T3 Bump steer spacers

[ctdavid73510]

I just installed none shortened 280zx struts with the spacer from T3. It doesn't look like I will be able to reconnect the sway bar and the tension control rods. When I but a jack under the control arm to lift it the car starts to lift before I get close enough to put the bolts in. Do I only need the spacers if I shorten the strut?

[ctdavid73510]

Also if I don't use the spacer will I have to swap struts left to right to clear the ZX caliper?

[okayfine]

You need the spacers if your ZX struts are shorter, overall, than the struts your car came with from the factory. This is the strut housing itself, but also the spring height (not accounting for any difference in rate). Datsun had short, medium, and long struts for the 510, depending on the year it was built. The basic way to tell if you need spacers is to install your parts and set the car on the ground. If your LCAs are parallel with the ground, you're iffy, and if they're pointing up, you'll want them.

Without a spacer, you will run into caliper interference issues at approximately halfway through a set of pads, or you swap the struts left to right.

[icehouse]

Swaps struts side to side? I've never heard of this.

LCA angle dictates where the roll center is. From what I've read you want your roll center 20% below the CG of your car. All the documentation points at the crank shaft being the CG on most cars. These pictures should help illustrate roll center VS. LCA angle.













As you can see its that even with "Flat" LCA's the roll center still stuck.