YACT, about my maxima. I want to put some stock springs back on it.

[coolred]

I tried looking at the maxima.org forums, but its not letting me post or search, not sure why. So anyways, I bought my 1997 Nissan Maxima a little over a year ago. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I had the fronts struts replaced, the told me it had been lowered by the past owner. While I had not noticed it had been lowered, I had definately noticed it had a pretty stiff ride. Hitting even slight bumps in the road can be felt big time inside the car.

Had I noticed this rough ride before I bought, I probablly would have passed on it. But the area near where I bought the car had probablly the smoothest roads I have ever seen. I knew with it being an SE that it would have a slightly stiff ride, so what little stiffness I did notice I atributed it to that.

So first off, would the lower springs be the most likely culprit for a rough ride, keeping in mind the front struts have been replaced recently. Or could it be something else?

Whatever it is where can I get the parts and how much will it cost approximately?

 

[ToeStub]

Auto Zone. I don't know about the price.

 

[Aimster]

custommaxima.com

 

[coolred]

I checked the autozone website, didn't see them listed on there, maybe in store only?

Aimster, i will check that out

 

[coolred]

Didn't see any on custommaxim.com either, there was one or 2 that offered a lower ride, but thats not what I am looking for.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

get a new login for .org or email the admins to help you post.

then try doing a trade with someone who wants aftermarket springs.

Also the reason you may have a stiff ride is because you might be riding on stock shocks with lowering springs. If you get Tokico Illuminas or something like that it might help wiht the ride since the aftermarket shocks can respond better to the lowering springs.

However if you just want to go back to stock, just try doing a trade with another Maxima owner. That or eBay or junkyard.

 

[coolred]

I already tried a new login at maxima.org, no help. I suppose I could email them, but was hoping I could get the info here. Plus doing a trade there, they woudl probablly want to know what springs I have, and I have no way of knowing. Plus one or both of us would have to be without a car while we are shipping the springs. So I think i would rather just get some myself and have them put on by a mechanic.

Let me ask something first, what is the differance between a strut and a shock? Does the maxima have both? I know it has struts, not sure on the shocks.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

As you said SEs ride rough to begin with.

They could have and most likely did change the spring rates. For an OEM or softer set try Courtesy Nissan.

How much did they lower it. If it is to much and they did not section the struts or use shorter ones it can change the travel enough to hit the bump stops.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
As you said SEs ride rough to begin with.

Uh, no they don't. I've driven SE's. Sure, they aren't as floaty as my Lincoln, but the ride in my parents' '98 SE is no stiffer than my '88 Accord was.

ZV

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: coolred
I already tried a new login at maxima.org, no help. I suppose I could email them, but was hoping I could get the info here. Plus doing a trade there, they woudl probablly want to know what springs I have, and I have no way of knowing. Plus one or both of us would have to be without a car while we are shipping the springs. So I think i would rather just get some myself and have them put on by a mechanic.

Let me ask something first, what is the differance between a strut and a shock? Does the maxima have both? I know it has struts, not sure on the shocks.

You probably either have Eibach or Sprint springs. Are they blue or silver or another color?

Typically, blue = Sprint and silver = Eibach.

 

[0roo0roo]

watch the new fifth gear... lowered = lowered safety

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe
As you said SEs ride rough to begin with.

Uh, no they don't. I've driven SE's. Sure, they aren't as floaty as my Lincoln, but the ride in my parents' '98 SE is no stiffer than my '88 Accord was.

ZV

Uh, I sold them and they do ride rough. Especially compared to a GXE/GLE. Is it the roughest riding car? No. It is however a stiff suspension and what most people would consider rough.

I would prefer it but I'm not most people. Two of the biggest complaints I got when selling Nissans was that the Maxima SE was rough and the Pathfinder rode like a truck confused: wtf?).

 

[QuitBanningMe]

OP struts are structural components. The strut assembly has a perch for the spring to sit on and the strut cartridge (similar to a shock) sits inside of this. Basically it saves space and takes care of what a few suspenion cpmponents used to.

These are actually coilovers but will give you an idea what a strut assembly looks like:
http://www.arizonazcar.com/strassy.html

 

[coolred]

Well I am not totally sure, but I think the springs are red. Not sur ehow much they lowered it, since I don't know where it should normally ride. I can say that my springs appear much bigger in diameter then the the ones in the pic quitbanningme posted. Not sure if its cause thos eare coilovers, or if that means something.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: coolred
Well I am not totally sure, but I think the springs are red. Not sur ehow much they lowered it, since I don't know where it should normally ride. I can say that my springs appear much bigger in diameter then the the ones in the pic quitbanningme posted. Not sure if its cause thos eare coilovers, or if that means something.

Yes the ones in the pics I poster are smaller because they are coilovers. It was just to give a general idea of a strut assembly and what all attatches to it.