I have a 1995 Maxima SE with close to 200,000. It still runs great but it's time to change the struts again. I think my old Tokico Blues are dying.

I was thinking about replacing the bushings too this time. Has anyone had this done before? If so, is it an expensive job and did it make a difference in the ride? I was thinking of buying those Energy Suspesion urethane bushings from Courtesyparts.com or something.

Let me know your experiences or thoughts.

Also, are Tokico Illuminas a good combination wtih stock SE springs?

 

edit: i actually had to re-read what you were asking for sorry lol.. Ok ive read ALOT about replacing the lower control arm bushings and thats all you should really need to tighten the suspension. It CHEAPER tho to buy the control arm itself w/the bushings from a ebay customer everyone uses. I dont know his name off hand tho... ALOT of members have do it this way... good luck ..

Im gettin ready to do all of mine. youll need the KYB bushing kit, it comes with the strut mounts too. like 35.00 off tirerack.com, Steering will improve and smother suspension.
The Energysus bushings are good but you have to press some in the cotrol arms and things, can be alot of work.
Illuminas are the best ive read many times, i have the springs to match in my kit. was like 500.oo for both off ebay. Ive yet to install them though.

Ill get you the actual parts list...............hang on~

1.Boots(front from what i see)
2.Boots(rear form what i see)
3.nuts for mounts
4.nuts for shocks/strut
5.rear mount bushing
6.spring isolators (keep coils form making contact)
7. rear mount seals/spacers .. (keep the mount from hitting metal of the chass..)
8. front mount seals /spacers
9. rear mount
10. front mount plate/bracket
11. mount bushing (GET FROM NISSAN its just better and grease it up nice before the install)
12. seating rubber.. (to seat the spring in fornt)
13. seating rubber.. (same concept as above only for rear)
14. rear mount bushing... (GET FROM NISSAN its just better that way)


HERE> all from this huge thread.....

Pics of all parts> http://www.kcmaximas.org/tech/suspension/


That shoud be everything involved there...

 

Are you doing the job yourself or taking it to a mechanic? I'm a do-it-yourselfer, but this job seems a bit intimidating! Thanks for your reply. You guys know if stock SE springs work well with Tokico Illuminas?

 

I did my LCA bushings and sway bar bushings with ES Products. The sway bar ones where easy. The LCA's not so easy. Well worth it.

 

Dubbya, can you tell me more about the difference in the ride using the ES compared to your prior setup? I'm trying to figure out if I should go with KYB or Energy.....although I wonder if there's much of a difference anyhow.

 

even new OEM bushings are gonna make things better....jsut get some LCAs rom ebay and do the whole control arm....get cattman bumpstopns/boots for the struts....and bam

 

illumina's are meant to be for a lowering kit. Get the springs and you'll love it. Why keep the stock springs? you aren't saving that much cash in the end. The spring is the cheapest part...get the kit from Cutom enterprise one shot deal

 

Very true. My old stock bushings were so shot that anything would have made a huge difference. I just wanted the ES ones.