Just thinking about going over a speed bump puts chills down my spine.

I'm more interested in a comfortable ride than out of this world handling. Should I get some monroe sensa tracs, tokico blues, or KYB GR2's?

Should I get the energy suspension bushings? I'm sure I need some strut bearings. Is there anything else?

 

Tokico blues, maybe the strut bearings and just check theother components (tie rod, ball joint, sway bar linkage etc).

 

GR-2's are a nice near factory replacement.. and the price is good too..

 

I have the H&R's and Tokico Illuminas and I drive through the busy street of NYC. Its not a harsh ride but if your looking more towards stock than the Tokico blue I heard is very close.

 

SE springs, blues for struts. New control arms and outer tie rods from Nissan. New INNER sway bar bushings from Nissan, outer sway bar bushings from Energy. New strut mounts and bears from Nissan as well. I would change the innter tie rods(or replace steering rack if leaking)

Better than new

 

Energy Suspension (ES) Polyurethane Bushings:

Source: Suspension Restoration Parts Co.

Front Control Arm Bushings (ES 7.3111) $35
Lower Sub-Frame Bushings (ES 7.116) $23
Front Sway Bar Frame Bushing Set (ES 7.5118 (20mm)) $7.00
Front Swaybar Endlink Grommets (ES 4803-G; 4 required; $1.00 each) $4.00 Total

Optional:

Motor Mount Insert 1995 -2003 (ES 7.1114) $80.00 2 large bushings. Replaces the OEM frt. & rear subframe mounts.
Will not fit cars with Automatic Transmission

McQuay-Norris Ball Joints and Tie Rod Ends:

Source: Suspension Restoration Parts Co.

Lower Ball Joint (FA 2176) $28.00 each (2 required for rebuild) $54 total
Outer Tie Rod End (ES-3438) $24.00 each (2 required for rebuild) $48 total

Inner Tie Rod and Boot:

Sources: InfinitiPartsUSA.com (Infiniti of Scottsdale, AZ) for $42.94 and $27.48
OR Pinnacle Nissan for $44.08 and $28.21
OR Midway Nissan for $42.94 and $27.48

OEM Nissan Inner Tie Rod (Nissan part: To be Determined) $42.94 (2 required for rebuild) $85.88 total
OEM Nissan Inner Tie Rod Boot (Nissan part: To be Determined) $27.48 (2 "required" for rebuild; replace as necessary) $54.96 total

OEM Nissan Wheel Bearings:

Sources: InfinitiPartsUSA.com (Infiniti of Scottsdale, AZ) for $42.50
OR Pinnacle Nissan for $43.64
OR Midway Nissan for $42.50

OEM Nissan Wheel Bearings (Nissan part: 40210-30R01; Nissan part name: Bearing Assy-FR) $42.50 each (requires 2) $85 total
OEM Nissan Inner & Outer Grease Seals (Nissan part: 40232-33P55; Nissan part name: Seal Hub) $10.50 each (requires 4) $42 total

OEM Nissan Strut Bearings:

Sources: Courtesy Nissan for $30
OR Pinnacle Nissan for $26.40
OR Midway Nissan for (price not listed)

OEM Nissan Front Strut Bearings (Nissan part: 54325-5V000) $26.40 each (requires 2 bearings total) $52.80 total

Struts (Front & Rear):

Sources: EBay Seller jdmwerks13 for GR-2s
OR EBay Seller jdm-in-stock for Tokico HP Blues

KYB GR-2 Gas Struts/Shocks (KYB Parts 334150 and 334151 (Fronts) and 341202 (Rears; both sides)) $234 shipped
Tokico HP Blue Gas Struts/Shocks (Tokico Parts HB3102 and HB3103 (Fronts) and HU2905 (Rears; both sides)) $299 shipped

Optional Sport Strut/Shocks

Sources: Maxima.org Sponsor ImportCarPartsP for KONI Yellow Struts/Shock
OR EBay Seller motorsportsdirect for Illuminas
OR EBay Seller onecentliquidation for KYB AGXs

KONI Yellow Adjustable Struts/Shocks (Koni Parts 8641 1362 Sport (Fronts) and 8040 1242 Sport (Rears; both sides)) $502 shipped
Tokico Illumina 5-Way Adjustable Struts (Tokico Parts BB3102 and BB3103 (Fronts) and BU2905 (Rears; both sides)) $424 shipped
KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks/Struts (KYB Parts 743017 and 734018 (Fronts) and 741039 (Rears; both sides)) $344 shipped


Optional Sport Coil Springs

Source: EBay Seller arnageracing
OR Maxima.org Sponsor ImportCarPartsP for H&R Sport Springs

Progress Sport Coil Springs (Progress Group part 40.1520; set of 4) $170 Drop: 1.7" drop in front; 1.5" drop in rear (Progress Sport Springs)
H&R Sport Coil Springs (H&R part 53059; Set of 4) $255 Drop: 1.4" drop in front; 1.3" drop in rear (H&R Sport Springs)


That's covers 99% of it I believe. Let us know what you decide on. -Slopster

 

Sheezus, nice post. ^^^

 

Buy all OEM parts from DAVEB or Pinnacle or Midway Nissan.

