I have 127K on my I30 and some parts of my suspension needs replacement. I drive a lot highways miles and plan on driving this car another 50k maybe 75K miles (2-3 years). My dust boots are ripped, strut bearings making noise and on of my front struts is creaky is what I have diagnosed so far. Their maybe other things but that is what I know definitely is wrong. I would love to do Illumina’s & H&R Springs but the replacement cost gets expensive fast.

I am planning on just doing Tokico Blue Struts with OEM springs I was almost thinking about just doing the fronts as my rear suspension doesn’t make any noise, but from what I have found it more cost effective to buy a set of Tokico’s, so I am going to do front and rears.

Beside the dust boots and strut bearings what exactly is must do. I have read the FAQ and done many searches, many of them pretty much say replace everything. I would like ot save some money if I can, but I also don’t want to be pulling the suspension apart next year either. Do I really need to replace the rubber spring mounts or can I reuse my originals? Do I really need to use OEM strut mounts or will the Moog ones do (in general Moog makes quality suspension parts)? What about Ball Joints, Sway bar links, Control Arm bushings, etc.

 

Dave, if I were you I would just use the Monroe Quick struts as its much easier and usually cheaper.

The Moog products are good and safe to use.

As far at the rest, not sure.
S

 

I just did mine recently, and here is what I used:

FRONT:

KYB GR2 Struts & Dust Boots(Comes with bump stops)
OEM Front Strut Mounts
OEM Strut Bearing
I re-used everything else up front with no problems.

REAR:

KYB GR2 Struts & Dust Boots(Comes with bump stops)
OEM Spring Insulator (P/N 55034)
OEM Bushings (P/N 56217 & 56218)
OEM Strut Pin and Nut (P/N 56226)

I had no problems with this, and the car rides like new again. I forget what I spent altogether but it was around 400.00. I would say you definitely must replace the front bearing and mounts at a minimum. For the back, I noticed the OEM stuff isn't too pricey, so I went to replace just about all of it. I used courtesynissan for everything but the KYB's. Those were ebay for 200.00 brand new!

Good luck.

 

I thought the monroe and gabriel quick struts aren't recommended for our cars because they don't fit properly?

99sagelimited, that is essentially what I'm going to do on my car this winter break. I'm going to be turning 150k on the stock suspension pretty soon. I'm probably going to use the Tok. blues but I may consider the gr-2s if the saving are great enough.

 

im under the assumption that you do not want a lower stiffer ride

 

I am little gun shy about lowering the car. My last car (not a Maxima) had KYB GR-2 struts and Tein H-Tech Spring. It was a little stiff for my taste, but my wife absolutely hate it and constantly complained. I don't want a repeat and she maybe overly aware of any suspension changes because of my last car. I did like the way my last car handled and I think could probably get away with some progressive H&R springs. I wouldn't mind something slightly stiffer (my research tell me tokico and H&R springs seem like they would be the right combo).

Cost is also coming into the picture. I atleast into the suspension for $600, springs would bring it closer to $800 ($1000 if I want Illuminas) and I haven't checked the sway bar hardware or LCA.

 

Cattman has a deal out there man, 550 for all four KYB AGX struts AND Progress Springs. Thats the route ime going when I get lowered.

 

You can get illuminas (springs and struts) for 600 shipped from ebay. That's where I got mine several years ago.

As far as the other components... I would recommend replacing the bearing instead of trying to regrease it. Autozone has the mount (insulator) with the bearing for $35 each side. I originally tried regreasing mine during the install but ended up having to replace it a couple years later.
That and new dust boots and you should be fine.

 

Anyone have the KYB AGX and Progress Springs? If so, how do they ride?

 

what about the tein s tech springs?

 

I installed the Tokico HP kit on mine. Replaced the front and rear strut mounts, bearings, etc. Both my gf and I love the way it rides now.

 

got any pics? i'm trying to see how much lower it is with the tokico springs. i believe it's only around 1.3-1.4 drop. i'm on the fence between the tokico hp and gr2 & maxspeed springs.

 

dude, honestly, if the rest of the suspension is in good repair i wouldnt mess with it replace whats bad and be done. it sounds to me like you dont want a stiff ride so go oem.

 

I swapped all my shocks/struts to KYB GR2s around 160k miles and it was a massive improvement. GR2s are slightly stiffer, but I wouldn't say very stiff comparing to my sport suspension BMW. It's more like a non-sport BMW 3 series if I had to compare.

