Z32/S13/S14 - multi-link rear suspension swap


  • Yea sorry, I keep forgetting people retrofit them, not standard…

  • With Mr Tickles was a PITA for so long I never really enjoyed driving it as I was more tuned into the issues rather than enjoying it. Well now that suspension and driveline ironed out I have been able to put some consistent and enjoyable miles on it.

    With that said, I recently picked up my Shiro from winter storage. The rear trailing arm has the V1 Gary camber mods and adjusters installed with poly everything. The car is low with the camber dialed back to -2.5 degrees. Toe is off at max adjustment with 0.25" toe in, and caster -- whatevs. When this car was finished, low and dialed in it seemed like the bee's knees.

    Now driving a car with a multilink rear, I see it was just a skewed vision of what I wanted the car to be. While the stiffer suspension is awesome and keeps the car flat and predictable when cornering there has been compromises. Most notable are the (1) rear end wandering which is mainly attributed to the toe in, (2) lack of suspension extension. #2 is going to be attributed to being low and camber correction the poly bushing in the lower control arms will bind up causing a 'drop out feeling' when going over road those elevated road bumps/cracks since the suspension cannot fully extend to damper. I have tried adjusting every setting within the coilovers; new springs, dampers max soft vs max stiff. I thought it was part of the compromise for z31 coilovers but now having a setup to compare I know better is possible.


    Short Story - Multilink setup allows for large amounts of low with infinite adjustment with all the aftermarket parts available. There is no compromises in ride quality or performance.

    Rear trailing arm with coilovers are still an upgrade over OEM but there are compromises being made without adjustments
    86na - BlueZ
    Shiro #366 - Kouki Monster
    85t - Mr Tickles

  • I'm eager to hear what you'd think about a properly done up car with my trailing arm kit…

  • Originally posted by G-E View Post
    I'm eager to hear what you'd think about a properly done up car with my trailing arm kit…
    Are you providing a car or one for comparison? My assumption it would fix the toe and extension issues.


    Its been a learning experience over this past decade. But with each project or build everything has progressively improved and sets a new standard to be improved upon.
    86na - BlueZ
    Shiro #366 - Kouki Monster
    85t - Mr Tickles

  • Also that many times the subframe swaps feel so tight because of the conversion from bushings to rodends, the trailing arm kits remove some of the bushings as well, and if you used solid subframe bushings there too, you'd have a more apples to apples comparison…

    The kits are moving slowly but they are moving, I expect it won't be long before one is driving around your area

  • Well that person had an unfortunate run in with a wall, so it will probably be a bit.
    86na - BlueZ
    Shiro #366 - Kouki Monster
    85t - Mr Tickles

  • I'm wrapping up my swap and need my hand held on putting together a parking brake system. I have z32 2 seater cables and have worked out an adapter to use the stock handle, but as far as routing the cables I'm at a loss. I'm afraid they are going to interfere with the driveshaft. Anyone mind sharing their setup?
    Tinker Toy Equipped

  • Originally posted by DudeZX View Post
    I'm wrapping up my swap and need my hand held on putting together a parking brake system. I have z32 2 seater cables and have worked out an adapter to use the stock handle, but as far as routing the cables I'm at a loss. I'm afraid they are going to interfere with the driveshaft. Anyone mind sharing their setup?
    Shoot me your email. I have top secret files
    86na - BlueZ
    Shiro #366 - Kouki Monster
    85t - Mr Tickles