R32 Gtst Rear Shocks

[grippy]

I have previously owned a 1990 Type M R32 GTST and I had buddy club coil overs in it. This car was wrecked at the race track and I now own a 1993 R32 GTST.

On the 1990 model the rear shocks lower mount (on the hub) was a single eyelet type which the coil overs mirrored exactly and fitting was direct.

On the newer 1993 GTST the rear shocks lower mount has a fork type mount set up. I am not sure if my coil overs from the 1990 R32 will fit the 1993 model due to the different setup of the rear shocks?

Does anyone know if the single eyelet shock can be fitted to the fork type hub fitting or will I have to replace the lower fitting on the rear coilovers to suit?

I have not yet removed the stock shocks to find out what the situation will be but from looking it seems the later model has a different rear shock setup?

I though all R32's were the same?

Any help appreciated.

Rgds.

Grippy.

[salad]

The eyelet type shocks will not fit the fork type uprights. But all R32 GTS-ts came with the eyelet setup on the rear. Only the GTS-4s and GTRs had the fork setup. I think maybe your uprights have been changed to the GTS4/GTR setup.

[Ronin 09]

is the rear hub casting aluminium on the new car? if so the new car probably has GTR cradle

you'll need to cut off the eyelet mount and weld on the fork mount to fit the old shocks...

[grippy]

Cheers for the info.

I will get it on stands and get under the rear tomorrow and have a good look as I have only seen them from lying on the ground.

There is something fishy going on there with the type of rear end in it.

Do you know if you can replace the lower part of the coil over by simply screwing the base fitting off and replacing with a fork type? Would Buddy Club possibly sell just the screw on bottom fitting?

I'm pretty sure the whole coil over is made from alloy and cutting and welding would not be such a good option. They are race spec dampers.

Anyhow I will check it out thoroughly and let you know what comes of it.

I hope I don't have to buy new rear coil overs for it as they cost a bomb! As I'm sure you are aware.

Rgds,

Povo.

[Ronin 09]

i dont know if buddy club would sell the lower shock housing... it would be unlikely I'd say.

I thought of something else yesterday - I don't know if the GTS4 rear end has the same alloy hubs as the GTR but I think (and hopefully someone can confirm) that it is the same fitting fork fitting as the GTR.

It would surprise me if nissan went to the effort of engineering a cast iron rear hub specific for GTS4 with a fork mount - but stranger things have happened.

Another thought - it might not be a Skyline rear end at all? I don't know why or if anyone could/would swap it for a 180sx or similar rear end, nor the mounting points of any other nissan rear ends. I know people swap skyline rear ends into silvias...

Sydneykid has also made comment elsewhere with Nissan doing a few 'parts bin specials' on the late cars, so you never know your car may have come out with a different rear end from factory...

Glad to add to your confusion!

[heller44]

Confirmed here and all the gts4 owners I have talked to, Fork fitting on rear shock lower mount. Unsure of alu or steel hub as never needed to know.

[grippy]

I had a good look today and the hubs are cast iron with the shock rubber mounted in the hub, not on the end of the coil over as on the my old GTST.

I will confirm tomorrow but it looks like the shocks themselves are much longer than the coil overs I already have (spewing) and if this proves to be the case I will have to buy new rear coil overs for the thing.!!

The only way I will be able to tell is to lay them side by side.

How will I ever sell only rear coil overs and buy new GTS4 buddy club race spec coil overs rear only?? This will be a nightmare.

As mentioned this rear end may have come from anywhere and my brother has mentioned it may even be from a Z32??

I may be better off trying to source standard GTST hubs or a rear cradle with no diff but with hubs but these are hard to get because of the silvia boys doing 5 stud conversions.

Does anyone know if there is any other differences that may be in this rear end? as in axles? Diff? The brakes look the same as the GTST, but are the rear brake lines the same, as I have my old braided brake lines to fit? I'm worried they may not fit also?

I will update info as I find out the hard and expensive way. Makes me wish I never wrote off my previous one!!!!

Thanks for your info, it has been very helpful.

Pls ask if I can return the favour as I have a fair amount of experience with the R32 due to my situation...

