Strut angle Question

[Norcal510]

Hello all,

I have a question for all the suspension experts out there. I'm considering switching struts on my car and located another set of struts that I'm going to change. Today I pulled the struts on my car and I compared the old vs the new and noticed the new struts I plan to switch to have slightly more angle. Could someone tell me if the angle of the replacement struts will be an issue?

Attached below are some pictures of two struts.


Thank you all in advance.

[grantf]

what year is you're car?

[Norcal510]

what year is you're car?

72 c10

[LeonV]

This will increase your "kingpin inclination angle". This will make low-speed steering a bit heavier, but it doesn't look like the angle changes much (have you measured it?) so you may not notice it at all. It'll also give you more positive camber on the front, which adversely affects front grip. Again, if the angle change is minor, you likely won't notice much. This can be alleviated by camber plates, or the cheaper method of slotting the shock-tower holes.

EDIT: As you can see, higher kingpin inclination angle is not beneficial. As I've said, if the measured difference is minor then you shouldn't notice much.

Why the new struts? Are you ditching the coilovers?

Leon

[Norcal510]

Leon!

Hows it going? I haven't measured the angle difference but will over the weekend. The current coilovers need to be rebuilt and I want something with more adjustability and better ride. So I'm putting together a custom coilover to replace the current setup. The new setup will have camber plates so it should help with the angle changes as you mentioned above.

Will post the specs after I measure the angle.

Thanks again

[LeonV]

Leon!

Hows it going? I haven't measured the angle difference but will over the weekend. The current coilovers need to be rebuilt and I want something with more adjustability and better ride. So I'm putting together a custom coilover to replace the current setup. The new setup will have camber plates so it should help with the angle changes as you mentioned above.

Will post the specs after I measure the angle.

Thanks again

Things are going well! Good luck with the project, can't wait to see the Skyline again, looks like it will be better than ever!

BTW, I got an S2000!

[John Coffey]

I'm pretty sure the angle of the spindle in relation to the center line of the strut tube is the same on all year S30s. The 280Z spindles are longer which moves the hub out a bit but the bearing spacing is the same. That may be why it appears the spindles are at different angles.

[jmortensen]

I don't know what a c10 is. If that was supposed to be 510, then you have to look out for the strut angle. I have lots of friends with 510s and I know enough to say that a Z strut mounted on a 510 gives a lot of positive camber. It bolts right up IIRC because the holes at the bottom of the strut/knuckle are the same, but it doesn't work.

For 510s the usual upgrade is 280ZX struts. They're shorter and have bigger brakes. I think the spindle angle is close enough or the same on the ZX (the entire suspension is pretty similar), but I'm pretty sure the Z strut doesn't work.

[John Coffey]

I don't know what a c10 is. If that was supposed to be 510, then you have to look out for the strut angle. I have lots of friends with 510s and I know enough to say that a Z strut mounted on a 510 gives a lot of positive camber. It bolts right up IIRC because the holes at the bottom of the strut/knuckle are the same, but it doesn't work.

I missed the c10/510 connection. Jon's right.

[dhoneycutt]

The C10 is a Skyline not a Z. A 1970-1972 (KGC10)

[jmortensen]

Looks like there is 4 or 5 degrees difference in the spindle angle. I'm thinking it's going to be farther out than you can fix with plates. Not sure which strut is which either, but looks like the spindle size is different and the brakes are definitely different, so you'd likely have to run hubs, rotors and calipers from the spindle you choose to use.

Just judging from the pictures I'd say it's probably not going to work out too well. Wouldn't hurt to put one corner on without brakes, and take it off the jack just to see what you've got.

[doradox]

This will increase your "kingpin inclination angle".

Leon

Are you sure about that? He is not changing the pivot points. KPI is measured in relation to the vertical.

Steve

[LeonV]

Are you sure about that? He is not changing the pivot points. KPI is measured in relation to the vertical.

Steve

Yes, KPI is measured in relation to tire centerline.

JM gives good advice. I'm assuming you're trying to use Z struts because of the relative difficulty of getting Skyline parts? Sounds like a 510 or S130 strut may work better, inferring from Jon's post. The PGC10 Skyline has a Macpherson front/semi-trailing rear suspension, more similar in architecture to the 510 and ZX.

[doradox]

Yes, KPI is measured in relation to tire centerline.

Nope. Has nothing to do with the wheel or tire centerline.

Included angle might be what you are thinking of. That has something to do with camber angle. KPI does not. His included angle will certainly be different.

Steve

[LeonV]

Nope. Has nothing to do with the wheel or tire centerline.

Included angle might be what you are thinking of. That has something to do with camber angle. KPI does not. His included angle will certainly be different.

Steve

Seems as though you are right about that. However, if camber is to be brought back to spec (camber plates), the KPI will certainly be higher.

With that said, the camber angle is the bigger issue here.

[doradox]

Absolutely.

Steve