The Guide to Nissan 350z Coilovers. Despite its age, the Nissan 350Z is still a great performance car. Many people regard it as a true driver’s car because of its incredible mix of NA power and handling. The 350z is also a simple platform to modify and improve. A Nissan 350z coilovers kit is one of the best modifications. Coilovers have a lot to offer, whether you’re trying to replace outdated suspension, improve stance/lowering, or improve handling. This guide discusses some of the best 350Z coilovers, as well as price, features, handling, lowering, and other factors.
The Guide to Nissan 350z Coilovers
The Fundamentals of Nissan 350Z Coilovers
Coilover upgrades may be a lengthy subject. The design, spring rates, damping settings, and ride height vary greatly. We hope to cover the fundamentals of all of these issues in this post. What are the finest 350z spring rates? When should damping adjustable coilovers be considered? What distinguishes shock designs? What are the finest stance coilovers for the Nissan 350z?
These are just a few of the many questions that arise when it comes to suspension upgrades. It’s reasonable that individuals new to suspension upgrades may feel overwhelmed. Again, we’ll go over a lot of the fundamentals in this article.
To begin, coilovers are essentially the same thing as regular struts or shocks and coil springs. The key distinction is that coilovers allow for ride height adjustment. 350z coilovers frequently include damping adjustment (though, this feature is usually only found on mid-range or high-end coilovers). Let’s go over some of the advantages of coilover kits before returning to shock design, spring rates, and damping.
The Advantages of 350z Coilover Upgrades
Coilover enhancements are well-known for improving handling and decreasing or stance. These are some of the most prevalent reasons why Nissan 350z coilovers are chosen. Those are, however, not the sole advantages of upgrading. Coilovers are a versatile alteration that can open up a plethora of new possibilities. Some of the potential advantages of 350Z coilovers include:
- Ride height can be adjusted
- Damping modifications
- Cornering, braking, and acceleration are all improved.
- improved ride comfort and quality
- Replacement of worn-out suspension
Sadly, a single pair of coilovers is unlikely to provide all of these advantages. For the best handling and performance, a stiffer configuration at the expense of comfort is usually required. Stancing your 350z will almost certainly cost you some comfort. Yet, the possibilities with coilovers are limitless. You may notice improvements in handling and comfort with the correct pair of coilovers.
When purchasing a pair of Nissan 350z coilovers, it is critical to establish your objectives. One set of coilovers may be ideal for one person but not for another. Are you looking for the best coilovers for handling? Stance? Maybe you just want to replace your old suspension with coilovers that provide good all-around balance.
The point is, there are numerous options, and the finest coilovers differ for each individual. There are a few crucial features to look for when purchasing 350z coilover upgrades. In the following sections, we’ll go through the fundamentals of what to look for based on your objectives. Following that, we review some of the top Nissan 350z coilovers for various aims and budgets.
What to Look for in 350Z Coilovers
Coilovers affect handling, performance, comfort, and lowering in a variety of ways. Among the most significant distinctions are:
- The shock design
- Damping modifications
- Rates for coil springs
- Adjusting the ride height
Again, we’ll stick to the fundamentals and avoid going too technical or in-depth on any of these issues. Instead, we’ll go ahead to the final findings.
Spring Prices for the Nissan 350Z
When it comes to selecting the correct coilovers, coil spring rates are most likely the most crucial consideration. After all, the springs support the entire weight of the 350z. They are crucial in terms of handling and comfort.
Spring rates are frequently expressed in lbs/in or kg/mm. A 500 lb/in spring signifies that 500 pounds of force is required to compress the spring 1 inch. 1 kg/mm equals to 56 lbs/in and is sometimes abbreviated as K.
What matters here is that a higher spring rate correlates to a firmer spring. This results in less body roll and weight transfer, both of which are generally beneficial to handling. Going too stiff, on the other hand, isn’t ideal for street driving due to less smooth road surfaces. A spring that is too stiff can upset the chassis, resulting in poor handling and a harsh ride.
Often times, it’s advisable to let the coilover manufacturer match the appropriate spring rates with their system. Certain kits, however, allow for adjustable spring rates. In these circumstances, firmer is better for track or ultimate handling, moderate is better for street and comfort balancing, and soft is optimum for comfort.
Twin-tube vs. Monotube Shock Design
Twin-tube shocks are one of the more popular designs since they are less expensive while yet providing excellent performance. The 350z monotube shocks, on the other hand, are the superior design. They provide improved responsiveness, dampening, and overall handling. Monotubes can even provide these advantages while maintaining or improving ride quality and comfort.
But, there is nothing wrong with twin-tube shocks. It’s still an excellent choice for stance, street handling, and comfort. However, if you want the ultimate configuration and don’t mind spending a little more money, monotube is the best alternative.
Adjustable Damping Coilovers 350z
Adjustable coilovers with damping allow you to vary the compression and/or rebound characteristics of the shocks. It’s a standard feature on mid-range and higher-end 350z coilover packages. Certain kits are pre-set and cannot be adjusted. In this situation, the compression and rebound damping are set from the factory and remain that way indefinitely. They’re usually designed to strike a decent mix between performance and comfort.
350z damping adjustable coilovers are the way to go if you want to soften or stiffen the shocks. For track or aggressive driving, you can immediately strengthen the compression and rebound. After then, return to the gentler settings for street driving. Yet, if you’re the type of guy who prefers to set it and forget it, damping adjustability is overkill.
