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+--- Thread: 300ZX Tech: Super HICAS Elimination (/showthread.php?tid=1090)
300ZX Tech: Super HICAS Elimination - JohnC - 09-29-2004
Got rid of the Super HICAS rack on the Z today. For those that aren't familar with the system, it's basically four-wheel steering. When turning the steering wheel at speed, the Super HICAS system will turn the rear wheels (in addition to the fronts of course). This is supposed to make the car feel more stable and such, but I've always just found it to be disconcerting. So I got rid of the rear-wheel steering part. Stillen makes a nice kit for it that gets rid of the whole HICAS rack and saves a few pounds too.
Here's the old setup:
![[Image: normal_hicas_rack.jpg]](http://www.mmsports.org/members/albums/userpics/10018/normal_hicas_rack.jpg)
Those hoses disappear, and theres a nice welded bypass provided to close the system. Of course, I forgot to take a picture :?
I didn't have a tie-rod puller, so I had to improvise.
![[Image: normal_flywheel_puller_vs_tie_rods.jpg]](http://www.mmsports.org/members/albums/userpics/10018/normal_flywheel_puller_vs_tie_rods.jpg)
New hotness:
![[Image: normal_stillen_bar.jpg]](http://www.mmsports.org/members/albums/userpics/10018/normal_stillen_bar.jpg)
I still need to bleed the power steering fluid and replace it with the Redline stuff I picked up last week. And of course a four-wheel alignment is in order, but I'll wait on that until I replace the bushings all around.
- Chris - 09-29-2004
nice man, so I guess there was no benefit to that system? Would it help in wet driving or was it more of a gimic to sell the car?
I know some older preludes had a system like that.
- BLINGMW - 09-29-2004
so what keeps the wheels from turning now? is there now another bar in place of those tie rods? Just curious.
- JohnC - 09-29-2004
BLINGMW Wrote:so what keeps the wheels from turning now? is there now another bar in place of those tie rods? Just curious.
The tie rods got re-attached to the hubs and then screw right back onto the HICAS eliminator bar (You can see the dust boots in that last picture). I only took the tie rods out to make it easier to remove the old rack - and frankly I should've just left them on 'cause the old rack wasn't that hard to take out.
- JohnC - 09-29-2004
Chris Wrote:nice man, so I guess there was no benefit to that system? Would it help in wet driving or was it more of a gimic to sell the car?
Here's a quote from SPL (a premier Z32 suspension shop):
"...The rear wheel steering provides increased stability in a high speed slalom, but also creates a floating feeling on a long corner and can also interefere with counter-steering when driving at the limit of traction..."
It's the floating feeling that really drove me nuts. And, if I were to ever want it back, the original rack just bolts right back in 8)
- Chris - 09-29-2004
ah ok... sounds like it would cause some issues at the limit on track
- white_2kgt - 09-29-2004
is that extra usless exhaust pipes i see?? hack those off and save a few more lbs!!
--chad
- JohnC - 09-29-2004
I've edited the title of this post. My intention is to document in this forum most if not all of the work I do to the car. To make searching easier later on, all thread titles will start with "300ZX Tech: "
That is all
- .RJ - 09-29-2004
Within a few weeks, the posts will be titled with such names as "that fucking 300z" and "tech 300z, I'm drunk again" and "my 300z is still on jackstands because i have no skin left on my hands"
- CaptainHenreh - 09-29-2004
SUPER HICAS ELIMINATION!
Watch as the Akina Sunstars battle the Tomagatchi Hog Smokers for the REAL ULTIMATE DRIFTING BATTLE down Mt. Domoarigatoumisterroboto!
>_<
I really want to drive a car with HICAS. Just to, you know, feel it. Did all Z32's have HICAS? I know for S13's, the best way to eliminate hicas is to swap the subframe. Is that the case for the Z32 as well?
- JohnC - 09-29-2004
CaptainHenreh Wrote:Did all Z32's have HICAS?
No, just the Twin Turbos.
CaptainHenreh Wrote:I know for S13's, the best way to eliminate hicas is to swap the subframe. Is that the case for the Z32 as well?
Nope. Just unbolt the HICAS rack from the rear diff housing and re-route the hydraulic lines (Stillen provides a nice piece to do this along with the shiny bar you see above). Of course, you can also remove the lines all the way from the PS pump, but that's a little more involved...
- ScottyB - 09-29-2004
mongooze Wrote:Of course, you can also remove the lines all the way from the PS pump, but that's a little more involved...
all the more reason to just rip out that sissy PS anyway!
- Feersty - 09-30-2004
Nice tech, John.
- BLINGMW - 09-30-2004
mongooze Wrote:The tie rods got re-attached to the hubs and then screw right back onto the HICAS eliminator bar (You can see the dust boots in that last picture). I only took the tie rods out to make it easier to remove the old rack - and frankly I should've just left them on 'cause the old rack wasn't that hard to take out.
:roll: duh. I didn't look very hard and missed the rod boots still being in the "after" pic.
:lol: still laughing about "tech 300z, I'm drunk again"