Not looking to upgrade to aftermarket or anything, so what "improvements" can be made to an older stock suspension? At 122k, the Max's ride isn't what it used to be, so I'm sure there are some worn parts (bushings, etc.)that could be replaced to bring her back close to original ride? Anyone here "upgrade" in this fashion (cost effective... i.e. without swaping out struts)?

 

bushings, motor mounts, and mzmtg's rear strut mounts...

contact org user; mzmtg

 

Bushings alone arent going to bring back stock ride. Your struts are probably blown, just get some tokico blues or some low mile used in the for sale section.

 

to that.

You don't have to put on an agressive aftermarket setup. Some Tokico blues on your stock springs, with fresh mounts, strut bearings and spring isolators will help your ride tremendously.

Other factors like worn bushings (LCA, swaybar), endlinks, ball-joints, tie-rod ends, will also affect ride quality and should be inspected.

 

If you are not looking to upgrade, I hate to say this but.........Monroe struts.

 

Thanks for the input. If the struts need changed, then so be it. I'll check out a few of these options and see what makes sense.

 

I agree. If you want a near stock ride without buying stock struts, go Monroe. Virtually everything else is stiffer. I went with Illuminas and hated the ride. Handled great, but the constant jitter on rough roads drove me insane. Replace the mounts, tie rod ends and have someone check the lower control arms...they may be getting worn out. If your front brakes and rotors are worn out/warped, replace them with stock ones...absolutely the quietest and best riding I've tried. Don't even think about cross drilled or slotted if you hate noise.

Good luck!

 

If you have an SE and like a smother ride, try your local salvage yard for some GXE/ GLE coil springs.

 

^^ rear only.

get the tokico blues, they are as close to stock as you can get. stock struts are tokico. dont buy that monroe garbage.