I need some opinions on this subject. I finally have a little bit saved for new struts, and plan on purchasing them this weekend. Here's the dilema...I only want to spend about $400 total on suspension. I've seen 4 Tokicos for $319.99, then shipping, and then I have to buy the dust boots and strut bearings (another $80). So then I must ride on stock springs. I've also thought about just doing the front for now, and getting the tokicos and springs, but then my car will look uneven and ride bad. There are many other scenerios too. How about KYB's for $239, all four, and then a $150 spring kit?

Point is...I need advise, from those of you that have went through the same thing. From what I've gathered, suspension mods are kind of like all or nothin', if you're doing a little, you might as well do a lot. Thanks for any and all advise!!!

Isaacm

 

Replacing springs and struts require the same amount of dissassembly, so if you don't do them at the same time, you get to do the same thing all over again. Springs are a personal thing. Where I live, the roads are awful and we get snow. I don't want the hard ride, or lower ground clearance. If you have over 60k miles all 4 struts should be replaced. The front ones wear faster than the rears, have more effect and take less work to replace; so you can factor this in. I would not change only the front springs: it will make the car understeer even worse.
I put in KYB's. They are firmer than stock and last longer than the Tokicos. They make a dramatic difference. While the front end is apart also get the front swaybar bushings (the mounts in the lower control arm) changed. With worn bushings the sway bar doesn't do much.
If money is tight, I would just go with the 4 struts.

 

Thanks for the great info. I guess right now I'm leaning towards 4 KYB's, and stock springs: I also have terrible roads and a lot of snow. I have done front struts before, so I know how to change them, and I've seen a couple write-ups on the rear cartridges. How difficult is it to replace the front swaybar bushings? and where exactly are they at? and how much should they cost? Once again...thanks for the information!

Isaacm

 

You're welcome.

On the end of the sway bars there's a link that connects to the lower control arm. It's the bushings that the link sits in tharm that should be relpaced. I think there is 2 per side and they should cost around $25 for the set. If you can't tighten down the nut enough to compress the bushings a bit, put a couple of washers under the nut. (I read this on the Yahoo Infiniti forum, and I think we have the same set up.)

 

I have a KYB and ST setup that i like allot. They do a great job for the money. But of corse they wont do as good of a job as the Tokikos, but then again they are also realy expensive. I have had my KYB's for about 15k miles without any problems.

 

at lunch today for a set of KYB's (4). Got them from shox.com for $249.00 shipped; not too bad, I guess. I'm just going to ride stock springs for now at least. I know I need new dust boots, which I am ordering, but what about...

1) strut bearings? What is the likelihood they are bad? For how cheap they are, is it just better to do it and be done with it? (like $16 ea.).

2) how difficult is it to replace the front and rear sway bar bushings? Is it best to just get nissan parts, or is there a better upgrade, which will help handling?

Thanks,
Isaacm