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The Riding Height and Stance
This is a straightforward subject. Check if the 350z coilovers satisfy your stance or lowering objectives. Almost all Nissan 350z coilovers allow for at least 0.5-1′′ of suspension travel. For many kits, even up to 2-2.5′′ is possible. Drops of 3-4 inches or more may be possible with 350z stance coilovers. Most aggressive street or track handling systems do not allow for as much lowering, as getting too low can be detrimental to handling.
Nissan 350z Coilovers at Their Finest
Alright. Ideally, you now have a solid idea of what you want to achieve and what to look for in suspension upgrades. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at some of the top 350z coilovers. Please keep in mind that this is far from an exhaustive list, and there are many other excellent possibilities. We just do not have the time to go over every single coilover improvement.
Instead, we’ll look at a number of the top Nissan 350z coilovers for a variety of purposes and budgets. We believe that these kits provide an excellent blend of performance, quality, and pricing.
1) Coilover Kits for the 350Z Raceland
Tier: Basic street and stance
Lowering: 1 to 4 inches
Adjustable?
Sure, there is one alternative (15-way adjustable)
Twin-tube style
Price: $519-619
The first is a fantastic entry-level coilover choice for modest street use and stance. We enjoy promoting Raceland items because they provide excellent value. Raceland 350z coilovers are a brilliant illustration of how cheap doesn’t have to mean poor design and quality. They are, to be clear, entry-level street and stance coilovers. They’re not intended to be high-performance coilovers, and that’s fine.
Raceland coilovers accomplish precisely what they’re supposed to do at an affordable price. They provide excellent customer service and have extremely low return rates. It just goes to demonstrate that many people are delighted with their purchase and use of Raceland coils. At this price, it’s all you can ask for, and Raceland delivers.
There are three 350Z coilover kits available. The Classics cost $519 and have a lowering range of 1-3 inches. The Ultimo is $549, and the Primo is $619. Both feature 2-4′′ of lowering, and the Primos have a 15-way adjustable damping system. They’re all excellent choices for replacing outdated suspension, having moderate street handling, and having a good stance. If that’s what you’re after, look no further. Those looking for the best handling setup should upgrade to a higher-end model.
2) GodSpeed Coilovers for Nissan 350z
Street and stance tier: entry-mid level
lowering range: 0-3′′
Adjustable?
Yeah, 16-way.
Monotube construction
Price: $700-800
GodSpeed is a company that we aren’t as familiar with as the others on this list. Nonetheless, Nissan 350z coilovers are popular for a variety of reasons. They cost around $750 and have a monotube design with 16-way damping adjustability. It’s an excellent value for these features and aesthetics.
Finally, the GodSpeed 350z coilovers are an affordable option for mid-range street and stance tuning. They’re also a popular and well-proven option for the 350Z. If you’re willing to spend a little more, we recommend the following possibilities. Nevertheless, GodSpeed coilovers provide an excellent blend of performance, flexibility, and pricing.
3) Coilover Improvements from BC Racing
Tier: Mid-high street and stance
Lowering: 1-3′′ or more
Adjustable?
Yeah, 30-way.
Monotube construction
Price: $1,245 – 2,895
BC Racing, like Raceland, is another company we frequently recommend. Although they are significantly more expensive, BC Racing Nissan 350Z coilovers provide a plethora of alternatives. All of the shocks are monotubes with adjustable damping. Nonetheless, there are other coilover series to pick from.
The BR-series coilovers, which start at $1,245 and are a popular option, are a popular alternative. They offer both the regular kit and a “Ultra Low” option for customers looking for stance. Swift Springs, which are top-tier coil springs, are available for $320. With their regular or Rapid springs, you can choose your own spring rates.
With these 350z BC Racing coilovers, the possibilities for customization are practically limitless. If you want their top-of-the-line coilovers, the price can get steep, but they’re generally overkill for most people. Even the BR-series has a lot of cool features, and $1,245 is a solid starting point.
4) Coilovers for Nissan 350Z KW
Tier: High-level street and track
Lowering range: 0.8-1.6′′
Adjustable? Sure, the majority of possibilities
Twin-tube style
Price: $1,739 – 3,289
You’ve probably heard of KW if you’re familiar with coilovers. They’re a household brand when it comes to suspension and coilover kits. KW has been around for a long time and has a reputation for producing high-quality, high-performance kits. Indeed, they employ a twin-tube construction, which isn’t usually as ideal for handling.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as KW exemplifies. Despite their twin-tube construction, these 350z coilover kits provide excellent performance and handling. The V1 starts at $1,739 and has no damping adjustments. If you want adjustability, you’ll need to look into the V2, V3, and Clubsport coilovers, which all cost more than $2,000.
You are unquestionably paying a premium for KW’s established products and industry history. These KW Nissan 350z coilovers, on the other hand, are the real deal. If you’re seeking for the greatest suspension available, KW has you covered.
Summary of Nissan Coilover Upgrades
The Nissan 350z is still a fantastic car today. It has an excellent blend of performance and handling and feels like a true driver’s car. It is also simple to customize and improve thanks to a thriving aftermarket. The 350z is also growing old, and many of them are probably in need of suspension replacement. In any case, a set of Nissan 350z coilovers will undoubtedly elevate the vehicle.
Coilovers do not have to be solely for handling. They are a versatile improvement that allows for lowering, stance, and maybe improved comfort. Spring rates, shock design, and damping are all essential considerations. Determine your objectives and select the 350z coilovers that best fit your objectives and budget.
One of our favorite options for modest street driving and stance is Raceland. It’s difficult to beat their price/quality ratio. GodSpeed is another popular low-cost choice, with a monotube shock and 16-way adjustability. Those seeking the maximum in performance and handling should look for BC Racing or KW.