Project Pics Take 2

Getting the last of it together.

The Nismo diff bush retains an OEM isolator arrangement which I like.



I have SPL upper control arms, traction rods and HICAS delete, and Ikeya Forumla lower arms assembled with new high tensile fasteners and locking nuts throughout. Also have new axles with new OEM fasteners.





SPL stuff fits well and the hybrid adjuster system is nifty.

The Ikeya arms fit very poorly. The build quality is excellent but my goodness for the amount I paid they should have fit without the amount of hammering and maneuvering that it took to get them onto the frame. I have installed several sets of Chinese lower arms for customers and very sorry to stay they fit much better than what I had thought was the best of the best OG Japanese gear. Would not recommend sadly.

Anyway just need my hubs back and we’re ready for install.

 

Thanks mate it’s actually nice to knuckle down and start getting things done!

That’s a good question; my goal at the moment is to not be the one holding things up...

 

Getting close to putting the rear back in and the car on the ground.

Did a little wrapping and painting just to tidy up the underbody while I have access. I won't win any prizes for my painting but it looks a lot better.




Got my hubs back as well. Very much up against the clock so I took these to Peter at Road and Race Performance in Rydalmere - really good guy and got them done for me with SFA notice. Doesn't drink though, so if you were thinking of dropping in a case of beer as a thank you, don't...

Anyway hubs have Nismo bushes all around and SPL spherical bearings for the steering arms. I had intended to use Nismo bushes for NA hubs but while the length was OK the flange on the bush would have sat inside the hub rather than locating on the edge so that was not so good. Also have new wheel bearings.

The frame is back together and hand brake assy reassembled. Shoes are just as much of a pain as I remember but hey it’s done.

 

Frame back in today.



I fit the rear brakes. These are big! Pic below shows the old Brembo front callipers (which weren’t small) and the Endless rears lol



Anyway here’s everything together. Will need to shorten the lines but otherwise a good fit. The floating rear drums are cool too...



Ikeya lower arms fit like balls on the hub side as well as the frame side. I really like that they’re beefy and all that but I’m going to have to take a grinder to the hub when I get the chance to pull it apart again.



The SPL solid bushes come with spacers so that you can set the frame at stock height (good for anti squat) or raise it closer to the chassis (good for roll centre). I want traction more than I want to turn corners so went with stock height. I really don’t like that these spacers are just sandwiched in with nothing to secure them but the tightening torque but I guess we’ll see how that goes.



And back on the ground for the first time in many years. Desperately needs a wash.

 

Thanks - been a while getting around to it lol

Yeah the SPL stuff fits well. They don’t do lower arms though unfortunately.

Nagisa Auto is another Japanese manufacturer that does front and rear lower arms for the Z. Many years ago SPL were buying these and selling them in the USA as “SPL” lower control arms but it’s been a while since they’ve been available. I am reluctant to use them anyway as they have been known to fail (snapped rose joints).

Re the Ikeya stuff the jam nut fouling on the hub is a pain but an easy fix with Mr Grinder. The only way to avoid that would be to use a smaller diameter thread on the rose joint and then we start to compromise build quality... or put the adjustment on the inside like the Nagisa arms I mentioned above. The poor fitnent on the subframe side is fairly unforgivable though when you’re paying $1200 for a pair of control arms... anyway I’ll see how it all sits after a proper alignment.

 

Thats a good suggestion - might look into that although knowing my luck it’ll hit the thread instead haha