Anyone with front coils sitting around, any brand, and model:

Can you measure the overall uncompressed length of your front coil springs? If you have stock coils, please tell me the trim line and transmission (5-speed or auto).

I have a set of 5-speed SE coils in my trunk and want to know if they are shorter than my GLE auto springs, but I do not want to take things apart just to find out.

Any help is appreciated.

There IS a reason for this, trust me...

 

I know exactly what your trying to figure out here. Would be interesting to know this as well.

BUT - Keep in mind that the springs may be the same length BUT have slightly different force ratings.......

 

True, VERY true, which is actually the opposite of what I am hoping. I hope that the spring rate is stiffer or the same (less roll) but that the overall length is shorter, so as to drop me down to level. See my sig pic above for the "raised front end" look...

 

I don't know if this helps you but my Sprints are atleast .5"-1" shorter than stock springs.
-Cyrus

 

When you say stock springs, do you mean SE, GLE, or GXE? Also, what tranny?

 

GXE automatic tranny.

 

THanks. Do you happen to have the GXE springs around that you could measure?

 

There are indeed differences between auto and 5speed front springs, but the height is the same. The difference is the spring rate. The autos use slightly higher spring rates than the 5speeds. What this means is if you have an auto and were to use the 5speed springs, YES the front of the car would sit slightly lower than it would on the normal auto front springs. HOWEVER, the car would also be softer in the front due to the lower spring rates. You would have more body roll and the car would understeer even more.

I would not recommend doing what you're thinking. The car would indeed look a bit better but would handle worse. Yuck. A stock-sprung 4th gen handles bad enough as is.

FYI there are no differences between SE and GXE/GLE springs on the 4th gen. The only difference with the SE suspension is slightly stiffer struts supposedlt. Also, the rear springs on all 4th gens regardless of transmission are exactly the same.

 

Darn it.

Where were you when I was asking this question a month ago!?! (just kidding, thank you for the input).

So you are certain that the length is the same and that the spring rate is the only thing different between manual and auto fronts? I know that GLE and SE autos use the same fronts; I was just hoping that the manuals had a SHORTER spring (as opposed to the softer spring rate).

My only point of disagreement is in reference to what I have HEARD (but cannot confirm) regarding the differences in the stiffness (spring rates) of SE rear springs. I also hear that there is a possibility that the struts/shocks at one or both ends may be different, but again, the reports vary. Thank you for your information; you may have saved me from inflicting harm on my beloved max...

I guess I will worry about an FSTB and RSB first...

If anyone wants to give me their lengths (of SUSPENSION, please, no dirty minds) anyway just to double check, I would appreciate it. That way we can put this issue to rest once and for all...

 

Yes I do. The fronts are 16" long and the rears are 12.5" long.
-Cyrus

 

I just put in Maxspeeds and AGXs on my 96 GLE. I still have the stock springs sitting in the garage. I don't know if you care anymore, but if you want I can measure them after work.

 

This is good stuff. Now suppose you combine the stock 5 speed springs on an Auto with the KYB AGX struts? I know for a fact that they hold the stock springs VERY tightly, even set on 1. So add the possibility that the car will become softer and perhaps drop oh lets say 1/2 inch or so, then combine that softer spring with a nice firm strut ... oh lets for fun say the AGX's set up on 2 or 3.

What do you suppose the results might be? The difference in weight between an Auto and 5 speed tranny is around 250 lbs. That could very well be the weight of a large person driving the car. I don't think the springs will react that much differently compensated for a difference of only a few hundred pounds.

I say give your idea a try and mount the 5 speed springs in your car. Measure everything so you get before and after numbers and do this community a big favor and answer that long asked question once and for all!

 

THAT would be the SHI+. because that is what these 5-speed springs would be going on. How many miles did your GLEs have when you took them off (for comparison purposes).

My new (to me) se manual springs are in my trunk, I will measure them after work and post their sizes after I get home...

As to the first part of the question, Keven97SE seems to think that it will cause handling problems, and I have to admit that his logic seems to make sense. Your twist on it, getting better struts, might make it feasible. Then I could get aftermarket springs later...but that seems like a waste of labor to try all of this in the event that it is all wrong, especially considering the report that i will need an allignment after each front suspension change...

In reference to the second part, I suppose it will all depend on the actual differences in the rate of the suspension. Most people just drop the cash on the aftermarket springs. I would do that too, but I get tons of conflictign reports on strut longevity with aftermarket springs on stock suspension.

My ORIGINAL plan was to run H&Rs on stock struts (GLEs) for as long as possible. Everyone told me "No, that will never work" and "You will kill your stock struts," but then I read recently that 1/2 dozen guys just jumped out of the woodwork to report that they have run this setup for as long as 2 years with no adverse effects! (Though I do not know if they have GLE, GXE, or SE stock struts, and even then, the jury is still out regarding whether the struts on different trim levels are different).

If I CAN run H&Rs on stock GLE struts @ 60K, I will just dump these SE springs (and struts) and get some H&Rs. I am so confused at this point I don't know which way to go. All that I know is that I don't have the $ for struts right now no matter WHAT springs I end up using...

 

My old springs had 100k on them. I believe I still have fronts and backs. The rear struts were completely blown (I took them off, pushed the rod in w/ my pointer finger...and it never came back out) So the back springs were doing quite a bit of work for a while. Front springs were still on decent front struts. I have quite a few errands to do tonite, but I'll make sure I get the measurements up here later on. (Car is getting alignment done after the lowering)

 

If I CAN run H&Rs on stock GLE struts @ 60K, I will just dump these SE springs (and struts) and get some H&Rs.




Sorry if this does not work out for you.. I was just trying to help

Jason

 

I just measured the springs that I bought from JustMaxin96 (it was cool to meet you) and I got 15.5" for the front ans 12-12.25" for the rear. I TRIED to measure the longest point, but it is hard because they do not line up well.

Regardless, at MOST there is a .5" difference. This leads me to the hypothesis that Keven97SE is entirely correct in his assertion that Therefore, I am inclined to follow his advice, as follows:
This takes me to a new decision, which is OT for this actual post. I have asked about the feasibility of it many times before. As a matter of fact, I think that if I had a dime for every time I asked and someone did not know, I could probably afford struts NOW...

As I said above, my ORIGINAL plan was to run H&Rs on stock struts (GLEs) for as long as possible. Everyone told me "No, that will never work" and "You will kill your stock struts," but then I read recently that 1/2 dozen guys just jumped out of the woodwork to report that they have run this setup for as long as 2 years with no adverse effects! (Though I do not know if they have GLE, GXE, or SE stock struts, and even then, the jury is still out regarding whether the struts on different trim levels are different).

If I CAN run H&Rs on stock GLE struts @ 60K, I will just dump these SE springs (and struts) and get some H&Rs. I am so confused at this point I don't know which way to go. All that I know is that I don't have the $ for struts right now no matter WHAT springs I end up using...

Thanks for all of the input, measuring, advice, and help. Hopefully, this will put an end to the debate. What have we learned out of this? The following:

As far as I know, the only difference in springs between trim lines, transmissions, and options in 4th Gen maximas is the spring rate. Lengths, for all intents and purposes, are identical.

Lastly,
I know. If it does't work, it doesn't work. it was all a gamble. Like I said above, it WAS cool to meet somoene off of the org...