Rgds,

Grippy..

[Sydneykid]

There is no difference in rear shock length between R32GTST, R32GTR and R32GTS4. Obviously the front shocks for the 4wd's are shorter than the 2wd's.

I am now up to 3 x R32GTST's that have R32GTS4 rear cradles, identified by the rear swaybar differwnces. None of them have GTS4 style rear uprights (hubs) though, all have R32GTST style.

Cheers

Gary

[Ronin 09]

brakes can be changed (obviously, you know that) but didn't z32 have the same style sumitomo 2-pot as a gtst/gtr anyway?

[salad]

Yeah, Z32 had the same calipers on the rear. I'm fairly sure they also had the cast alloy uprights though.

[grippy]

Correction from previous post: The rear hubs in my new R32 with the fork type lwr fitting are cast alloy and not iron as I previously thought!! After I scrapped off all the road grime I found very shiny alloy hubs.

I have removed the stock rear shock and compared it to my coil over and the mount point on the fork type (stock) shock is 50mm longer than that of the coil over with the single eyelet fitting.

It seems that this dimension is extended by the fitting on the end of the shock and not the shock itself.

Also being a stock shock it would be longer in length when unloaded than a coil over.

I rang Buddy Club Aust today and they do not sell the lower fork style fitting so I cannot just simply replace only this.

More bad news from them was they do not sell rear shocks only and I would have to buy a set of 4..(Spewing)..

It looks like I will have to sell my near new Race Specs for whatever I can get for them and buy a new set of Race Specs for GTS4/GTR.

My worry is that as Sydney Kid mentioned, I will need GTR rear shocks but not GTR front shocks as they are a different length?

If I was to buy GTR shocks all round would they fit the GTST with GTR/GTS4 rear end? It seem that the front coil overs would be the wrong length then. My concern is now of course the the new front shocks not fitting??

If I was to buy 4 new GTR coil overs I would then be stuck with new front GTR coil overs and near new rear GTST coil overs.

Is it possible to modify the lower buddy club fitting from eyelet to fork fitting? I think these fittings are cast heat treated alloy and can't be screwed with.

Any ideas appreciated.

The saga continues, will update as it unfolds.

Rgds,

Grippy.

[grippy]

It seems that I cannot buy R32 GTR rear only coil overs from anywhere. They are only sold in complete sets from all the major suppliers.

I think my best option is to source some GTST rear hubs and change them over. At least that way I can keep my buddy club coil overs and it should be a lot cheaper than buying another set of coil overs that I will only use half of.

If anyone has any R32 GTST rear hubs for sale, I'm keen to buy.

Rgds,

Grippy.

[LRyder]

It seems that I cannot buy R32 GTR rear only coil overs from anywhere. They are only sold in complete sets from all the major suppliers.

I think my best option is to source some GTST rear hubs and change them over. At least that way I can keep my buddy club coil overs and it should be a lot cheaper than buying another set of coil overs that I will only use half of.

If anyone has any R32 GTST rear hubs for sale, I'm keen to buy.

Rgds,

Grippy.

R32 GTST and GTR front coils are the same, sell your current set of coilovers. And buy a full set of GTRs, or try source a 2nd hand pair of GTR coilovers. (I just bought some front only budy clubs 2nd hand) from a GTR set from the wreckers down here, they still have the rears if ur lucky.

[Sydneykid]

In my opinion and based on my experience, Buddy Club are not that great a kit, certainly not good enough for you to be overly concerned with keeping them. My recommendation would be to sell them and buy something decent.

Cheers

Gary

[Sydneykid]

R32 GTST and GTR front coils are the same, sell your current set of coilovers. And buy a full set of GTRs, or try source a 2nd hand pair of GTR coilovers. (I just bought some front only budy clubs 2nd hand) from a GTR set from the wreckers down here, they still have the rears if ur lucky.

The 4wd (GTR & GTS4) front shocks are shorter than the 2wd (GTS & GTST) to fit the front drive shafts. If you use the 4wd shocks you may fit it impossible to get the car up to legal height, if that is ever necessary.

Cheers

Gary