ok.. ive been reading threads and how to's for days now.. just wanted to see if my check list here was in order.. i have h&r's and kyb's rite now.. im planning on swapping out the shocks and struts for the illuminas. put it this way, if im gonna go through the trouble of taking all this stuff out, i want to put as much new equipment in as possible so i wanna know if theres any other parts/ bushings whatever, that i can change. if so, what are they, what are the best ones to get, and where to get them. here what i have:
- front and rear shocks and struts (tokico illuminas)
- front strut bearings (factory nissan)
- front and rear strut boots (kyb's)
- header paper to replace the paper noise insulators

so what else do i need/can i get ?? what comes with the struts? thanks in advance

 

Sounds like you've got a pretty good list. You could also replace the front strut mounts, but if they are fine, you may not need to.

 

these are metal arent they?

 

metal with a rubber insert that can be replaced.....where is NJMaxsheltd when you need him??....he is the suspension god

 

Thats a nice list. The Illuminas come with all new rubber bushings for the rear shocks. If you want to replace the front mounts, go to Nissan and buy the mount plate. (~$20) Thats the part of the mount which has the 3 studs and the rubber. It's sold as a seperate item, you don't need to buy the whole assembly.

 

wouldnt happen to know a part number would you? i think it would be much easier if i had the number cause i honestly dont even know what that is.. whats the price difference between the mount plate and the whole assembly? what does the enitre assembly include, or is it the same peices i have already listed, just from nissan?

also , i notice you answer all the threads pertaining to front end, suspension and alignment questions. are you a front end specialist? if so i have another question for you. ive had 2 alignments done on my car, and it still constantly pulls to the left. now weather these guys actually adjusted anything or not, or just said to themselves "well its good enough as it is" is beyond me. no one has ever said there was anything wrong, and i dont think the caliper is seized cause i would have gone through pads by now i think. any ideas?

 

i never replace that rubber. just left it out. no problems yet. and my suspension makes 0 noise.

Stuntin 101: you would know if your caliper was seized! trust me. also are you driving on a flat road? most roads are crowned...also why goto the same shop if you don't like there work? oh and only get front end allignments. our backs don't need to be aligned.

oh and boots for your struts are nice but you don't need them. just cut the bumpstop and either don't use them(off road guys don't put them on there trucks...) or buy generic ones. much cheaper.

 

i just saw a picture on the cattman site of the kyb strut boots. im assuming now, that "strut boots" and "dust boots" are the same.. sorry but i thought they were 2 different things cause people call them by different names. thought the "boots" was a rubber cup that the spring sat inside.. now that i know that, i may omitt the boots..
on another note, i am certain the car pulls, and its not the crown in the road. sometimes itll pull quite hard on certain roads. rims and tires are both brand new, so it has nothing to do with that. the 2 allignments werent done at the same shop. i went to one, that always tells me i need a 4 wheel allignment, and always have to be the one to tell them they cant adjust the back. one day i would really love to just say ok, and wait to see it they charge me. anyway, car went to another place to have work done, and allegedly had another one done cause i asked for it. my thoughts, the first place did a bad job. i only go there cause the have the best wheel balancing machines, and just figured i might as well have it done while i was there. as far as the second place, who knows if it was ever done. i live in staten island ny, every body just wants to take your money and do nothing in return.. so i have no clue if all these people just suck, or if somethings wrong.. its impossible to find an honest person here.

 

just to give a better description, the car doesnt "drift over slightly".. i have to use some effort (slight.. im not fighting the wheel) to keep the wheel straight. but if im doing 60, and left go of the wheel, the wheel turns, and ill be in the next lane in about a second..

 

My max has pulled to the right ever since I switched the suspension. I am about to change it all out again and hopefully it will stop pulling

 

A 4 wheel alignment measures the thrust angle of the vehicle and guarantees a perfectly centered steering wheel right off the alignment rack. Most good shops only do 4 wheel alignments on 3D machines. Measurements are taken on all four wheels, even though nothing is adjusted in the rear, it's good to make sure that the rear beam is straight and within manufactures specs. A problem in the rear can cause a pull felt in the steering wheel. The only way to guarantee the car tracks straight down the road is by doing a 4 wheel alignment.

Stuntin - Go get a 4 wheel alignment and post the specs. (both front and rear) Lets see what the numbers say then we can try to figure out whats causing your pull and if it can be corrected.

