The Nissan 350Z is one of the most versatile chassis in motorsports — capable of drifting, road racing, autocross, and street tuning. But to extract serious performance, the stock suspension has to go. Whether you're chasing grip or angle, a proper 350Z suspension kit is the foundation of speed and control.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about upgrading your Z33 suspension — from coilovers and control arms to camber kits and drift tuning essentials.
Why Upgrade the 350Z Suspension?
The factory 350Z suspension was tuned for a balance of comfort and sportiness. But if you're pushing the car on track, building a drift setup, or dialing in a low street stance, stock components quickly become a limitation. Here's what a quality 350Z suspension upgrade offers:
- Improved cornering grip and stability
- Reduced body roll and brake dive
- Custom alignment settings (camber, caster, toe)
- Lower ride height for center of gravity and aesthetics
- Better feedback for drifting or competitive driving
Core Components of a 350Z Suspension Kit
A complete 350Z suspension kit typically includes some combination of the following components:
1. Coilovers
Adjustable coilovers are the most important upgrade. These allow you to set your ride height, fine-tune damping, and select spring rates that match your intended use (street, drift, track).
SLRspeed offers coilovers specifically tuned for aggressive drift and grip driving. These kits often feature stiffer springs up front and a balanced rear for predictability and quick weight transfer.
2. Adjustable Control Arms
Once you lower the Z, alignment becomes critical. Adjustable front and rear control arms let you correct camber and toe, especially for track or drift use. Many drift builds add rear upper control arms, front lower control arms, and toe links for maximum tunability.
3. Camber Kits
For aggressive stance setups or grip racing, camber adjustment is essential. A 350Z camber kit allows for precise alignment at any ride height, reducing tire wear and improving grip.
4. Sway Bars
Upgraded anti-roll bars improve body control and reduce understeer or oversteer, depending on how they’re tuned. Many competitive drivers run stiffer front sway bars with adjustable end links to tailor roll stiffness by track.
5. Solid or Spherical Bushings
Factory rubber bushings flex under hard load, introducing slop. Replacing them with polyurethane or spherical bearings (especially in toe arms and trailing links) sharpens response and improves chassis feedback.
350Z Suspension Setups by Use Case
Let’s break down the ideal suspension kit configuration based on your intended driving style.
Drift Setup
- Coilovers with 12K front / 6K rear spring rates
- SLR or other high-angle lower control arms (LCA)
- High-clearance tension rods and knuckles
- Rear upper control arms (camber) + toe arms
- Solid subframe bushings
Track/Road Racing Setup
- 8K–10K balanced spring rates
- Adjustable dampers with external reservoirs
- Adjustable front camber and rear toe/camber
- Stiffer sway bars
- Bump steer correction kit
Street/Show Car Setup
- Coilovers with adjustable height and rebound
- Camber kit to correct alignment after lowering
- Adjustable rear arms to preserve tire wear
- Comfort-tuned bushings or poly
How to Choose the Right 350Z Suspension Kit
Here are five questions to help narrow your suspension choices:
- What’s your primary use case? Street, drift, or track?
- Do you want adjustability? Height only or damping too?
- Will you need camber/toe correction? If lowering the car, yes.
- What’s your tire setup? Wider tires need optimized alignment.
- Do you need pro-level performance? Go with kits trusted by real drivers.
SLRspeed’s 350Z suspension components are designed with real drift and racing feedback — not just slammed looks. Our kits offer the strength, geometry, and tunability needed for serious driving.
Installation & Alignment Tips
After installing your suspension kit:
- Get a performance alignment based on your use case
- Set ride height with preload collars, not just lowering spring perch
- Check tire clearance at full lock (especially with drift arms)
- Re-torque bolts after your first track session
