in them, so you may need to cut them if you want easier fitment for either a drift or drag setup.

Depending on how you want to set the rear cradle you only need to buy 4 pineapples. I have set mine in the standard position and only required 2 large and 2 small pineapples. If you want either a drift or drag setup you would need 4 small pineapples.

Total cost was under $65.

Fitting is simple and takes approx 45 - 60mins.

Tools required:

-17mm socket and breaker bar

-14mm socket

-trolley jack

-ramps make life easier

Photos below, as well as a link to the whiteline fitting instructions. They are pretty self explanatory, so once you have a read, look at the photos, and then have a look under your car it should be obvious what needs to go where etc.

I just backed my car up onto some car ramps (remembering to chock the front wheels), then did one side at a time, while supporting the subframe with a trolley jack (it didn't really seem to need supporting but that is what is stated in the instructions).

The Whiteline instructions only mention removing 2 nuts either side (one at the front and one at the back), but I removed an additional 2 at the front from the subframe mounting bracket (marked in the photos) to make getting the front pineapples on easier.

On the front I had to use the jack once I had fitted the pineapple to compress the subframe up enough to get the nut back on with a decent amount of thread, but once it was on it tightens easily.

The rear nuts are a bit hard to get at with a socket/ratchet due to the HICAS tie-rods sitting directly under the nut, so depending on the length/chunkiness of the socket and ratchet/breaker bar you are using, you may need a 17mm spanner as well.

Torque wise, I just tightened everything until I couldn't tighten it anymore (within reason). The nuts were pretty hard to break at first when removing them so I'd say you are pretty right to tighten like a bastard.

If anyone can see anything I have done wrong or would care to elaborate on anything, feel free :)

:(

Whiteline fitting instructions:

http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/instructs...203a_KCA349.pdf

Front mounting position. Just underneath in front of the rear wheels:

pineapples-front.jpg

Rear:

pineapples-rear.jpg

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Lazy-Bastard Grand Master

Lazy-Bastard

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I think there is an all-round improvement in the rear end. Acceleration feels like it has improved and possibly braking also. There is less squatting and pitching when getting on and off the brake and accelerator.

When cornering there seems to be less rear end movement side to side as well, so overall I reckon for the price, they have made a marked difference/improvement.

Lazy-Bastard Grand Master

Lazy-Bastard

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  • Author
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Yes, the factory bushes are liquid filled and do have a tendancy to leak. I don't know how or if the pineapples will stop the factory bushes from perishing, but they seem to be Ok at the moment...

TeamKrazy Veteran

TeamKrazy

Posted
Posted

nope, not bad,

just wont get you the best performance.

u buy them from whiteline www.whiteline.com.au

or from any fulcrum dealer, www.fulcrumsuspensions.com

thanks warwick for the help,

i manged to do mine in 30 mins today and then did jlnewtons GTR aswell,

taht was a little trickier cause i had to remove the extra sway bar that the GTR has.

someonestolecc Grand Master

someonestolecc

Posted
Posted

I got mine from the nissansilvia forums for $60 or so.

The guy there was selling them as a trader so he had heeps.

They're going in this week (read my story here)

I'm going to ask them to be put in on the neutral setting. I figure my car slides happily at the moment so going any more to drift setting would be suicide (or track use only) and the squat setting would be ok for drag but that's not what my car is for.

Has anyone had it on the neutral setting or drift or drag and care to comment on the difference?

  • 1 year later...
Lazy-Bastard Grand Master

Lazy-Bastard

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Lazy-Bastard you were saying that you need 4 small pineapples for a drift/drag setup, where exactly do the two extra small ones go as i cant see them on the whiteline instructions page

Whichever way you set it up, you only need 4 in total. I think from memory the drift setup requires 4 small and no large but check the whiteline fitting guide

drf76 Collaborator

drf76

Posted
Posted
Whichever way you set it up, you only need 4 in total. I think from memory the drift setup requires 4 small and no large but check the whiteline fitting guide

just took a closer look at the diagram from whiteline, i didnt notice the there are small rings and small cut rings, so yes i need to 2 large and 2 small cut for a drift setup. thanks for the info

salad Veteran

salad

Posted
Posted (edited)
if they look like this then you need to remove the factory bushes.

If they look like this then you leave the factory bushes in place.

The alloy subframe bushes ARE to be used with the standard subframe bushes. They squash them down and prevent all movement of the rear subframe. The only bushes that require you to remove the original bush are replacement aftermarket bushes, i.e. Noltec

Pineapples are not actually replacement bushes, they are there to help tilt the subframe and resist movement.

And the smaller bottom bush does not require a cut in it at all, you take the nut all the way off, the other 2 at the other end will hold the subframe fine, just loosen them a little first.

Edited by salad
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 weeks later...

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