Other things I'd change is:
- Tie-rod dust boots (will need to get an alignment after)
- Replace lower control arm bushings/ball-joint, one of the forum sponsors has a complete set for ~130 and I believe includes bushings for the sway bar to control arm joint. Trust me, replacing the whole arm is much easier than replacing the ball-joint. Additionally the chassis to LCA arm might be seized on the driver's side within that bushing so I'd buy another one just in case. Your passenger side bushings for the lower control arm might be worn out. Either oil or power steering seems to get on this bushing and it deteriorates over time.

 

ef9: i have KYB AGX and progress, and with the settings dial in at 1front 1rear
its mild, meaning, it can almost go unoticed, for me. At 4front, 8rear , the
car becomes a go-kart.

 

I just replaced my entire suspension, front and back, not that long ago. I spent a bit more than I had intended, but I got what I paid for, for sure. I spent $1500 (or so) and put in Tokico Illuminas and H&Rs. I replaced just about everything. New bearings (a must) mounts, bushings, etc. Mind you, all of the stuff on the car was pretty worn out, there was no way I was going to put any of that back on the car. I wouldn't get the KYB boots for the Miata/Mustang, they didn't fit quite right. The Maxima boots are probably just fine.

If you're going to be doing the suspension, definitely check out other things too, control arms, tie rods, sway bar links, etc. There's a kit in the group deals sub forum that has all of that.

Bottom line: if I did it all again, I'd buy all of the same stuff.

Although, the guy at the local Nissan dealership said I should just buy Quickstruts. So, I just went through courtesyparts.com

Good luck.

 

Progress springs have a really comfortable spring rate. Cattman has a good price on that combo. I think it was $550 or something like that.

Thanks for the insight, now I know exactly what spring/shock combo to purchase.

 

+1
The lowering springs in the HPK245 kit will drop you 1.4" in the front and 1.25" in the rear. The HPK245 kit includes the tokico blue struts. I replaced my OEM springs and struts with that kit eariler this year.

 

Any Before/after pics?

Or maybe just after

 

i have gr2's and no issues. 2 years ago last month and 32,000 miles without a problem. maxspeed springs and new oem bearings and strut plates and oem boots which i cut to avoid too much travel. you can re-use the spring isolators if not too chewed up, i did. remember that the suspensions got to settle in for a week or 2 before you acheive proper ride height. also, get it aligned afterwards, your toe and camber will be off a bit.

 

im prolly going to have to redo my suspension this coming summer and was wondering the same thing as the OP. only difference is, do you guys suggestadjustable coilovers or just buy ones that lower it and call it a day. the reason i want adjustable is because i live in chicago and want to raise it in the winter because of the snow.

 

well, i have the standard gr2's as stated in my previous post, and sometimes coilovers can be really stiff compared to a regular strut. i've been told that any lower than 1.5 front and 1.3 in the rear is putting alot of stress on the suspension components.

 

Just lower it and call it a day. Maxima's sit pretty high, in most instances an extra 1.5" isn't going to make a difference in snow. After lowering it, my last daily driver had much less ground clearance than the average lowered Maxima and I never had any issues ground clearance issues. I put some good snow tires on it and It was great. Sometime I heard some snow hitting the under side, when I hit some of the deeper stuff, but it didn't affect the way I drove the car.

 

^^^ do u have the snow tires on the stock rims or do u leave aftermarket rims on once the snow hits?

 

I have only had my I30 since this summer, but it will be getting snow tires mount on the stock wheels. I will get another set of wheel this summer for the summer tires.

 

i have used the quick struts in multiple cars and i love em. they include EVERYTHING and pop out whole no fussing.

http://www.amazon.com/Monroe-171683-Quick-Strut-Complete-Assembly/dp/B000V526FQ/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Maxima|891&n=1568418 1&s=automotive&Make=Nissan|67&Year=1998|1998&carId =014

$600 total and lifetime warranty.

wait scratch that rock auto has em for 120$ find a 5% off coupon and your good to go!


$563 shipped for all four

 

monroe is like stock and imo they suck. i went through a set of monroes in the rear in a little over a year. both were flat as pancakes....mmmm, pancakes...

 

i like the stock ride i think they really do a good job of returning the car to org stock feel as everything is replaced not just the cartridge.

 

The hardest part about struts is pulling them out. It's not usually that bad either, but some cars are harder than other depending what is attached to the sturts. As long as you can get the top nut off the assembly, its just a spring compressor and simple Dissamble/Assemble.

 

What's included in the HPK245 kit? My real question is will I also need to buy the mounts and boot kit or is everything I need included in the HPK245?

 

All the kit includes is 4 tokico blue struts and 4 lowering springs. A little google searching could answer that for you.