240sx Rear Sphericals

[TBreu007]

I just finished installing my suspension bits with the new spherical installed. Everything went together just fine. The travel on the front suspension is smooth as silk, but the rear is super tight. I didn't have my factory shop manual with me for proper torque specs, and even if I did those specs would be off since the bushings are metal instead of rubber now, so I just cranked them down really tight (arm tight with 1/2" drive).
The rear suspension doesn't really move. Will this change when 2300lbs of 240sx loads it up, or should I maybe loosen the rear suspension bolts a bit?
Those with sphericals in their 240, was your rear suspension really tight too?


Thanks,
Tim

...still waiting on the motor

[ITA240]

Tim,
Not tight here...Mine moves easily. You had Westek do yours, right?
Jim

[handfulz28]

Mine were tight at install, but they'll loosen up.
Yours was supposed to go on the dyno last Monday.
Michael

[bbp]

Yes, mine we tight as well. Tim from Westek was passing thru and stopped by MidOhio last year. He was nice enough to take a look at them and said it was normal. He did mention to try and coat the bearing in STP to stop any creaking.

[Tristan Smith]

Tim,
There shouldn't be any bind in the suspension first and formost. Take the shock off, and raise and lower the suspension using a couple of guys or a jack. Make sure that the arm goes thru it's full motion without bind. If the suspention is just "tight", it could be that the spherical bearings are pressed into the arms too tightly and are not allowing it to move freely. This will loosen up eventually but it will also cause undo wear. It "may", "may" being the opertaive word, cause problems down the road being too tight like it is.

Tristan Smith
Buffalos Southwest Cafe
ITA Nissan 240sx #56

[Banzai240]

Originally posted by bbp:
Tim from Westek ...

Does anyone have contact info for Westek? I'd like to see what they have available for these cars...

Thanks,




------------------
Darin E. Jordan
SCCA #273080, OR/NW Regions
Auburn, WA
ITS '97 240SX

[erlrich]

West Tek Inc.
2047 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66612
877-WEST-TEK
785-235-6701 - Tim

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Earl
ITA 240SX in process

[This message has been edited by erlrich (edited May 12, 2003).]

[TBreu007]

Thanks for the info.
Yes Jim, Westek did the sphericals. I was going to do them myself, but I thought it would be better to let a pro do it the first time. They're quite a piece of work. Something like that would literally take me many weeks, and it wouldn't look near as nice as Westek's.
I think I'll just use a jack to raise and lower the suspension a few times to loosen things up. If it doesn't loosen up, I'll loosen the bolts a bit and try again.

Did you guys loctite the suspension bolts?

Michael, I just got a call on the motor. It started and ran! woo hoo
No HP numbers yet...waiting patiently with fingers crossed.
Have you been in contact with the engine builder to check on one for your ITA car or something?

[ITA240]

Tim,
You better use a quiet BOV or all your competitors will know about the SR20DET you bought.


hehehehehe

[TBreu007]

Are you saying my 30lbs of boost and anti-lag system won't be legal for a ITS 240sx?
I heard it is legal as long as you don't use threaded coilovers and you leave in the heater core

[erlrich]

Well... I would think as long as you could figure out a way to keep the oem windshield washer bottle you would be ok.

------------------
Earl
ITA 240SX in process

[This message has been edited by erlrich (edited May 12, 2003).]

[erlrich]

Hey guys - while we're on the subject, where would you rank spherical bearings on the list of go-fast goodies? Assuming all the basics - good engine (bored 1mm over, with fresh head, JWT ECU, and all the legal bolt-on extras), basic suspension (GC coil-overs & camber plates, ERS springs, Koni Sports, poly bushings), all new brake pieces (Hawk/KVR pads, ss lines, etc), and Nissan LSD, where would you put sphericals on the "next big thing" list, as compared to things like better struts/shocks (ADS?), 4.36 gears, N2O system, etc...

I realize I'm looking down the road a bit here, but I figured as long as I have the bulk of the 240SX brain trust assembled here I would take advantage of it and do some long-range planning.

