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Ricci's Garage: upgrading the suspension on the R34 Skyline is... exciting

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Ricci's Garage: upgrading the suspension on the R34 Skyline is... exciting | Top Gear

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A significant component in the GT-R rebuild has arrived, the Nitron R3 suspension, and it looks even better than expected

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Ricci's Garage: upgrading the suspension on the R34 Skyline is... exciting

# data.attributes.metatag[].attributes.content
A significant component in the GT-R rebuild has arrived, the Nitron R3 suspension, and it looks even better than expected

# data.attributes.metatag[].attributes.content
A significant component in the GT-R rebuild has arrived, the Nitron R3 suspension, and it looks even better than expected

# data.attributes.metatag[].attributes.content
Ricci's Garage: upgrading the suspension on the R34 Skyline is... exciting

# data.attributes.metatag[].attributes.content
Ricci's Garage: upgrading the suspension on the R34 Skyline is... exciting

# data.attributes.metatag[].attributes.content
Ricci's Garage: upgrading the suspension on the R34 Skyline is... exciting

# data.attributes.metatag[].attributes.content
A significant component in the GT-R rebuild has arrived, the Nitron R3 suspension, and it looks even better than expected

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Renowned photographer Mark has been working with TopGear for many, many years. When not taking photos he’s buying inappropriate cars. Here he shares his addiction with the world

It’s been a little over three years since SR Autobodies first disassembled my R34 Skyline. The original plan was for an underside resto only, but unsurprisingly an old, Japanese tuner car tends to have quite the chequered past once you start peeling back the layers.

Truthfully, the reassembly has been parked for some time while we source and order the mountain of replacement parts required. But there’s one upgrade which arrived recently, and it looks even better than expected – the Nitron R3 suspension.

Upgrading the GT-R’s suspension has been on the cards for a while now, but choosing the right brand can feel like a bit of a minefield on older Japanese cars. During their prime, every tuner in existence created their own coilovers, flooding the market with options. But with the R34 over 25 years old, what ‘new’ options exist that utilise more modern suspension tech?

It was this last point which took me down the Nitron route. I’ve known about ’em for years especially through covering events like the N24 race in Germany, not to mention witnessing various tuner-built cars like Team Schirmer’s E92 M3 demolish ’Ring laps in blistering times. But I’d always assumed Nitron were race-only applications or European focused rather than Japanese road cars.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only has Nitron been present in Japan since 2005 (after founder Guy Evans initially established the brand back in 1998) but its Skyline kits were actually developed in collaboration with Michael Krumm – a Nismo factory driver who won the GT500 championship (in a Skyline) back in 2003 – who also raced in the likes of DTM, Champ Car, ELMS and more. A safe pair of hands, you could argue...

This development led to Nitron’s R3 kit for the R34 Skyline, with the name referring to the three independent adjustments provided. There are 16 clicks of high-speed adjustment, 26 clicks of low-speed adjustment and 24 clicks for the rebound. In addition to this, the struts are nitrogen charged while anodised aluminium and chrome plated carbon steel are used in their construction for maximum strength. I’m properly excited to see how the GT-R drives once it’s set up for fast road/track use – something Nitron also offers alongside in-house servicing and rebuilds too.

And without sounding like a complete magpie, just look at ’em! They’re not shouty or blingy – words I don’t think anyone has ever used to describe suspension – but the finish on every component looks incredibly premium and purposeful. Considering you won’t even see them when the Skyline is back on the road, it’s hugely reassuring to know that every single detail is cared for whether visible or not.

Now, there’s a long way to go on the GT-R’s rebuild, so I’m trying not to get too excited – especially as the Pajero Evo’s engine is now completely toast. But with the bulk of the parts here and Steve achingly close to getting the subframes back on, it’ll actually resemble a car again for the first time in three years. A car which – dare I say – I’m slightly terrified to use again seeing as it now owes me the price of a small house.

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Renowned photographer Mark has been working with TopGear for many, many years. When not taking photos he’s buying inappropriate cars. Here he shares his addiction with the world

It’s been a little over three years since SR Autobodies first disassembled my R34 Skyline. The original plan was for an underside resto only, but unsurprisingly an old, Japanese tuner car tends to have quite the chequered past once you start peeling back the layers.

Truthfully, the reassembly has been parked for some time while we source and order the mountain of replacement parts required. But there’s one upgrade which arrived recently, and it looks even better than expected – the Nitron R3 suspension.

Upgrading the GT-R’s suspension has been on the cards for a while now, but choosing the right brand can feel like a bit of a minefield on older Japanese cars. During their prime, every tuner in existence created their own coilovers, flooding the market with options. But with the R34 over 25 years old, what ‘new’ options exist that utilise more modern suspension tech?

It was this last point which took me down the Nitron route. I’ve known about ’em for years especially through covering events like the N24 race in Germany, not to mention witnessing various tuner-built cars like Team Schirmer’s E92 M3 demolish ’Ring laps in blistering times. But I’d always assumed Nitron were race-only applications or European focused rather than Japanese road cars.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only has Nitron been present in Japan since 2005 (after founder Guy Evans initially established the brand back in 1998) but its Skyline kits were actually developed in collaboration with Michael Krumm – a Nismo factory driver who won the GT500 championship (in a Skyline) back in 2003 – who also raced in the likes of DTM, Champ Car, ELMS and more. A safe pair of hands, you could argue...

This development led to Nitron’s R3 kit for the R34 Skyline, with the name referring to the three independent adjustments provided. There are 16 clicks of high-speed adjustment, 26 clicks of low-speed adjustment and 24 clicks for the rebound. In addition to this, the struts are nitrogen charged while anodised aluminium and chrome plated carbon steel are used in their construction for maximum strength. I’m properly excited to see how the GT-R drives once it’s set up for fast road/track use – something Nitron also offers alongside in-house servicing and rebuilds too.

And without sounding like a complete magpie, just look at ’em! They’re not shouty or blingy – words I don’t think anyone has ever used to describe suspension – but the finish on every component looks incredibly premium and purposeful. Considering you won’t even see them when the Skyline is back on the road, it’s hugely reassuring to know that every single detail is cared for whether visible or not.

Now, there’s a long way to go on the GT-R’s rebuild, so I’m trying not to get too excited – especially as the Pajero Evo’s engine is now completely toast. But with the bulk of the parts here and Steve achingly close to getting the subframes back on, it’ll actually resemble a car again for the first time in three years. A car which – dare I say – I’m slightly terrified to use again seeing as it now owes me the price of a small house.

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A significant component in the GT-R rebuild has arrived, the Nitron R3 suspension, and it looks even better than expected