5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Rear suspension slams around

Old 01-02-2017, 03:30 PM
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Rear suspension slams around

If you go over a speed bump at anything over 5mph, when the rear wheels go over, it feels like the whole car slams down on the ground. And if you hit a good sized bump on the road going fairly fast the same effect can be felt. I haven't had time to jack it up and look for things, but when I do are there certain things to look for that would cause my problem?
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Old 01-02-2017, 05:24 PM
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struts
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Old 01-02-2017, 06:43 PM
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Rear struts blow first for w/e reason.
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Old 01-02-2017, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
Rear struts blow first for w/e reason.
Damn, wasn't hoping for this. Guess I'll have to buy quick struts soon then.
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Old 01-02-2017, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by SubwayVQ
Damn, wasn't hoping for this. Guess I'll have to buy quick struts soon then.
I haven't seen them in use but the cheapie monroes don't have good reviews for longevity.
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Old 01-02-2017, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Child_uv_KoRn
I haven't seen them in use but the cheapie monroes don't have good reviews for longevity.
I found some Monroes on RockAuto for like $100 a piece. I hope those aren't the ones you're referring to because that's not cheap to me lol.
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Old 01-03-2017, 05:29 AM
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Originally Posted by SubwayVQ
I found some Monroes on RockAuto for like $100 a piece. I hope those aren't the ones you're referring to because that's not cheap to me lol.
it is kinda cheap at least the brand, and u get what you pay for, evaluate what this car is worth it to you and how long u want it, then decide the quality you put back into it.
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Old 01-03-2017, 07:39 AM
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check out vendors around here, they may beat rock auto prices.
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Old 01-03-2017, 08:30 AM
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I plan to keep the car for awhile, so I want to make sure the car is up to date on things.
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Old 01-03-2017, 11:58 AM
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Loose spare tire, loose jack, struts blown
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Old 01-03-2017, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
Loose spare tire, loose jack, struts blown
After what everyone else has said, I believe it is the struts because I have checked the spare tire and all that stuff and made sure it was secure.
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Old 01-03-2017, 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by SubwayVQ
After what everyone else has said, I believe it is the struts because I have checked the spare tire and all that stuff and made sure it was secure.
I'm on the same boat, trying to sell my front struts to get rears lol
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Old 01-03-2017, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
I'm on the same boat, trying to sell my front struts to get rears lol
Lol, buy me some too hahaha.
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Old 01-16-2017, 03:04 PM
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Ok so I finally checked and it appears the rear struts were already replaced prior to when I bought the car (July 2016). They look fairly new, so I'm now having second thoughts that the struts are the reason. Is there anything else? Like a worn stabilizer bar bushing or something? Or is it possible that the bump stops were improperly installed?
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Old 01-16-2017, 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by SubwayVQ
Ok so I finally checked and it appears the rear struts were already replaced prior to when I bought the car (July 2016). They look fairly new, so I'm now having second thoughts that the struts are the reason. Is there anything else? Like a worn stabilizer bar bushing or something? Or is it possible that the bump stops were improperly installed?
It could also be your trailing arm bushings are bad. Look under your car and follow the trailing arms to where they connect to your frame in front of your rear wheels. If you see that they are leaking they are blown.

I replaced these myself with Energy Suspension bushings and the noise I had when hitting bumps back there went away. I also noticed before I replaced them if I had people sitting in the back seat the car rode horribly in the back and would almost bang when I hit bumps. Another thing I noticed was on grooved concrete surfaces the back of the car would wander right and left.

Hopefully this is not it as this is a big job to do!
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Old 01-16-2017, 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by kbohip
It could also be your trailing arm bushings are bad. Look under your car and follow the trailing arms to where they connect to your frame in front of your rear wheels. If you see that they are leaking they are blown.

I replaced these myself with Energy Suspension bushings and the noise I had when hitting bumps back there went away. I also noticed before I replaced them if I had people sitting in the back seat the car rode horribly in the back and would almost bang when I hit bumps. Another thing I noticed was on grooved concrete surfaces the back of the car would wander right and left.

Hopefully this is not it as this is a big job to do!
I'll hopefully have time to take a peak this week sometime. I just hope it's something simple.
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Old 01-17-2017, 04:31 AM
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15-20 year old bushings.. gonna be shot... i havent fixed mine yet..
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Old 02-18-2017, 11:30 AM
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Finally was able to get a peek underneath, and found something that I don't think is normal. I have not owned this car for a long enough period to become familiar with things, so I have no idea if the following pic is normal:

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And then I snagged some more pics of each wheel. Can you tell me if you guys see something that does not look normal. Thanks

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Old 02-20-2017, 07:16 AM
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looks normal
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Old 02-20-2017, 08:53 AM
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Holy rust
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Old 02-21-2017, 05:15 AM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
Holy rust
thats normal up here florida boy !
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Old 02-21-2017, 10:23 AM
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Yeah, Wisconsin sucks. I guess I'll just buy new struts then, which sucks.
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Old 02-21-2017, 01:01 PM
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funny they look newest too, u say they were replaced july 2016? its tough to do but maybe ask a mechinic to see what he thinks!

