Finally, today I put the Illuminas suspnsion kit on my Max.
I have a 1998 Maxi and it was the first time to replace the whole suspension system. it took me 6 hours and I am pretty sure that If I do it again I can make it in 2 hours.
the only parts that I replaced were front bearings and spring isolators. even though I had 108,000 Miles, the other suspension parts looked decent. I just cleaned those old parts and reused them.
I read the installation instruction several times and I did not have any troubles to put on new strut.
the only time I have trouble was when I changed the rear strut top center bolt. after I took the assembly out, I tried to turn the top center bolts before compressing the spring.
However, the nut and the strut rod were turning at the same time and I had to use vise grip to hole the rod and was able to unscrew the strut top center nut. when I reinstall the new top center nut on rear new strut, it happened same thing. they said that I have to tighten the nut with 80 lbs pound torque with torque wrench. To me when I tighten about 20 lbs, nut and strut rod turning at the same time. so I couldn't tighten the nuts with enough torque. but for rear strut it came with 2 rubber bushings, one big metal washer, and two nuts. for the meantime I just put one more nut on top of another.
does anyone has same problem I had and tell me how did you do it. any idea will appreciate it
thanks

 

Awesome great to hear man. I just got my Eibachs/AGX installed yesterday. I will be posting pics up soon but im working on two projects right now so I want to get them finished and then take some pics. You should take some pics show the before/after result of the suspension kit on your car. Yeah the first time usually does take the longest figuring out everything, im sure if you had to do it all again it would take 1/3 the time. Good experience tho.

 

well with a lowring kit, a spring compressor is usually not needed. I hope you don't put a vise grip to the new shock(strut)!!!!! What you can try to do thought, is compress the new spring so that there isn't any tension on the shock itself. If it doesn't help, bring it to a garage just to tighten it with an impact wrench. It needs to be tight or else you might get clanking noices from that specific corner of the car. you could also try it when already installed on the car, but i don't suggest it, cause you might have to pull it all out to get it tightened. If properly installed you'll love this suspension, it's awsome.

 

i installed the tokico kit in mine too. it was simple and with airtools it made everything easier. i currently have all 4 corners riding on 1, nice and soft but still feels better around corner than the old stockers.

 

Hey thats sweet, i have a 1998 max with 108k aswell and my tockico illumina kit is sittin on my pourch waiting to go in. Im going to be intalling it with my brother and hopefully it will go smoothly, But how do u like em?! I mean my original sturts and shocks are just about done, at least the front ones. so i figure the illuiminas are good aftermakert ones, and hey, with the springs u can eliminate the wheel gap for liek 200 bucks. Wut are did u put ur settings on? how are the roads in nj?

 

good luck man.
it will take a little bit more time than you think.
so don't make any tight schedule for the job.
center of the wheel to fender is 15" front, 15" rear now.
just be careful when you take rear center strut bolt (14mm). also when you screw a new bolt to rear center strut, it will spin whole thing. so let me know how you tighten it up.

 

kkw, How's the ride/handling feel after the install? I've set myself on this same setup, just have to get $$ and time to do it. Just like to hear your opinion on how it affected the ride, Thanks!

 

Cliffs? Congrats, installed Illumina's and S-Techs on both my 96 and 97.

 

I guess the factory setup was 5 both front and rear.
when I put it on, I didn't change the setting. I thought it was the softest setting. while I was driving, I was talking to myself that it was a little bit harsh. So once again I will set it upto 1 or 2 make it harsher and I checked the instruction that came in the suspension kit. found out 5 was the harshest you can get. Like I said my setting was 5 front and back and I just felt a little harsh. If I set this to lower number I am pretty sure I can get close to stock setting.
thanks
goodluck

 

I just found that the torque for rear top center nut.
It is between 18-24 lbs. so you don't have to really tighten this nut.
specially when you tighten this nut you will see that some point you are spinning the whole thing nut and steel piston bar together. so you don't really tighten it up. since you don't need to much torque to tighten, tighten as much as you can till it spins together (nut itself and piston steel bar).

what I am gonna do is i will use open wrench (14mm) and vise grip or long nose plier.
I will hold the top portion of the shock (where the adjust cap goes in. there is a flat area both side) with vise grip or long nose plier and tighten the nut with open wrench to make sure it is tight.
that way I don't screw any thread on the strut bolt.

 

ride is great.
you can tell the difference. at this moment it is at 5 which is the harshest setting. it is harsh but not too much. good handling though.
you will like it. only thing I don't like is that it is hard to change the setting on the back b/c it is underneath the trunk carpeting

 

Hey kkw, im new here too. I was wondering where you got this combo from? ive looked on the ebay and on this site.

 

www.customenterprise.com

 

go to www.performancepeddler.com
type maxima in wholesale login on top right hand side

and go to suspension--->suspension--->and follow the menu
suspension kits will be $514.00 shipped