I have found that tire sizes are about as exact as pant sizes. In one brand
I'm a 29 and another I'm a 31.
Same with tires. I had CN36 185/70s on for many years and when they dried
out I went to buy another set of the same size and the difference in size
was quite remarkable. Go figure.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gordon Glasgow" <gsglasgow@attbi.com>
To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 12:24 AM
Subject: RE: sagging rear suspension
> A few comments on comp springs and rear shackles:
>
> The comp rears are very stiff, way too stiff for normal street use and
generally
> too stiff for race use. Road racers like a bit more understeer - it's
> disconcerting to get the tail out in a high-speed bend. Autocrossers can
> tolerate more oversteer because the speeds are lower and being a little
twitchy
> is sometimes a good thing. Just be sure you cut the bump stops down (like
cut
> them in half) or it will be REAL twitchy. When the frame bottoms on the
axle,
> the effective spring rate becomes infinite and you get very sudden
oversteer.
> They lower the car about 1-1/2" to 2" as do the comp fronts.
>
> Personally I like the way the car sits with comp springs all around. Yes,
I run
> them on my car and I had them on there when it was a daily driver (back in
the
> day) but I was a lot younger then. I can put up with them for good-time
drives
> now.
>
> I wouldn't recommend switching the shackles around. I did this a long time
ago
> when I put on the comp springs and found the tire/wheel combination
wouldn't
> clear the inner fender. I thought it handled fine, but when I started
> autocrossing a few years later I found out how bad it really was. I
swapped them
> back (had different tires by then) and it made a huge difference.
>
> If you need a little bit more height in the back to clear the tires,
consider
> putting an extra leaf in the springs or using bolt-on coil-overs on the
shocks.
> Yes, I know that will wear out the shock bushings faster because they
weren't
> designed to support vehicle weight, but I think it's better than flipping
the
> shackles.
>
> Offset on the rear wheels is critical. Most Z wheels have closer to zero
offset,
> whereas the roadsters need about 3/8". Again, this depends on several
variables,
> like the tire you are running and how straight the body is on the chassis.
I had
> one brand of 185/70-14 tire that would clear and another that wouldn't
even when
> using the exact same wheels. If you are buying wheels, go for a little
more
> offset - you can always use thin wheel spacers to move them out, but you
can't
> move them in if there is too little offset.
>
> There are no absolute rules other than "Try it and see."
>
> Gordon Glasgow
> Renton, WA
>
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