Hi there,

Was just at my bro's place (he has a 93 Max) to bleed his brakes when I noticed that his right front side was significantly lower than the other 3 by about an inch or so. I bounce tested the four corners and the right front showed very little damping and the left front was not too good either, although I don't know if the bad right side contributed to the extra oscillations.

At this point, I think both his front struts could use replacement but is his front right spring shot too? It was my understanding that the springs are what props the body up off the respective suspension components. Also, I had always thought that springs were very robust and lasted the life of a car.

The dude wants OEM equivalents for not a lot a bucks. Finding strut replacements should be no problem but if the springs are bad, he'll have to shell out for a set which costs quite a bit more. Any help/input would be greatly appreciated!

 

I have heard of springs breaking on Maximas. This is probably due to being overstressed from bad struts. It would be a little unusual for one spring to be fatigued and not the other (at the same end of the car). It's possible that there is some binding in either the strut, or control arm that is preventing that end from returning to full height. Get new struts and measure the spring length when you take them off.

GXE Spring Data:
Free length: LH 16.46" RH 16.06"

Wheelarch Height:
Front: 27.72"
Rear: 27.13"

 

I would say that bad struts should not affect ride height unless there was a blown strut and had been for a while.

Possibly...check the height of the spring after it is removed and compare it to the other one.

They do prop up the body and usually last the life of the car.

If springs are in need of replacement, either go to a junkyard and buy them. Do this in pairs as I beleive it is a good way to do so. Or buy some aftermarket H&Rs which will lower it (not alot) possibly be cheaper and give better performance.

Also if the springs ARE the same height after removal, don,t rule out the possibility of a twisted/damaged frame. If this is the case I would just live with it.