3rd Generation Maxima (1989-1994) Learn more about the 3rd Generation Maxima here.

Should I replace the struts on my beater maxima?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 20, 2005 | 06:28 PM
  #1  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
Should I replace the struts on my beater maxima?

1992 VE maxima Auto that I bought for 200bucks....pretty clean now ...but I cant stand the ride. The struts are blown out and the rear ones are clunking. I own a 96 se with a tight suspension so I feel like im driving a bowl of jello.


What would you do>?

Replace with some POS Ebay jobbers
Forget it and dump it (the car) in the spring
Replace with a midgrade gr2 strut
Tokico or other highquality struts not an option.


thanks
Rh
Old Nov 20, 2005 | 07:06 PM
  #2  
lp's Avatar
lp
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 426
Originally Posted by 96ItaliaSE
Replace with some POS Ebay jobbers


...then dump it in the spring for 300.

If your going to keep it longer than that use the GR2's.
Old Nov 20, 2005 | 07:18 PM
  #3  
ish's Avatar
ish
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 176
hey ill buy it if you dont want it. email mail me the spec of the car. i need to teach someone how to drive so ill take it off your hands when youre ready.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 01:43 AM
  #4  
95turbo gxe's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,385
From: oburg S.C.
$200 dam someone must have been hard up! Replace if you want I dont know?
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 02:04 AM
  #5  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
Originally Posted by 93turbo gxe
$200 dam someone must have been hard up! Replace if you want I dont know?

yah i want, but I dont wanna spend ...LOL!


yah i have a previous thread explaining how I got it with pics. Basically it had bad coil packs causing all hell breaking loose. (stalling, missing, heavy spark knock) Combine that with the VTC tick and any novice will think the engine was about to let go. It has a massachusetts recovered theft title. I replaced the packs used here for 80 bucks used and gave it a good oil change with the toyota filter and it started to sound normal again. I then grounded the VTC's and its quite as could be.

im into it total about 500 with new balljoints, cv axle, the tuneup etc and a cd player. Struts would push me near the 700-750 range id need to get that to break even in the spring which is my only goal. thats why im on the fence!
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 02:08 AM
  #6  
ColombianMax's Avatar
Please. Call me John. I insist
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,945
From: Chicago
Well, I got mine for $550 but its not my beater cuz I'm poor but I plan on putting all GR-2's on it, I want a stiff ride but not "feel-every-bump" ride as it already kinda is with GR2's. I say forget about ebay cuz they'll come up to a similar price after S&H unless you know for sure they wont. Screw it for get some Monroes, its a beater anyway.

Oh and if you really want decent quality screw the CD player and spend it on the suspension. Get the CD player at a junk yard for 25 bucks until you can afford a decent one. My 1 cent since I'm broke.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 03:26 AM
  #7  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
[QUOTE My 1 cent since I'm broke.[/QUOTE]

Man Your 19 when i was your age I was the same way...i even skipped meals so I could pay my rent. (when I actually payed it)

Funny you grow up and get a job and that mentality never leaves you....you scratch and claw and do eveything you can to get the best possible deal..even if you can afford to splurge a little.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 05:39 AM
  #8  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
Just pony up a little dough and put the KYBs in.
it's dangerous to drive a car with blown struts.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 06:11 AM
  #9  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
yeah my blown struts led to someone wrecking my maxima. id advice you change them, if your car isnt lowered, then just go with kybs or the cheapos. youll thank yourself. breaking even on a car is really rare, so i wouldnt try to worry about that too much.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 11:40 AM
  #10  
subs1000w's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,371
if your doing the labor replace them but if your going to pay a shop its not worth it
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 01:08 PM
  #11  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
I normally brake even on my beaters, quite often I even profit
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 06:43 PM
  #12  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
SCORE!!! ebay is my friend

I won these struts!

Now all i need is some front ones
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 06:52 PM
  #13  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
I know markmaxima is trying to sell some brand new tokicos he has.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 06:56 PM
  #14  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
i think internetautomart.com has them for 34 each for up front
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 06:58 PM
  #15  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
nope, I'm a bunch more than that
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 06:59 PM
  #16  
Greeny's Avatar
¯\(°_o)/¯
iTrader: (43)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 64,424
From: Tunasea
Originally Posted by internetautomar
I know markmaxima is trying to sell some brand new tokicos he has.

Who is that??

Don't think i have seen him on here...
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 07:01 PM
  #17  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
he wrecked his max or something
http://forums.maxima.org/member.php?u=4013
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 07:08 PM
  #18  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
Strut Mounts and Boots:
Monroe Front Strut Mounts: 902989 $34

straight from your site kido
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 07:11 PM
  #19  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
those are mounts not struts.
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 07:12 PM
  #20  
Greeny's Avatar
¯\(°_o)/¯
iTrader: (43)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 64,424
From: Tunasea
Originally Posted by tripleGmax
Strut Mounts and Boots:
Monroe Front Strut Mounts: 902989 $34

straight from your site kido

That is a strut mount..Not a strut...
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 07:20 PM
  #21  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
whooooops




sorry my previous thread whoring got the best of me
Old Nov 21, 2005 | 07:28 PM
  #22  
ejoy1220's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
I'm in the middle of doing this myself, gonna check Autozone first, but I will probably just pick up a set of Garbiels, no sense in spending a lot, I only paid $125 for my Maxima!! The shocks now are done, bounces pretty bad over bumps and you can just feel it, especially around even slight corners.
Old Nov 22, 2005 | 02:19 AM
  #23  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
Originally Posted by ejoy1220
I'm in the middle of doing this myself, gonna check Autozone first, but I will probably just pick up a set of Garbiels, no sense in spending a lot, I only paid $125 for my Maxima!! The shocks now are done, bounces pretty bad over bumps and you can just feel it, especially around even slight corners.

