This thread will be updated as needed.
At first glance the Z31 has what an auto enthusiast and aspiring racer on a budget desires; front engine, rear wheel drive layout, available 5 speed, available turbo, low cost, reliability, and room for improvement.
Ah, but there is a catch! That pesky semi rear trailing arm design...sneaky snap over steer. No prob! We'll just upgrade the suspension. Ah, but there is another catch!
Aftermarket support for the Z31 chassis is limited. Respectable, but limited compared to the S13/14/15, B13 Z32, Z33, A32 even the S30!
But I'm here to help you guys who don't know what the deal is.
Here's my Suspension Upgrade Thread. Z31 Style.
Suspension and Chassis Stiffening Options:
Chassis Bracing:
There are 3 primary bracing products commercially available for your Z31. All make great bolt on upgrades due to ease, but don't perform best until the springs, struts, sway bars, and worn bushings have been upgraded first. This is because those latter components are likely going to give, compress, or deflect before the chassis does. When these components are upgraded and the chassis becomes the weak point of the suspension system, the additional bracing will begin to show its worth. Plus it looks cool.
Front Strut Tower Brace:
Courtesy of NissanEgg
Nissan Motorsports front sway bar 28.5mm. Comes with swaybar, bushings, 2 sets of endlinks of different lengths, and bushing brackets. Non-adjustable. Black sway bar color.
Cusco
Project Nissan
Courtesy Parts
Greddy/Trust/eBay
Rear Strut Tower Brace:
Cusco
Project Nissan
Courtesy Parts
Lower Rear Crossmember (1987-1989):
MFP
Sway Bars and End Links:
I separated End Links from the other bushings due the dramatic effect new Polyurethane bushings can have over your older units, and the amazing difference they have when used in conjunction with upgraded Sway bars.
End Links:
Energy Suspension
Prothane
MSA* (Adjustable)
*MSA REALLY dropped the ball on three major points. 1) Quality of SOME parts was OK, manufacturing of the assembly was poor. 2) Cost. Individually one could order and build the parts of the kit for 25% of the price. That's one off! They get this stuff in BULK. 3) Universal. Listed for use with any year Z31 doesn't actually mean it will fit your Z31. For starters there are two styles of front sway bar. With MSA design, the adjustabilty looses its worth on one design. More importantly IT DOES NOT FIT YOUR SWAY BAR! Doesn't fit the holes. $50 of junk.
Sway Bars:
Sway Bars are my second favorite initial handling upgrades, right after Tires. I put a rear sway bar, polyurethane sway bar bushings, and end links on every car I've owned except one. First you have to know what the stock size is. Too many people just buy the biggest one available. You should not do this. Your cars handling WILL suffer, especially on the Z31.
Nissan and Nismo:
22mm Front Sway Bar 84-89 NA, 84-86 Turbo
24mm Front Sway Bar 87-89 Turbo
26mm Front Sway Bar 1988 Shiro (NISMO Bar)
22mm Rear Sway Bar 84-89 NA, 84-3/87 Turbo
24mm Rear Sway Bar 4/87-89 Turbo
25mm Rear Sway Bar 1988 Shiro (NISMO Bar)
1984-86 front sway bars are horizontal mount, 1987-89 front sway bars are vertical mount.
MSA
Front - 25.4mm
Rear - 25.4mm
Addco
Front - 25.4mm
Rear - 25.4mm
Koni Rallysport (Discontinued):
Front - 29mm
Rear - 19mm (Fully Adjustable)
Rear End links - heim jointed turnbuckle/clamp
*** Similar items from different brands are ordered from Best to Lesser based on my personal opinion, based on Quality of Material, Manufacturing, and High Performance Usage.
At first glance the Z31 has what an auto enthusiast and aspiring racer on a budget desires; front engine, rear wheel drive layout, available 5 speed, available turbo, low cost, reliability, and room for improvement.
Ah, but there is a catch! That pesky semi rear trailing arm design...sneaky snap over steer. No prob! We'll just upgrade the suspension. Ah, but there is another catch!
Aftermarket support for the Z31 chassis is limited. Respectable, but limited compared to the S13/14/15, B13 Z32, Z33, A32 even the S30!
But I'm here to help you guys who don't know what the deal is.
Here's my Suspension Upgrade Thread. Z31 Style.
Suspension and Chassis Stiffening Options:
Chassis Bracing:
There are 3 primary bracing products commercially available for your Z31. All make great bolt on upgrades due to ease, but don't perform best until the springs, struts, sway bars, and worn bushings have been upgraded first. This is because those latter components are likely going to give, compress, or deflect before the chassis does. When these components are upgraded and the chassis becomes the weak point of the suspension system, the additional bracing will begin to show its worth. Plus it looks cool.
Front Strut Tower Brace:
Courtesy of NissanEgg
Nissan Motorsports front sway bar 28.5mm. Comes with swaybar, bushings, 2 sets of endlinks of different lengths, and bushing brackets. Non-adjustable. Black sway bar color.
Cusco
Project Nissan
Courtesy Parts
Greddy/Trust/eBay
Rear Strut Tower Brace:
Cusco
Project Nissan
Courtesy Parts
Lower Rear Crossmember (1987-1989):
MFP
Sway Bars and End Links:
I separated End Links from the other bushings due the dramatic effect new Polyurethane bushings can have over your older units, and the amazing difference they have when used in conjunction with upgraded Sway bars.
End Links:
Energy Suspension
Prothane
MSA* (Adjustable)
*MSA REALLY dropped the ball on three major points. 1) Quality of SOME parts was OK, manufacturing of the assembly was poor. 2) Cost. Individually one could order and build the parts of the kit for 25% of the price. That's one off! They get this stuff in BULK. 3) Universal. Listed for use with any year Z31 doesn't actually mean it will fit your Z31. For starters there are two styles of front sway bar. With MSA design, the adjustabilty looses its worth on one design. More importantly IT DOES NOT FIT YOUR SWAY BAR! Doesn't fit the holes. $50 of junk.
Sway Bars:
Sway Bars are my second favorite initial handling upgrades, right after Tires. I put a rear sway bar, polyurethane sway bar bushings, and end links on every car I've owned except one. First you have to know what the stock size is. Too many people just buy the biggest one available. You should not do this. Your cars handling WILL suffer, especially on the Z31.
Nissan and Nismo:
22mm Front Sway Bar 84-89 NA, 84-86 Turbo
24mm Front Sway Bar 87-89 Turbo
26mm Front Sway Bar 1988 Shiro (NISMO Bar)
22mm Rear Sway Bar 84-89 NA, 84-3/87 Turbo
24mm Rear Sway Bar 4/87-89 Turbo
25mm Rear Sway Bar 1988 Shiro (NISMO Bar)
1984-86 front sway bars are horizontal mount, 1987-89 front sway bars are vertical mount.
MSA
Front - 25.4mm
Rear - 25.4mm
Addco
Front - 25.4mm
Rear - 25.4mm
Koni Rallysport (Discontinued):
Front - 29mm
Rear - 19mm (Fully Adjustable)
Rear End links - heim jointed turnbuckle/clamp
*** Similar items from different brands are ordered from Best to Lesser based on my personal opinion, based on Quality of Material, Manufacturing, and High Performance Usage.
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