Shortening bump stops

[mdbrandy]

It's amazing how many parts there really are in putting the front struts back together on a 280Z. Question for those that know:

I am installing Tokico Illuminas and the matching springs. I also have an energy suspension poly bushing set, and I'm using the bump stops that came with it. Supposed to lower the car one inch. The Tokico kit suggests "if you want greater suspension travel" to cut the bump stops down by half. Now, they are really thinking about OEM bump stops. Well, the bump stops I took out of this car were crumbled pieces of junk (totally missing on one side), so I have nothing to tell me how tall the OEM bump stops were compared to these poly ones. Any advice on whether to bother doing that? I might take this thing to a track day or two, but it isn't a racer.

Thanks.

[TomoHawk]

Bump-stops are just bumpers for then you bottom-out the suspension. I'd leave them in unles you are off-roading your Z. Do you need -that- much travel on the street?

To lower the car, you can also trim down or remove the rubber isolators from the top of the strut. Lowers the car like 1 to 2 inches, but you lose ride comfort.

thx

[mdbrandy]

Bump-stops are just bumpers for then you bottom-out the suspension. I'd leave them in unles you are off-roading your Z. Do you need -that- much travel on the street?

To lower the car, you can also trim down or remove the rubber isolators from the top of the strut. Lowers the car like 1 to 2 inches, but you lose ride comfort.

thx

I'm definately leaving them in, but I'm asking about making them shorter. The springs are already lowering the car an inch (although with my 27 year old springs, I suspect I won't notice much difference in actual ride height), and I'm not interested in lowering it any further. Essentially, the question is will I have adequate suspension travel if I leave the Energy Suspension Poly bumpstop the original size, or should I shorten it. Since I don't actually have stock bumpstops to compare, I don't know how the Energy suspension ones compare.

On the street I suspect that they will be fine. Will I be annoyed at a track day if I try to push it?

[Ed]

It would be hard to tell where your vehicle will ride with the new suspension. Your best bet would be to leave the bump stops as they are. Assemble your suspension and take the car for a spin to get everything settled. Then inspect to see how much travel you have.