Stagea Owner Once Again -M35 Questions

[hutchwilco]

Hi Guys,

It's been a year or so since my C34 was nicked and I've been on the lookout for an M35 I could afford.

finally got a 2002 250RS with almost everything I needed.

First up - very nice car to drive, just what I expected, and as a family man, fantastic for going on holiday with the family and fitting everything in.

I have a few issues I need advice with:

Exhaust:

I bought this off a young fella who'd lowered it and replaced the exhaust with a straight pipe - not my style.

I've put a standard muffler back on, but all the wreckers cut the damn rubber hanging mounts. I've bodged mine up with wire, crimps, and some rubber mounts from a cefiro, but i need the three rubber mounts to finish the job. Can anyone help? 2 of them are 90degree twisted. As I said, all the wreckers cut them!

Suspension:

I live in post-earthquake Christchurch NZ, and driving a lowered car on streets that are buckled and torn is a nightmare. That and I'm not into driving a lowered car for all the bad attention it gets.

The springs it has currently are red and have Cobra 12263 tags (at least the rears do, I cant read anything on the front).

So what are my options?

Can I replace the rear springs since they are separate (I actually already bought some factory springs from a wrecker), or do the shocks need changing too? I don't know if the shocks are stock or changed when the springs were.

Can I just replace the front springs? Or do they always have to be replaced with the shock? I'm thinking of getting the spring shock assembly from the wrecker for the fronts also.

Alternatively, can I increase ride height - say to the ARX style? I believe ARX have bigger wheels and different suspension.

Wheels:

I have 17inch nissan mags and bridgestone potenza 215/55/r17s.

is it possible to get even larger rolling diameter (to reduce the effect of earthquake road holes) by putting bigger tyres on he same mags? ie 215/65/r17s - does that even make sense?

Handling:

Since I'm talking about raising the car, I expect that I'll get a bit more roll when I put higher springs in - right?

Can I offset this by putting in a better sway bar? should this be done front and back? My front bar currently has a number sprayed on it looks like 4181 - does anyone know if this is stock or custom?

I'll be checking out the service info on this forum to see what I should be doing to the car since it's done 160k.

Cheers

Edited January 2, 2014 by hutchwilco

[PN-Mad]

1. Got to an exhaust specialist shop. They will have hangers. Easy fix.

2. Just put the stock springs in. No need to replace shocks if they are just the factory ones as long as they are in good Knick. The fronts disassemble so you can change springs, it's not a one piece assembly.

3. I think arx have slightly higher springs on them. Other than that susp is the same.

4. Withhold any decision about tyres until you get the stock susp in place, I wouldn't put bigger tyres on it.

5. I wouldn't do swap bars if your doing all these mods to make it more boaty, because you'll find that while cornering is flatter, the car will be harsher over pot holes, and things you drive over with one wheel. The pic you posted looks stock, but give it a tap, if it's hollow then it's stock.

[Footo]

ive got arx suspension if you need.

[M35]

Hi Sam,

Welcome I'm from Chc and if you like I have ARX springs that came off my ARX. What suburbs you in? Your car looks mint!

Edited January 3, 2014 by M35

[hutchwilco]

1. Got to an exhaust specialist shop. They will have hangers. Easy fix.

2. Just put the stock springs in. No need to replace shocks if they are just the factory ones as long as they are in good Knick. The fronts disassemble so you can change springs, it's not a one piece assembly.

3. I think arx have slightly higher springs on them. Other than that susp is the same.

4. Withhold any decision about tyres until you get the stock susp in place, I wouldn't put bigger tyres on it.

5. I wouldn't do swap bars if your doing all these mods to make it more boaty, because you'll find that while cornering is flatter, the car will be harsher over pot holes, and things you drive over with one wheel. The pic you posted looks stock, but give it a tap, if it's hollow then it's stock.

Thanks dude that's all good advice.

[hutchwilco]

Hi Sam,

Welcome I'm from Chc and if you like I have ARX springs that came off my ARX. What suburbs you in? Your car looks mint!

I'm in North Linwood. Car looks mint but actually needs a bit of peeling paint work done... ...when I get round to it.

I could be interested in your ARX springs. I'd just like to know how much bigger than standard they are and would they look stupid with 17" wheels?

Otherwise I'm keen on more clearance.