I originally had GLE springs and with stock 15's and was very pleased with the ride, however I bought some 18 inch rims and some new 235/40/18 tires. I also dropped my car with some dropzone springs to get rid of the gap, but did not replace the shocks, and my car rides absolutely horrible over any bumps (it rides ok on flat ground, but I still feel a little more roughness, although thats understandable because of the 18's.) What I am wondering is whether its possible to cut some coils off my GLE springs to get something like a 1.4 - 1.5 inch drop, and then replace my shocks with something like tokico blues or Illuminas or GR2's, or whatever will help me get a ride thats more like what I had before? (I realize it will never be the same), but anything is better then what I have now. If anyone has experimented with this can you comment on it for instance how many coil to cut, and whether it will give me what I am looking for. I want to also mention I do not care at all about handling or performance.

 

Don't cut anything!!! Just replace your struts and rear shocks. Llluminas will probable ride the best and give you good control.

The impact of bumps is harsh because of your 18" wheels and tires.

 

Just imagine that soft spring rate of your GLE springs 1.5 inches closer to the ground and the end of the suspension travel...... imagine your springs giving way too easily and letting your car SLAM into the bumpstops or worse.... into the ground. Sound like a pretty picture?

Friends don't let friends cut stock springs.

 

I just actually wrote a more detailed writeup, take a look:
http://drewm.dyndns.org/~drew/maxfaq...CuttingSprings

 

Hey there what ever you do don't cut the springs
you will blow your shocks no mater is you buy them new ..Get the KYB AGX I have them and they are awesome the good thing is I think they might be the same or maybe a little more than the Ilumina
adjust the ride to factory ride i think is front is 1 and rears 1 that should give you a good smooth ride !!!!!!!!hope this help .

P.s go to Custommaxima.com tell them Abi send you
he he

 

Nah kyb's are too harsh for me, and I don't want performance. I won't cut the springs if it won't help, but there just sitting around anyway. I guess I will go with some illumina's, and some H & R's but are they gonna stop my car from bouncing real bad, and smooth out the ride at all?

 

H&R/Illumina is a good choice. MaxWolf has a lot of great things to say about them:
https://maxima.org/forums/showthread...light=illumina

 

just change the shocks and struts and keep the dropzone's for now and see how u like that

 

if you want to get motion sickness everytime u get into your car, go ahead and cut them. otherwise, get ride of those dropzone springs ('cause they're horrible) and go w/better springs (ie-H&R springs) and tokico illuminas. whatever you do, dont cut them.

 

the worst thing u can do is cut the springs.. i know this from experiance from my cousin.. so don't do it!