lol
hey man we should get together and pimp our crack cheap maximas !
Old Nov 22, 2005 | 02:26 AM
  #24  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
will 88 max struts work>? part numbers have a left and ride side I thought 81-2000 was all the same?

will these work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GABRI...spagenameZWDVW
Old Nov 22, 2005 | 04:37 AM
  #25  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
Originally Posted by 96ItaliaSE
lol
hey man we should get together and pimp our crack cheap maximas !
you've still paid more than me
Old Nov 22, 2005 | 04:43 AM
  #26  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
Originally Posted by 96ItaliaSE
will 88 max struts work>? part numbers have a left and ride side I thought 81-2000 was all the same?

will these work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GABRI...spagenameZWDVW
not a single part fits all 81-2000 maximas.

81-6/94 = rwd (gen1)
6/84-8/88=fwd (gen2)
8/88-2/94=fwd (gen3)

all those take different struts.

of course you could always ask the seller, but oh that's right he won't tell you
Old Nov 22, 2005 | 05:01 AM
  #27  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
Originally Posted by internetautomar
you've still paid more than me
you can roll with "Crack Price VE Maxima" club then!
Old Nov 22, 2005 | 07:38 AM
  #28  
ejoy1220's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
Originally Posted by 96ItaliaSE
lol
hey man we should get together and pimp our crack cheap maximas !

HA, it would be a Cracktacular time! Between the two of us we could build one nice, $300 car LOL
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 12:57 AM
  #29  
ejoy1220's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
Well, after reading this thread, I went on eBay and won a set of Gabriel front strust for $29 and I'm going to throw them in this week. Do I need a spring compressor for the fronts, or is that just the rear?
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 03:59 AM
  #30  
tripleGmax's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,492
yes youll need them for front and back.
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 04:04 AM
  #31  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
umm dude did you read his auction? he is selling two right sided struts. not a right and a left.

I emailed him and he confirmed this!

yikes bro!
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 04:55 AM
  #32  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
Originally Posted by 96ItaliaSE
umm dude did you read his auction? he is selling two right sided struts. not a right and a left.

I emailed him and he confirmed this!

yikes bro!

isn't it worth it to spend a little more and buy from someone who actually has a clue of what they're doing?
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 05:09 AM
  #33  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
dont knock the kid for trying to save money....you are reasonable with many of your products and for others there is a more of a competitive market.
If you goto the junkyard sometimes you get bit by the junkyard dog ya know.....if you going to try to get the cheapest price possible you best know your automechanics.
He'll figure it out.
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 05:31 AM
  #34  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
it's not a personal attack on anyone.

it's just that people fail to realize the cost of getting the wrong part/parts on ebay, especially from sellers like that. They have no clue what they are selling except what they read from a buyers guide and that tends to lack SERIOUS amounts of useful information. If he had purchased them and recieved them, the seller wouldn't have refunded his money and he would have been out his cost on the part and his shipping too. not too mention being stuck with a wrong and pretty useless to him.
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 12:08 PM
  #35  
ejoy1220's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
Originally Posted by 96ItaliaSE
umm dude did you read his auction? he is selling two right sided struts. not a right and a left.

I emailed him and he confirmed this!

yikes bro!

Awsome, that just made my day. Anyone need a right side Gabriel strut?
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 12:40 PM
  #36  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
find an auction for a pair of lefts.
then put up the extra matching set for sale
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 12:58 PM
  #37  
ColombianMax's Avatar
Please. Call me John. I insist
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,945
From: Chicago
Never heard of Gabriel, of course I know nothing about parts except that I work at an Autoparts store...if they were something I've heard of I would probably get it. WTF is gabriel? thats my cousins middle name
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 01:28 PM
  #38  
ejoy1220's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
A strut manufacturer for cars and trucks, the ones you get at Autozone and such. Not really performance, but OEM replacement.

I'm trying to find a set of lefts, but I don't think that will work. Autozone has one left, so I guess I will just be left with one extra.
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 02:19 PM
  #39  
96ItaliaSE's Avatar
Thread Starter
il massimi bassi
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 594
goto autozone...buy the left strut then swap it with your extra right strut and tell them they packaged it wrong. Have your reciept and tell them you want a refund because you had to get it elsewhere.

Its ghetto but hey we are the crack maxima club!

on a scale of 1-10 gabriel is a 6 its slightly softer than the GR2's if u dont use dustboots you may get a year or 2 tops
Old Nov 23, 2005 | 03:44 PM
  #40  
internetautomar's Avatar
mod or sell?
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,760
From: Skokie (look it up)
quality wise they are WAY behind KYB and even monroe



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:03 PM.