I recently took off the whole bump stop/dust boot off of the rear passenger side. I did this because the bump stop was in bad shape and the boot was tearing up too. Instead of trimming some off, I just went ahead and took off everything. Now I don't think it was a good idea. Whenever I hit a bump(even a small one), I would hear this squeak from the rear passenger side, almost like it's hitting the inner wheel well on the rebound. I noticed the front passenger side tend to have this squeak too. The bump stop and boot are still there on the front passenger side, but they are in bad shape. Maybe I need to replace them all?

 

If you have over 90k miles and everything is stock, you should start planning to replace the struts and the boots.

Save up some money..

 

You should definitely put some new bumpstop/dustboots back in. Without bumpstops, when your suspension bottoms out, you're getting metal on metal contact which will definitely damage your strut/shock.

You should also replace the struts/shocks as they are probably worn out too.

 

no bumpstop= blown shock.

 

Forgot to mention, I'm running on Koni struts and Sprint springs. Guess I'll go to the dealer and pick up some new bump stops/boots. Thanks guys.

 

Btw, want to make sure, is the bump stop/dust boot one single item? The top is the bump stop and below it is the boot right? Any idea how much it will cost me at the dealer?

 

If I remember, the rears are almost $20 each. The boot and the bumpstop are molded as a single piece. I want to trim mine, but I want to keep the boot. I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to do this yet...

 

I have to apart the struts/springs to put new ones on right? If that's the case, that sucks. Too much work. I don't like to work on suspension.

 

Hey guys, is it common practice to trim the rear bumpstops along with the fronts when lowering you car? Is this a suggested step in the install?

RL

 

Yes. I was quoted over $100 for new bumpstops and boots from a nissan dealership. KYB makes some and you can get some and a thread a few days ago said Summitt racing supplies some for cheap.

 

Yep, you'll need to take apart the whole strut assembly to replace the boots.

Some people suggest trimming the bumpstops if you use the OEM boots. This is to give the strut more travel room.

The KYB boots have smaller bumpstops so it isn't required.

 

Yes. Not only is it suggested, but I feel that it is always required to trim the bumpstops when lowering a car. Trimming the bumpstop will give you back some added suspension travel that you are taking away when lowering your car. Trim the bumpstop 1/2" and you gain 1/2" suspension travel. Trim both the fronts and rears. For the rear bumpstops, you cannot trim the top of the bumpstop, but must remove the center section of the bumpstop.

Alternatively, you can just buy the AGX bumpstop/dustboots which are already shortened and require no trimming at all. I think they are $60 for the set from Cattman or $50 shipped if you buy shocks and struts from them as well.

 

Ok, here's something I was pondering the other day: How much suspension travel does the 4th gen max have from factory?

RL