Hey guys, I hit 60,000k on my '98 GLE and did some of the service myself with the help of your write-ups. I changed the spark plugs, PCV valve, fuel filter, & cleaned the throttle body. I CANNOT stress how much of a difference these things have done to my car! Smoother shifting, acceleration, better power, quieter, and more. This is my first car and i have never done any mechanical work on any car before. I feel more knowledgeable and empowered now. Instead of just blaming the car's performance on its quality or its age, I now know that maintainence is the key to a lot of problems.

Now that the car's engine is running so well, i've noticed the deficits in my suspension. That is, I hear a "crunk-crunk-crunk" sound while turning my steering wheel when parked. I believe this is probably the strut mount bearings. Is there any harm in not replacing these at this time? I also hear an occasional squeaking sound in the right rear suspension when going over bumps - i have no idea what this is. And in general, the suspension is a little rough over bumps. I was wondering if there is anything you guys would suggest replacing on the suspension - almost like a "maintainence for your suspension"? For example, do you think that old FSB or end-link bushings, or even any other suspension parts that are easily replaceable would lead to a rougher ride? Thanks again for all your help!

 

Wow! u got a 98 car with just 60k miles!!! that's hardly driven! You might as well need a Tx fluid flush/fill. Air filter ?

 

Your rougher ride is from old suspension in general. Mainly the struts are the most important, but you can also replace all the bearings, bushings, washers, and bound bumper/ boots.

This will give you a ride the car had when it came out factory. This is what I did when I installed my aftermarket struts and springs.

 

Put a set to Tokico Blue performance struts in your car. Makes a big differance in the way it rides. They are a stock replacement unit, valved slightly different then the OEM units. They give the Maxima a really nice ride, provided thats what your lookng for. Your bushings should be fine, maybe look at the sway bar end links. The sturt bearing can be regreased or replaced when you replace the sturts. Your most likely going to need new dust covers all around as well. Cattman sells the KYB covers at a descent price, they replace the OEM units and last a bit longer as well.

That will definately bring your car up to tip top shape for it's age. As another org member mentioned, it's time for you to change all the fluids. Make sure you get that done, it's cheap insurance against mechanical failures.

 

How did you clean your throttle body??

 

motorvate.com

 

yeah, i also got a flush & fill on radiator & auto tranny fluid, as well as oil change. doing my own oil changes is next on my list. I have a k&n type cone filter so i need to clean & re-oil that still, and I will probably get the belts changed by a shop, I think that might take more effort and time than i have. I used the motorvate site for throttle body cleaning, and vbxmaxima.8m.com/maintenance.html for the spark plugs and fuel filter. Both these sites have excellent writeups. I also got info from threads on the forum.

I actually did change my struts & shocks to KYB-GR2's and my springs to SE's at around 50,000 miles. NJMAXSELTD, you actually helped me out with that decision a long while ago with a few PM's i sent you, and I am very happy with this setup . I feel stupid for not finding out more about what other suspension parts i could replace at that time, but I had a limited budget and a limited knowledge of what makes up the suspension anyway. Also the ride is not terrible, it's just not as close to the "brand new" feeling that I now get from my engine.

I wasn't sure if i should replace the FSB and endlink bushings, from fear of increasing understeer and ride harshness? maybe i can just replace the endlinks. I30ds, exactly which bearings, bushings, and washers did you replace? I think I know what strut mounts, strut bearings, and dust covers (same as boots?) are, but besides that i'm lost, so any specifics would help me greatly

 

how hard/how long did it take to do the plugs?

 

hour and a half. the 3 on the front bank were easy, the rear 2 towards the left side were a bit harder to get into the tighter area, and the last one to the right was a pain because of the very tight fit that required taking off the grey object above it that blocks access to it. it wasn't cake but the vbxmaxima website was very helpful.

 

I had that crunk crunk sound aswell..turned out to be strut mounts..make sure when you replace these, use OEM..I used KYB strut mounts and the noise remained..my mechanic had to take everything apart again and redo it with OEM strut mounts.

 

the strut mounts were bad, not the upper strut bearings? damn, just when i thought i had already pinpointed the problem.

 

My mothers 95 Max GLE only has 65,000k mi! I just told her though from reading this that she should do her Tune-Up. She took it too the dealer and they wanted $600... makes no sence to me.

 

vbxmaxima.8m.com/maintenance.htm <[[ whats the exact link can ya post? i tried it but no seem to work, wanan do my plugs.. which plugs u used NGKS?

 

wow 60k, i wish my max was 60k miles, it doesant fly like it used to...

 

oh ya also how bout the pcv thing? do u have a link?

 

exact links:

sparkplugs: http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/sparkplug.html

pcv valve & more: http://web.archive.org/web/200111091...k_service.html

i just asked the nissan dealer for platinum spark plugs

 

imma try hit up the PCV and see how it is, i heard that if i can't hear the PCV move inside its not good?

im gonna attempt the sparks this weekend if i can.

 

yeah if it doesnt jiggle then its no good, but mind as well replace it anyways like $3 at autozone

when you do your spark plugs do a compression test too, u can buy the tool for like $30 and u can tell how your each cyclinders are holding up