Potential dangers of our 20year old Z32 parts [PICS]

I too am amazed that Benny was able to manage this..I just can't figure out how he would have done it!

But in all seriousness...glad you're ok Ben..and I'm also amazed that the zed had minimal damage...I was thinking something really bad when reading it on facebook

 

So glad you are OK Benny - that could have been nasty.

Had an incident of my own on the way home. In the monsoon just North of Grafton I fell into a pot hole so big there were two caravans and a B double already in it. Killed a tyre and bent a rim and had to overnight in Grafton.

This morning when I had the tyre replaced but we had to wing it on the rim. 600k on the spacesaver didn't seem an option.

While that was happening, I had a good look at the three year old upper and lower adjustable camber arms in there and they seem to have weathered the shock (which popped both pods out of their binnacles in the cabin) just fine.

I wonder how the 20 year old versions would have fared under such treatment? I am now thinking about the HICAS too.

 

Well, just so i don't paint too much of an ugly picture here for you folk, just imagine me Supa-Dupa Man style, where i just do it so quickly it turns into a blur that the naked eye can't quite see. ...and Supa-Dupa Man never gives away his secrets!!! :rofl:

 

Oh I see...I can picture that now :rofl:

 

"The naked eye"... pun intended?

 

Shit Baz, that's not good at all! Must have been one doozy of a pot hole!
The only time i've every popped a pod out is on the Dalby roads while out visiting Karl. lol.

So i take it you got your rim repaired ok.

 

What about the effects of running 19" rims with low profile tyres? It's a lot of stress to put on a steering arm designed for 16inch wheels with a lot more rubber

 

thats what shocks are for......

 

And as most Z32s have after-market suspension by changing to stiffer springs and damping rates you're adding more stress on the 20 year old OEM suspension and steering parts than what they where originally engineered for. It's only a matter of time before these parts fatigue and fail.

I think suspension, brakes and tires are the most important part of your car. I find it amazing how many people chase horsepower, add big wheels, subwoofers or bodykits before even thinking about upgrading these parts

I'm not having a go at you Benny your car is mint; but I guess I'm just venting my frustrations from seeing too many fake evo lancers, Veilside anything, GTR/type R badges on shit that ain't, bazooka sized exhausts and chrome on any car made post 1970's. All it's doing is giving us motor enthusiasts a bad name!!! [TIS]

 

If people are stupid enough to put in adjustable suspension and run it track hard on bumpy street roads thats thier problem....

instead of everybody being moronic and allowing 10-20mm of suspension travel on a street car then wonder why it bounces all over the road and things break....

factory suspension moves alot further than that, its stiff enough in a z for street use as is... a little stiffer is nice... but so many people overkill it and make it rock hard...

of course things are going to break as the impact loads up other components, if people are dumb enough to set thier suspnsion hard on the streets without upgrading all suspension components to match then that is thier problem...

cause and effect.

 

Not as such Benny. No wheel repair facilities in Grafton so they put the new tyre on the bent rim with the typical laconic "she'll be right". I was very worried about the bead, so for a while I was pulling over regularly to check the pressure, that's how I got to meet those nice fellows from the Rebels motorcycle club - but that's another story.

I got home without further drama, and now I will see if I can get the rim repaired and get rid of the funny tyre (from Thailand no less ) and get a pair of something decent for the front.

Zed's are plenty tough.

 

you probably broke it on purpose for an excuse to have a beer

 

Benny your one lucky man just like me, the exact same thing happened to me but it was the front arm that snapped! Im just glad that i wasnt speeding..

 

ahahahahaha funny atleast ur not dead

 

I had a funny track experience with Hicas. I still have it on my road car cause it works great and never had an issue.

On the track at 200klm/hr plus at the end of the straight at Phillip island is how can I say, DACK FILLING.

It makes the arse end of the car light, skittish and a real hand full, Turning left at P2 is bizzare with the back finding its own way and your hands sawing at the wheel to keep it on track for the exit line.

Its little wonder it is one of the first things to come off any seriously fast car.

 

I can imagine that would be scary as all hell Graham - especially at those speeds.

...and a great description of the symptom you had for a failed HiCAS system too. I've coincidently noticed over the last couple of weeks that my rear end is gradually getting worse towards those same symptoms actually! I would say that as a bit of collateral damage from when my hicas steering arm snapped, it's put some kind of strain on the other arm or done something to cause the hydraulics to fail.

So as a matter of precausion, i'm going to ditch the Hicas and get an eliminator.

...anyone selling a cheap HiCAS eliminator kit around the place by any chance?? :zlove:

 

HICAS wont be engaged at that speed tekkie. must have wear in teh rod ends

 

What do you know I dont Nial? Is there an upper speed limit progammed into the Hicas computer. I have tried but have never managed to find any info on Hicas programming.

My inner and outter rod ends are actually fine.

 

i actually thought Hicas worked in "high speed" mode from something like 80kph onwards, with no speed limit Niall? I thought i saw a graphical HiCAS diagram somewhere a while ago on here showing the direction of the wheels, etc at certain speeds.... Hmm, might go and have a look me thinks.

 

Considering it uses 2 counter acting springs to center the alignment it's not hard to believe it does some funky sh*t after 20 years. Stock springs sag after 20 yrs of use so go figure..?