With its V6, the Z33 is a favorite for drifting. In 2009, Chris Forsberg won the Formula DRIFT championship in one. The Z badge goes back to the Datsun 240Z of 1970. We carry Nissan 350Z coilovers for the coupe and Roadster, and every kit is here, with BC Racing first.
If you're building a Z, call 1-800-460-9106 and tell us the plan.
From 240Z to Z33
Coupe and Roadster
Animated illustration. It shows where coilovers sit on a car, not your exact kit. Depending on the car and the kit, coilovers can lean forward or back or stand straight up, and some cars use a separate spring and shock in the rear. Your ride height depends on the kit and how it is set up.
Three checks before you order
There is one generation, but three things still change the kit.
1. The rear style
BC Racing and Fortune Auto make both: separate style rear (spring off the shock) and true rear (spring on the shock). Ksport and BC's Extreme Low kit are true rear. Decide this first.
2. Coupe or Roadster
TEIN's kit names include the Roadster, and KW names the coupe and the convertible together. For other brands, check the kit page.
3. Your model year
BC Racing, Fortune Auto, TEIN, Ksport and Feal make kits for 2003 to 2008. KW and Bilstein cover 2003 to 2009, and Öhlins covers 2002 to 2008.
BC Racing coilovers for the Nissan 350Z
BC Racing makes two rear styles for the Z
BC Racing coilovers for the 350Z come in four series: BR, DS, ER and ZX. You can have any of the four with a separate style rear or with true rear coilovers. BC's Extreme Low kit for the Z comes in BR. The series sold for each kit is on its card below. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US.
BR is BC's single-tube street coilover. One 30-click knob sets compression and rebound together. You can get it in both rear styles and in the Extreme Low kit.
DS
DS runs the same single 30-click adjustment, with a digressive piston inside for a different feel over bumps and curbs.
ER
ER pairs an upright shock with an external reservoir, and gives compression and rebound 30 clicks each, set separately. Tune them for a drift day or a grip day.
ZX
BC calls ZX its "most track-tested" design. Like the other three, it comes with either rear style.
Extreme Low
BC's Extreme Low kit is a true rear design in BR. The same kit also fits the G35 coupe and sedan. If you're not sure, start with the standard-height kit.
Swift Springs
To get Swift Springs on a BR, DS or ER kit for your Z, order through the Custom Build for BC Coilovers product page.
Seven other brands with Z kits
Each brand below does something a little different on the 350Z. For help choosing, call 1-800-460-9106.
Fortune Auto kits are hand-assembled in Powhatan, Virginia. Like BC Racing, Fortune Auto makes the Z kit with a separate style rear or a true style rear.
Bilstein has a B12 Pro-Kit for the 2003 to 2009 350Z, for owners who want a drop they set once and leave alone.
Kits for a street, grip or drift Z
Street Z
A Z you drive every day should still turn in sharp. A mild drop and damping you can live with keep it fun on rough roads.
Kits to look at: BC Racing BR or DS, TEIN Street Basis Z, Bilstein B12, Ksport
Grip Z
For time attack and track days, you want separate compression and rebound adjustment, so you can fine-tune the setup lap by lap.
Kits to look at: Öhlins Road & Track, KW, Fortune Auto, BC Racing ER or ZX, TEIN Mono Sport
Drift Z
Drift 350Z coilovers need plenty of adjustment and a rear you can set up for angle.
Kits to look at: BC Racing ER or ZX, Fortune Auto, Feal, TEIN Flex Z
Setting up your Z after the install
Installing the coilovers is only half the job. The rest is setup, in the shop and on the road.
Set ride height first.
Get the car to the height you want, front and rear, before anything else. Every later step depends on it.
Then align it.
Lowering a Z changes camber and toe. A full alignment after the install keeps the tires wearing evenly and the car tracking straight.
Start soft on the damping.
Begin near the middle or softer, drive a familiar road, and add clicks a few at a time. Note what each change does.
Check it again.
Springs settle in the first few hundred miles. Measure the height again, then fix the alignment if it moved.
