Thread: So I'm oficially in desperate need of some suspension advice.

I've been trying to sell the car, but it's not going so well, something about the economy and a $10k Sentra is a bit hard for most people to swallow. My money is a bit more free, to where I may not have to sell the car, but I would still take the money at this point.

Anyhow, I may just end up with continuing to have my track car. The problem is, ever since the V6 engine swap, the car has only been decent in a straight line. I can still take corners really quick and flat, but in long bends, I'm in understeer city. Bends that I used to take at 80-100, I can barely manage 45 or 50 before my front tires start squealing (under no acceleration).

Before we jump onto weight being the issue. The SR20DET including IC/Piping outweighs the VQ35. Tranny to tranny, I'd imagine the 6 speed is, at most, 30lbs heavier. Now, consider, I have no AC or AC guts at all, no airbags, my dash is completely hollow, even removed the air ducts. No Power steering or PS guts, at least 30lbs worth of wiring was removed from under the dash and engine bay, and the battery is in the trunk. The Tranny also doesn't have any linkage, it's shifted by cable. I'd imagine I've lost a good amount of weight off the front end and the car in general.

Suspension-wise, I've replaced every bushing on the lower portion of the car with ES, including the steering rack bushings. I never installed a front strut bar due to clearance issues, although I imagine a Cusco one would fit. The rear has a BIB rear strut brace and a progressive rear strut bar (at the time of install, it noticeably reduced understeer), and Finally, the coilover setup is K-sport (380/280, I think). Tires are 225w Azenis, everything recently aligned with a slight bit of negative camber.

I think the biggest gripe I'm going to hear is about my K-sports. But I have a strong feeling this alone is not my biggest issue, the car handled very well when I had a VE and K sports. I'm almost ready to shove the engine into my G20 and take advantage of the P10's superior suspension.

Nothing to contribute to the overall bearing of what you want, but your last sentence prompted a response.

I think you would officially be the first G with a Max swap. Do it!

Well, I'm officially the first to do it in the B14.

It would be a lot easier in the G, but I wouldn't do it. I have 2 cars and a bike and if I did that, I'd have nothing to get to work in.

hhmmmmm VQ-G20....or VQ-P10...since G35 is taken!!!
I say do it.

Hmmmm. Well if Factory turbo = SR20DET and Add-on turbo = SR20DE-T
then I would have a G-35

How bad is the understeer during transitions? You say it shows understeer during long sweepers for the most part?

Since shocks and struts wear slowly overtime and not immediately/quickly then it's kinda hard to say if your ****ty k-sports are performing like new. I'd attribute at least a good bit of your issue with your coilovers. Also, how fresh and worn are your tires? You're not still using 15" wheels, correct? Tires with thin side walls won't be able to absorb as much of the road, I bet with your current tires, tire size, and ****ty (don't take it as an insult, K-sports really aren't that great at all) suspension, every little undulation in the road is going to be magnified, and your tires are fighting to keep what little grip they already had.

Another thing you could take into consideration is the fact that the engine, while not necessarily heavier than any other comparative setup, may be placing more weight towards the front of the car. SR20DET and SR20VE engines were designed for mostly similar chassis to the B14, and if not for all intents and purposes, the same chassis.

Placement of weight is a huge factor in the way a car will handle.

Determining your corner weights might be a starting point for an objective discussion.

I'm just looking at your suspension modifications alone.

Do you have an aftermarket Rear Sway Bar?

Is the Bolt-In-Bars RSTB the three-point version or two-point?

Do you have an IKEA brace?

I have an extremely limited veiwpoint on diagnosing an actual suspension problem. However, assuming everything else is in fact operating correctly, those items would all contribute to less understeer. And you do not appear to have them.

Now I shall sit back, read, and listen. I like suspension-savvy dudes discussing suspension issues and problems. Go figure.

The most important thing that you can do to improve B14 handling is to get the rear axle bent to zero toe in.
If you take the same amount of weight and move it further from the center of the car (towards the front, for example) you increase the polar moment of inertia and make it more difficult to rotate the mass of the car. If you move the weight toward the center, just the opposite occurs. That is the principle behind mid-engine cars.
Also, even though the V6 may weigh the same, chances are that the weight is more concentrated toward the top than in the SR engine. This will raise the center of gravity at the front of the car. This increases the weight transfer in the corners and puts more load on the outside tire. You might need to make your own rear sway bar, stiffer than the ones you can buy.