chillmcduff

does anyone know how to change the rear struts to make them non electronic? I am trying to lower my car on st springs but stock replacements are $500 a piece. I was told that inserts (whatever they are) will work to make them non electronic. This is confusing because the search function is down and not many people know about this. If anyone has any info on what parts I need, and where to get them; I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Aaron

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

Instructions come with the replacements,
Which I sell

chillmcduff

Are you sure that they will replace the electronic suspension? So it is just an insert that goes inside the old strut?

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

Yes.
you pretty much just unplug the electronic stuff and swap these. problem solved.

chillmcduff

The rear struts that I bought from KYB were just a tube. The guy who is installing this for me said that I need the tube with the metal casing around it that holds the spring in place. Do I need to buy a seperate casing to hold the spring in place and weld it to the tube? I'm still not sure.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

You need a different mechanic!
or one one who will at least be honest about the fact that he wants his markup on the parts

chillmcduff

I just talked to a parts manager at a local nissan dealership. He said that if I replace just the cartridges for the rear electronic struts ($120 a piece) that is all that I need to make the rear struts better. So is the cartridge the same thing as an insert?

subs1000w

yes the insert is the same as a cartridge but you can get the non electronic for alot less than 120 a piece adn you wont know the diference

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

Here's directions on how to do it yourself. It explains everything you need to know.
http://www.4dsc.com/articles/suspens...ico/rear.shtml


See the two cartridges at the top? those are the rears. you pull the guts out of the factory struts and slide these in. the only other thing you need is the glad packing nut, which is the big gold colored nut that goes on the top of the struts. they are included when you buy new struts/cartridges/inserts/whatever.

I don't wanna be rude man, but this is very basic stuff on this car. I'm glad you're taking it to a mechanic if you can't do it yourself, but this guy doesn't sound like he's ever worked on one of these cars. it's NOT hard, but if he has to ask questions like that, I wouldn't trust him to change my oil..

chillmcduff

I can't use the non electronic strut cartridges that I got from KYB because they are the same size as the whole stock strut. Also it is just a tube. The stock tube is welded to the casing that holds the spring in. The replacement is the insert on the inside, which are too small for the KYB non electronic cartridge. I think that I have to get the cartridge for electronic suspension.

chillmcduff

The KYB's that I got look just like that, you're right. But the electronic suspension is different. It is one whole piece. The collar that sits the spring in place is welded to the cartridge. So, it doesn't make sense how to replace the cartridge with a non electronic one. Do you understand?

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

Tell ya what.. just go to a junkyard and buy the non-electric rear suspension off a car that's been torn apart.. make sure you get one with the same brake setup as you, otherwise they won't match up.

then you can stick any aftermarket strut in there and it won't matter.

What's the OD of your adjustable strut shaft then, anyway?
I have a hard time believing nissan made yours smaller than alllll the others out there.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Be nice guys. He emailed me and I suggested he post the question because I didn't know. Thanks for the replies Matt and internetautomar

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

I have been nice I even talked to him on the phone.

chillmcduff

Don't worry, you all seem pretty cool. And thanks for all the help. Honestly, I havn't seen the OD of the shaft myself; maybe I should. And wouldn't it make more sense to just change the cartridge for the electronic suspension, than change the whole setup to non electronic? Also, what does the electronic suspension do? I'm assuming that it lowers the car at higher speeds.

Maxima-4DSC

iTrader: (1)

we have an electrinic suspension ? WTF does that do ?

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

Only a very few escaped the factory with the electric suspension. Personally I've never seen one in the wild.
They're about as rare as Manual trans Caravans

davebond007

Except Caravans break down.

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

so does the electronic suspension. And at $500 per strut to replace, it's stupid to fix it.