Why are you assuming that the springs caused your bad ride and handling? Ride will suffer a little with any lowering spring compared to stock cushiness, but handling should definitely IMPROVE.

The causes for your crappy ride as I see it are:

1. Tokico Blues aren't better than stock and you should have had Illuminas or Konis paired with lowering springs to maintain ride.
2. You needed new strut mounts and bump stops.
3. I've never heard of Suspension Techniques springs so they may not be matched/tuned as well as a higher quality spring. This does not mean that a spring that drops 1.5" will necessarily give a bad ride or handling.

 

Tokico Blues, as I understand it, are very similar to stock. I never said they were 'better'. They were chosen because they were a cheaper alternative to OEM replacements.

Bump stops do not affect handling; I replaced them because the splash guards (the thin portion) was crumbling to dust. The strut mounts, like I said, were in excellent condition. I replaced them only because I had already purchased the replacements.

The suspension techniques spring is uncommon, and there was no information about them when I bought them. There are two possible issues with them: spring rate (both the rate, and if they are progressive vs. linear), and the drop. My impression is that they were very soft, probably such that the weight of the car is what induced the drop. I have not tried another another aftermarket spring and I really don't care to - you can't 'tune' this suspension for beter handling any more than you can polish a turd. It's got Macpherson struts in front and a single-beam rear axle in back, ferchrissake.

All I want out of the Maxima is forgiveness over bumps and smooth, predictable response on the highway. Putting the SE springs has it tracking a straight line again, and hopefully abusing my tires a lot less. We'll see how it goes.

Dave

 

Exactly. OEM or OEM-replacement struts are not adequate for lowered Maximas. You need a strut that can handle a lot more. People who drop their Maxes without putting in better struts usually have the stock struts blow in a matter of months. And before they blow the ride is terrible.

Macpherson struts aren't the best but they're respectable. Same goes for the beam.