maybe look into the trailing arm bushings....
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Old 02-21-2017, 01:26 PM
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nah man pic 1 def is missing something? I remember something was in mine, rubber? Someone check me...

and yeah damn the rust on that thing
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Old 02-21-2017, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Prophecy99
funny they look newest too, u say they were replaced july 2016? its tough to do but maybe ask a mechinic to see what he thinks!

maybe look into the trailing arm bushings....
Not exactly sure if they were replaced in July, but they are fairly new. I'll just replace them if it's that cheap to do so. Not a huge hassle. Just kind of pissed. I hope they are not the trailing arm bushings.
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Old 02-22-2017, 09:38 AM
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im leaning trailing arm bushings.... if u think shocks are farily new...

unless they were the cheapest peices of crap... struts dont get that bad so quickly... they can leak early but not the symptoms u describe
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Old 02-22-2017, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Prophecy99
im leaning trailing arm bushings.... if u think shocks are farily new...

unless they were the cheapest peices of crap... struts dont get that bad so quickly... they can leak early but not the symptoms u describe
I'll give a look at my trailing arm bushings next time it gets warm out.
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
Holy rust
You fellas down south don't know how good you have it.
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Old 02-23-2017, 10:50 AM
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Car only has minor body rust. 99% of it is on the rear wheel wells.
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Old 03-18-2017, 08:21 PM
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Ok, after doing a bit of research, I want to say it has something to do with the rear lateral link. But just not sure exactly what. The bushing in the last pic looks intact, but I can't say for the other one.

If I could get video of the whole underside of the suspension going over the bumps, that would be extremely helpful.
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Old 03-20-2017, 11:27 AM
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Could be a TSB on it. There was one on one of the 5th gen year.
If the tires are inflated too much it could make rear more harsh right? Tires should be 35 psi
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Old 03-20-2017, 04:26 PM
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I just replaced my rear trailing arm bushings with TDMI hard rubber bushings, very nice and firm rear end, just the squeaking I dont like.
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Old 03-20-2017, 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
I just replaced my rear trailing arm bushings with TDMI hard rubber bushings, very nice and firm rear end, just the squeaking I dont like.
What made you replace them in the first place? Like did you have similar symptoms?
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Old 03-20-2017, 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
I just replaced my rear trailing arm bushings with TDMI hard rubber bushings, very nice and firm rear end, just the squeaking I dont like.
I am about to replace mine, but I have to resolve few issues first. Hope you can help 03VQMAX:
  • Where did you get your bushings from?
  • Do the bushings for the SE model differ from those for GXE/GLE? There is some indication they do ..... for example, Rockauto sells a Dorman part that says "Except 17 in. Wheels".
  • I can't find the part # anywhere - neither in the FSM, nor from any other source. Any suggestions?
  • Any comments on the replacement process itself?
Thank in advance.
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Old 03-21-2017, 07:52 AM
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Originally Posted by maxiiiboy
I am about to replace mine, but I have to resolve few issues first. Hope you can help 03VQMAX:
  • Where did you get your bushings from?
  • Do the bushings for the SE model differ from those for GXE/GLE? There is some indication they do ..... for example, Rockauto sells a Dorman part that says "Except 17 in. Wheels".
  • I can't find the part # anywhere - neither in the FSM, nor from any other source. Any suggestions?
  • Any comments on the replacement process itself?
Thank in advance.
search harder, trailing arm bushings are all over the place here.
TA bushings do not differ for the entire generation and or styles, same for all.
and again search there is 2-3 threads on how tos how guys did it in their driveways.
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Old 03-21-2017, 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SubwayVQ
What made you replace them in the first place? Like did you have similar symptoms?
Cracks in bushing, soft up and down movement, no clunks, really only did because was in the shop and I said f it.
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Old 03-21-2017, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by maxiiiboy
I am about to replace mine, but I have to resolve few issues first. Hope you can help 03VQMAX:
  • Where did you get your bushings from?
  • Do the bushings for the SE model differ from those for GXE/GLE? There is some indication they do ..... for example, Rockauto sells a Dorman part that says "Except 17 in. Wheels".
  • I can't find the part # anywhere - neither in the FSM, nor from any other source. Any suggestions?
  • Any comments on the replacement process itself?
Thank in advance.
http://www.tdmimports.com/index.php?...&product_id=73

I heard it was a pita doing something this big on a press, others have burned and cut and do it in their own garage.
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Old 03-22-2017, 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 03VQMAX
Cracks in bushing, soft up and down movement, no clunks, really only did because was in the shop and I said f it.
how much did you pay a shop for this !!! ?? i was attempting to have a shop do this as well.. but its looking like $500-$800 dollar job
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Old 03-22-2017, 01:59 PM
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I've seen rust build up paint but I'd strip it back with rust dissolve then spray vht




Chassis paint

Last edited by maximatech12; 03-22-2017 at 02:02 PM.
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Old 03-22-2017, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Prophecy99
how much did you pay a shop for this !!! ?? i was attempting to have a shop do this as well.. but its looking like $500-$800 dollar job
3hr job, x $90/hr, wasnt so bad.
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