A drift Z and a street Z end up set very differently, and that is the point of an adjustable kit. Write your settings down as you go. The next time you change tires or head to a new track, you will have a baseline to start from.
All Nissan 350Z coilover kits we carry
Tap any kit for the price, the full fit notes and the specs of each coilover.
Z33 Nissan 350Z coilovers, coupe and Roadster, 2003 to 2009
Chassis: Z33, coupe and Roadster
BC Racing kitThe BC Racing coilover kit made for the 2003 to 2008 Nissan 350Z. Photo: BC Racing.
Good to know: Pick the rear style first, then check the body. TEIN and KW name the Roadster in the kit name. For other brands, the kit page spells out the fit, or call us.
Here is what 350Z owners report most often on owner forums, in recalls and in service bulletins, and what each point means for your coilovers.
Rear toe and camber run out when lowered
Z33 350Z, 2003 to 2009
350Z owners report rear adjusters near their limit after lowering, and UK owners say drops past about 25mm need toe bolts or camber arms to reach spec. Owners say bad rear toe, more than camber, wears tires fast and unsettles the car at speed. One warns the Z drifts out of alignment easily.
Before you install: Align right after the install and again after the springs settle, check rear toe first, and plan rear camber arms or toe bolts for bigger drops.
Cracked front compression rod and lower arm bushings
Z33 350Z, 2003 to 2009
Owners on My350Z report cracked or torn front compression rod bushings causing knocks under braking and when turning, plus worn front lower arm bushings. Worn front bushings cause clunks, wandering and uneven tire wear that coilovers will not fix, and they upset the alignment.
Before you install: Inspect the front compression rod and lower arm bushings while the front is apart, and replace any that are cracked before the alignment.
Z car history
From the Datsun 240Z to a drift title
The 350Z carries a name that Nissan fans have followed for decades. Nissan traces the Z heritage to the Datsun 240Z, introduced as a 1970 model. The Z33 arrived with a four-wheel independent suspension.
Here are the key dates.
1970
The 240ZThis was the first Z, sold as a Datsun. Every Z since traces back to it.
2002
The 350Z arrivesNissan unveiled the 350Z in January 2002. It went on sale in the US and Canada that August as a 2003 model.
2009
A Formula DRIFT titleChris Forsberg clinched the 2009 Formula DRIFT championship in the NOS Energy and Maxxis Tire 350Z.
The Z33 is a two-seat, rear-drive car, built as a coupe and a Roadster. You still see plenty of them at drift days and track days. Start with the rear style, confirm your body and year, and the choice narrows fast.
Common questions about the Z
What fits a Z33?
Every kit on this page fits the Z33. Choose your rear style, separate or true rear, then confirm coupe or Roadster on the kit page. Call 1-800-460-9106 with questions.
Is there a kit for the 350Z Roadster?
Yes. TEIN names its Flex Z, Mono Sport and Street Basis Z kits for the Roadster. KW makes one kit for the coupe and the convertible. For the others, check the kit page or call us.
What is the difference between a separate style rear and true rear on a Z?
A separate style rear keeps the spring and damper apart at the back. A true rear coilover puts the spring on the damper, so height and preload are set in one place. Both BC Racing and Fortune Auto sell each version.
What BC Racing series can I get for a Z?
BC Racing sells BR, DS, ER and ZX for the 350Z, in both rear styles. Its Extreme Low kit for the Z is BR.
Do G35 coilovers fit a 350Z?
Only one kit does. BC Racing sells an Extreme Low kit made for the 350Z and the G35 coupe and sedan. Other G35 kits fit the G35 only.
What should I look at for a drift build?
A drift car needs adjustment you can feel and parts that can take a beating. Kits to consider include BC Racing ER or ZX, Fortune Auto, Feal and TEIN Flex Z. Tell us how you run the car and we will help you choose.
What warranty does a BC 350Z kit carry?
BC Racing North America currently lists a two-year limited warranty on full kit orders, subject to its warranty terms. Each of the other brands sets its own warranty terms.