As for your question on my knowledge of suspension issues....... My brother builds chassis from the ground up. I've worked with him over the years and have learned quite a bit from hands on experiance. He builds custom chassis for cars that put down over 1000hp to the ground. (Dragsters and steet rods) The degree of accuracy needed to make these cars go down the track straight, even while the front end is 3 feet off the ground requires a complete understanding on how the entire chassis & suspension work together as one.

 

ok, i will have it done this week. there is another shop i have used before to have alignments done on my typhoon.. i was advised to use them because it was awd. so i guess its not entirely accurate that we dont have any need to have a 4 wheel alignment done for the maxima, and that is merely mis-information. im assuming there will be some kind of print out i can ask for from the tech that does it to get the specs?

 

also thinging of adding energy suspension control arm bushings.. thoughts?? what about the body bushings? i should also mention, im currently waiting on wsp to finish the new sfc kits. these will be on my car the second they become available. some of you guys may think im crazy to do all this, but im tired of being thrown around in the car. it was ok when i was 22, but not now.. i want the car to ride like its new, but im not willing to give up my springs. being a little stiffer it fine, but im more concerned with ride quality over performance.. this isnt NASCAR ..

 

how can you expect a car to ride like stock, or new as you put it, and be lowered????

get coilovers then. don't cheap out and use springs.

 

because if you read up on how different the kyb's are compared to the newer illumina's, that were not available when this car was lowered, the difference is suppose to be night and day. h&r's are only 30% stiffer than stock springs, the new struts can be adjusted to a very soft setting. what makes you expect the coil overs will deliver what im looking for? i dont expect a stock ride, i said a little stiffer was fine, which is what this combo will deliver. this is why i take the time to ask the advice of experienced memebers that know what there talking about, like njmaxseltd who has proven his knowledge in numersous threads.
furthermore, its not a question a being cheap. ive spent more money on this car this year than you probably have since you've owned yours. go ahead and drop over $1500 on your coilovers if you choose to, i dont plan on spending that money for one thing, especially on a car that has a trade in value of 5 grand..

 

lol 1 second your bragging about how much money you've thrown into your car and then a second later your saying it's stupid to put money into it. make up your mind.

also do you think your 'cooler' then me because you've put more money into your car this year? does that give you an advantage over me? we're not on the playground, lets not act like it on here man.

listen i'v ridden in alot of Maxs with alot of different set ups. Installed both springs and Coilovers on maximas, and drive a maxima with an aftermarket suspension as my daily driver. Mr. Cattman, whom i'm sure you know of, asked me to prototype coilovers for him because of my experience with suspensions and maximas.

i guess i don't know what i'm talking about.

 

shush.. adults are talking....

 

there may be adults talking but one of them is acting like a teenager. *cough*cough*

Just because the Red Sox kicked your Yankees **** doesn't mean you have to act immature and be a jerk. have a nice day. and act your age.

Also don't reply to me here.
We can finish this in PMs or email me if you want to have a spitting contest(which is what it seems)
no reason to waste perfectly good forum space on you and your desire to argue with me. all i tried to do is give you advice on something i know plenty about


bye

 

you didnt try to give advice, rather you made a crack.. who deemed you the resident expert anyway? if you have plausible infomation to back up your "advise", post it then. i dont remeber seeing any threads about how smooth and comfortable peoples car rides while there driving around with a 3-4" drop on coilovers. logically thinking, a suspension designed to give you the ability to have a drastic drop such as that, suggest it would be alot stiffer than my mild h&r's. you know something i dont, im all ears, but dont expect to take a shot at me and then get my respect in return.

i will reply to you any way i choose to, and im not going to adhere your list of "demands". like you said.. this isnt the playground, and your not making any rules. i never said, or even thought for that matter that i was any "cooler" than you because i spent more money on my car. honestly i wish i didnt but most of it was outta necessity. you made a comment about being cheap, i replied.. deal with it. can i afford coilovers if i wanted them? yea in a heartbeat. am i gonna buy em.. no, unless you prove to me how they re-invented the wheel as far as ride comfort goes. then they MIGHT be taken into consideration for a second or two.
finally , i couldnt car less about baseball, i have better things to do than watch a bunch of guys run around in tight pants..