Nissan 240SX - Performance

Aftermarket Parts

Suspension

The ideal suspension setup for the 240SX would be a set of coilovers with aftermarket anti-roll bars. Installing separate shocks and springs is beneficial, but chances are that the springs you are using are not specifically matched to the shocks. Manufacturers of coilover suspension systems match springs and shocks to achieve the optimal suspension setup.

Purchasing stiffer springs or lowering springs without aftermarket shocks is not a good plan. The stiffer springs will quickly wear out the stock dampers. If you absolutely cannot afford a full coilover suspension or springs/shocks/sway bars combination, the best thing to do is to buy either a shocks/sway bars or shocks/springs combo. Stiff shocks and sway bars will allow the car to turn with less body roll without having to purchase new springs. The more popular option is keeping the stock sway bars on the car and buying a set of springs and shocks. The combination of stiff springs and shocks with the stock sway bars will provide decent cornering capability.

For detailed information on what each suspension component does and how to adjust it, read the Suspension Tuning section or the Suspension Tuning summary (PDF Format, Excel Format).

Products - Coilovers:

Product	Adjustability	Spring Rate (kgf/mm)	Price
HKS HyperMax RS Coilover Kit	30-way damper	7 front/5 rear	$2,000
Tanabe Sustec Pro S-S Coilovers	4-way front damper, 8-way rear damper, dual ride height	S13: 8 front/6 rear S14: 6 front/ 4 rear	$1,400
JIC Magic FLT-A2 Inverted Monotube Coilover System	15-way damper, 0.5-2.5 in. adjustable drop (does not reduce suspension travel)	7 front/5 rear	$1,850
Tein Driving Spec Super Street Coilovers	16-way damper, ride height	Not available	$1,300

---

Products - Shocks:

Product	Adjustability	Price
Tokico HTS Adjustable Damper Set	15-way damper	$850
KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks and Struts	4-way front damper, 8-way rear damper	$800
Koni Twin Tube Low Pressure External Adjustable Sport Shocks	Uses continuous 360 degree adjustment knob	$800

Tokico HTS Adjustable Damper Set Enlarge	KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks and Struts Enlarge	Koni Twin Tube Low Pressure External Adjustable Sport Shocks Enlarge

---

Products - Springs:

Product	Spring Rate Front/Rear (kgf/mm)	Drop Front/Rear (in)	Price
Eibach Pro-Kit Springs	Progressive spring rate	S13: 1.8/1.6 S14: 1.2/1.0	$320
Megan Racing Springs	6.1/4.4	1.75/1.75	$290
Tein S Tech Coil Springs	S13: 3.7/3.2 S14: 3.8/3.5	S13: 1.5/1.2 S14: 1.3/0.9	$200

Eibach Pro-Kit Springs Enlarge	Megan Racing Springs Enlarge	Tein S Tech Coil Springs Enlarge

---

Products - Anti-Roll Bars:

Product	Diameter Front/ Rear (mm)	Adjustability	Price
Largus Stabilizer Bars	S13: 31.5/27.5 S14: 32.0/28.0	S13: 3-way front, non-adjustable rear S14: 2-way front, none rear	$500
Tanabe Sustec Stabilizer	S13: 30.4/22.0 S14: 30.4/27.5	None	$400
Whiteline Sway Bars	27.0/22.0	3-way front	$400

Largus Stabilizer Bars Enlarge	Tanabe Sustec Stabilizer Enlarge	Whiteline Sway Bars Enlarge

---

In addition to the basic suspension parts described above, installing aftermarket lower control arms, tie rods, and bushings can improve your car’s handling. SPL makes a full line of adjustable suspension link upgrades for the S13 and S14 240SX.

Products - Front Suspension Parts:

Product	Suspension Adjustability	Price
SPL Adjustable Front Tension Rods	Caster	$190
SPL Front Lower Control Arm	Front roll center	$630
SPL Front Outer Tie Rod Ends	Front Toe	$190
SPL Inner Tie Rods		$60
SPL Steering Rack Boots	N/A	$30
SPL Outer Tie Rod End Seals	N/A	$10
PDM Racing Front Camber Eccentric Bolt Kit	Front Camber	$35
Cusco Adjustable Upper Camber Plate	Front Camber	$250

There are two ways to allow for adjustment of front camber in the 240SX: eccentric strut-to-spindle bolts and upper camber plates. The camber plates generally offer an easier and greater range of adjustment. However, the eccentric bolt option is much cheaper than camber plates.

---

Products - Rear Suspension Parts:

Product	Suspension Adjustability	Price
SPL Adjustable Rear Upper Arm (S13 Only)	Rear camber	$260
Cusco Adjustable Rear Upper Arm	Rear camber	$300
SPL Rear Traction Rods	Can be used to reduce rear bump steer (HICAS must be removed)	$200
SPL Rear Toe Arm (non-HICAS 240SX models)	Rear toe	$220
SPL Adjustable Rear Lower Arm	Rear roll center	$850
SPL HICAS Eliminator	Disables rear-wheel steering	$430
SPL HICAS to Toe Arm Conversion Bar (S13 Only)	Allows installation of non-HICAS toe arms (may help clear wide wheels)	$35

SPL Adjustable Rear Upper Arm (S13 Only) Enlarge	Cusco Adjustable Rear Upper Arm Enlarge	SPL Rear Traction Rods Enlarge

You can keep your HICAS system if you use non-metal bushings. The rear steering will bind if metal joints are used. If you plan to race your 240SX, HICAS is not such a bad thing to have. It will help improve the turn-in response of the car. The only reported drawback is that the back of the car does not feel stable in long corners. Try racing the car with HICAS before you decide whether or not to remove the system. If you are using the car for drifting, you will probably want to remove the HICAS since the rear wheels will react differently to various maneuvers (depending on your speed and counter steering). Sometimes the HICAS may help your drifting, and other times it may counter your drifting.

If you are not going to install metal bearings and joints like those that come on the SPL suspension components, then replace the stock bushings with a set of harder polyurethane bushings from NISMO, PDM Racing, or other manufacturer. This will improve the responsiveness of the car over stock and help eliminate wheel hop issues with high-power cars.

You may also want to install a 5-lug conversion while you are working with the suspension. The 5-lug as opposed to stock 4-lug setup will give you much greater freedom in choosing wheels and brakes. The S14 SE model came with a 5-lug setup. However, these parts are hard to find and may require replacing other components to get them to fit. The best option is probably purchasing a conversion kit like the Peak Performance PRO 5-Lug Front/Rear Hub Conversion ($1000 for the full kit).