 

Thanks for the tip Kevlo911.

I am not trying to sell for anyone but any clue what kind of discount on the OEM parts can DaveB or Pinnacle or Midway offer?

Thanks. Sloppy-O-Matic Snoodingtonhambonus .45

 

Thanks a lot for the info guys. I'm staying with the SE springs and getting the KYB GR-2 struts. I'll also replace the other components that were suggested.

Why can't nissan make the suspension last as long as the VQ? J/K

 

I would get Tokico Blues over GR-2's. GR-2's ride harsh.

DaveB gives better discounts than courtesy. Midway is usually the cheapest for me. Pinnacle and DAVEB usually have around the same prices.

 

Hey trust me I had 115K on my 98 maxima. It was sitting low on the rear end. So I read a lot of forums and went to the best site for maxima http://maxmods.dyndns.org/- if you don't know about it then you better get on it. I was looking for a softer but better handling ride myself. So I installed the tokico illuminas with tockico strut mounts and dustboots and h&R springs. I also install a strut bar over the engine and read anti sway bar: total cost $1010 shipped. Trust me if you want confortable may I suggest get everything but the aftermarket springs. Get Nissan maxima se springs. If you don't believe me read the maxmods side it puts the suspension systems in order from confortable(nice ride) to sporty(hope your seats have really good cushion).

 

By the way incase anyone is doubting where I bought the whole setup from here is the site. http://www.importrp.com I believe the name of the guy I spoke to was mike he price matched a lot of things for me.

 

Thats very true. GR2's are very firm and some don't like the ride.

 

How's the longevity of the blues with the SE springs? I read that the rears have problems with stiff aftermarket springs. Does it have this problem with the SE springs as well?

 

When i bought my car, i think the only thing available was the tokico blues, and after about 80k miles, it feels like i have no more shocks..

 

When i bought my car, i think the only thing available was the tokico blues, and after about 80k miles, it feels like i have no more shocks..

 

SE springs are stock so why would they go bad. From what I have read, sometime last year Tokico updated the blues so they don't blow as easily.

 

They only lasted 80,000 miles!!! If i were you i would file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau!

 

Man that's $0.00375 per mile what a rip off! I was only expecting a good 30k out my blues but it is nice know that I could go for 80k. My max rides like a brand new car after getting the tokico blues and new front sway bar bushings (only $330 of parts)

 

Slopster's thinking of possibly mating the Tokico HP Blues with his Progress Springs.

Will this work or should I just spend the extra $$$ for the KYB AGX or Tokico Illuminas or Koni Yellows?

I am concerned about loosing the rear HPs prematurely since the Progress Springs lower 1.7/1.5 inches. Suggestions?

 

I've just ordered the whole 4-piece set of Tokico HP Blues for $265(shipped) off ebay. I'll prolly have those on by the end of next week. I'll let you know my impressions.

 

Thank you. Are you installing them on Progress Springs?

 

i'm using stock springs, actually. It seems expensive enough as it is The stock springs should be fine. (by me)

 

Looks like you're all set Ben but I just wanted to say this for everyone else too as well , unless you want that SE bouncing around like a boat, stay the hell away from the Sensatracs- I had them on for a year and I hated every moment of it!
I mean, they are good if you're driving around crappy city roads but if you're on the highway, like I was 95% of the time...sheezus, that's another story!

 

Do tie rods come in a package of 2 or just 1? Everyone always talked about they were cheap to replace and what not. But I ordered OEM inner and outer tie rods. Which costs me 80 bucks. Thinking I was getting a set only to find out I got 1 of each. Now it gonna cost me 160 bucks for a set of tie rods. And I thought they were gonna be cheap to replace. The pic I looked at had the number on both tie rods so I thought I was getting both for that price.

I went by sloopy snood list of parts and he said you needed 1 for rebuild which would costs 43. I thought he meant it was 43 for a set to do both sides.

 

buynissanparts.com. outter = $27 inner = $40 something.

 

That about the ball park range I paid for mine. It was like 71.xx plus shipping. But I thought you got a set for that price and not just 1 side? Am I that stupid?

 

Not that it helps you now but that is a typo on my part. Sorry. You do need 2 inner rods for total rebuild (one for each side). I'll change the post to reflect this.

BTW - You did check and see that the inner tie rods were worn (i.e. "bad") before you ordered the parts I hope. Many times, only the outer tie rods need to be replaced. -Sloppy

 

Yea I am just gonna replace everything. It is all factory. It all has 219K on it so it time for new parts especially since I dropped the car.

How do I check for bad inner tie rods anyway? I know my outers are worn.

 

Straight from the FSM to your post.....