C210 Ride Height

[coupe72001]

The guy that tuned my car (an old-school Datsun rally driver) convinced me that my car was a menace to drive on account of it being too low in the back and having terrible bump-steer every time the rear end bottomed out.

He told me that he had some "suitable" springs, and supplied and fit them for next to nothing.

I concede that the car does handle much better now... but the height in the rear is back up to standard, and the car looks kind of odd with it's butt sticking up in the air (although apparently the view of my spinning tailshaft when you drive behind me is kind of cool).

Previously the car was on Pedders red "low" springs - so they are out.

My old rally wreck was on yellow King springs which I sold off cheap before I ever tried driving on due to their diabolical reputation, although they did look to be somewhere between high and far too low in terms of ride height. Also I have heard that cutting a springs to lower the ride height is a really stupid idea because it affects the handling of the car (but I won't even pretend that I understand the physics of why that is).

There are springs available from other Datsuns e.g. 240K that will physically fit my car - but the K is slightly lighter than the C210... is this a big issue?

Anyone got any ideas or recommendations?

It's nice to be finally making improvements to my car rather than just repairing the broken bits for once!

[blind_elk]

The main problem in lowering a Datsun/Nissan with the A-arm rear suspension is that you start to toe-out the rear end. Lowering lowers the centre of gravity of the car (good thing, generally), but also affects the roll centre (probably a good thing).

The K springs are probably a softer spring, which is probably advantageous to get the arse to squat under acceleration. From experience, super heavy rear springs prevent the rear end putting power to the ground, especially in the wet.

Cutting springs is not a problem, as long as the spring can remain captive at full droop. It gives a "stronger" spring as well.

[Gordie]

240k rear suspension is seperate shock and coil.

I'd go some s13 coilovers for the rear, they are cheap as these day. and you can adjust them to just the way you like.

[coupe72001]

S13 coilovers you say, sounds interesting... I have never played with coilovers before, do they/the car need to be modified to fit?

[Silent Shadow]

c210 has 3 bolts on top at the rear. s13 coilovers have 2. so you'll have to drill a hole up top to fit it. that old yellow parts car i sold to nick had this done.

[Gordie]

if you don't fancy drilling holes, you can get some adaptors, like i have, that bolt to the coilover strut top and have 3 studs coming out of it.

[Silent Shadow]

^^^ winner!! didnt know about that.

[coupe72001]

Agreed; the adapter set up sounds unreal... did you buy it or make it?

I read some of the other posts re: s13 conversions, but missed some fairly vital info. Do I need to purchase the S13 coilover spring and shock as an assembly, or will the S13 spring fit over my existing C210 shock? Also is there a spring... tension/weight/setting??? (someone suggested 6kg for the rear) that I need to ask for?

Gordie, if your car is handling well, I'll try and copy what you have done to the letter.

[harvo]

Good to see things are going well with the Datto for you man,

The coilovers should come as a complete set, with the spring on an adjustable perch. Most should come with adjustable shocks too I would think?.

6kg springs should be ok, don't go much harder if you like your spine the way it is.

If you can get some spec's up for those adaptors I might be able to knock some up at work, measurements would have to be spot on tho. Thinking about doing the same with mine.

[Gordie]

i bought the adaptors off a guy who had them in his hr31.

but any machine place you be able to knock some up easy as.

just went and took some pics of what i'll be using.

There are the adaptors

c210 v's s13 coilovers.

and the adaptors on the s13 coilovers

this is the ride hight with the stock springs

(this is when i first got the white car a few years ago)

[Dan_J]

c210 has 3 bolts on top at the rear. s13 coilovers have 2. so you'll have to drill a hole up top to fit it. that old yellow parts car i sold to nick had this done.

you could just swap the top hats off the suspension?

just undo the 1-2 nuts in the middle and your good. and if you've removed stock springs from a shock before you would know u need spring compressors so the springs dont knock u out.

Edited November 5, 2009 by Dan_J

[Gordie]

you could just swap the top hats off the suspension?

just undo the 1-2 nuts in the middle and your good. and if you've removed stock springs from a shock before you would know u need spring compressors so the springs dont knock u out.

yep, you can do it that way, but if you have some good quality coilovers you will lose the pillowball bearing set up, and possable the damper control knob.