As always, your opinions are greatly valued and appreciated and all that other crap everyone always says...

------------------
Earl
ITA 240SX in process

[ITA240]

Earl,
I would put the sphericals before doing the 1 mm over short block. ECU is a must, decent shocks/struts a must, a good head is pretty much a must. Cooling system upgrades also a must have. I would put the sphericals somewhere in this area. After the obvious safety equipment I would put them abou the same time as the Nismo or quaife diff.

Of course..others may disagree with me on this, but that is my opinion...

Jim

[Tristan Smith]

Well, road racing is all about handling, and anything that allows your car more consistent and predictable handling will make you faster. So to me, the sphericals are one of the most important things to have done to the 240sx. Most race course consist of more corners/radiuses than straights. So a well sorted suspension in theory would make the car faster. But to be fast in the 240sx, it appears that you have to fully develop EVERYTHING.

Tristan Smith
Buffalos Southwest Cafe
ITA Nissan 240sx #56

[ITA240]

exactly what Tristan said....All of these things are important..almost critical...

[Joe Harlan]

Earl, The way we do it around here is in this order.

1st. You make it stop.
2nd. You make it turn.
3rd. You make it go.
4th. You keep it fun.

All of these things are very important to making a top level car. But if you are setting priorities on how to spend your money then follow the list. You can get a lot out of a decent stopping and handling car that you won't get out of a big engine and a car that won't turn.

Goodluck!
Joe Harlan

[Banzai240]

Originally posted by Joe Harlan:
You can get a lot out of a decent stopping and handling car that you won't get out of a big engine and a car that won't turn.

Goodluck!
Joe Harlan

I can vouch for this! Last year, when my car had a 12:1 motor, and Joe was running a 10:1 motor, I would match him fine in the straights, and then lose 3-4 seconds a lap in the corners... Only differnce in the cars was his was professional set-up and had 17" Hoosiers... Mine was even about 60lbs lighter.

Doesn't do you any good to have all that extra power if you can't get it hooked up to get a good exit off the corners!



------------------
Darin E. Jordan
SCCA #273080, OR/NW Regions
Auburn, WA
ITS '97 240SX

[handfulz28]

Alright then, I'll go against the crowd and say it's all about the motor baby!!! Safety is a given, as is braking. All these cars need for brakes is a set of Hawk Blues, new rotors and fluids.
I can tell you from experience, it's no fun outhandling and outbraking everyone just to be pulled down the straights.
And if you've got the motor, got the brakes, and a set of stickies, everybody else will have to find a way around you.
Michael
ITA 240, SEDIV #09
GC coilovers & front camber plates
Koni single-adj (Sports?)
Suspension Tech sways
Westek everywhere
Koseis and Kumhos
bone-stock untouched head

[erlrich]

Thanks guys. Hmmm, sounds like I'm gonna have to re-prioritize just a little - Jim I think in this case the rebuild is a must-do (even though the engine runs surprisingly strong with 185k miles on it), and I didn't think punching it out would add that much cost as long as I had it apart anyway. I guess maybe I'll just have to hold off on the turbo for a while . Btw, I know about the timing chain/tensioner issues, are there any other problems I should be looking out for with the engine? Rods?

Make stop, make it turn, make it go, keep it fun.... make it stop, make it turn, make it go, keep it.... Joe, do I really have to do all those other things before I'm allowed to have fun?

------------------
Earl
ITA 240SX in process

[This message has been edited by erlrich (edited May 15, 2003).]

[Joe Harlan]

Earl, I would never say you have to do anything....It's just the way we like to do things. Now since the engine needs overhauled to even start then yes I would spend the money on a set of .040 over pistons and do a proper job the first time if you going to pull it that far apart.

I have found going fast in the straights is fun but I really enjoy out cornering the guy with the big engine and forcing them into a mistake. It is pretty hard to get someone to screw up in the straight-away. And handling also leaves you the option of giving them a little nudge in the turns to wake them up..But this is roadracing and we would never do that.........:0)