I have to replace my front springs and my understanding is that the SE has firmer springs then the GLE or GXE. A lot of places seem to sell the same springs for all the models. Short of buying them from Nissan how can I make sure I get the right springs. Do they look or measure different?

I really want to make sure I keep my firm ride because I would not have purchased a GLE or GXE with the softer ride.


http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...eleration.html

 

Have you thought about purchasing lowering springs?

 

I've had this car for 13 years and it's still in good shape but starting to rust and get kind of beat up. I'll replace it within a couple of years so I'm just trying to keep it going.

Don't really want to put any more money into it than I have to. I like a firm ride but if I get lowering springs then I have to do the front and rear? And also install new struts?

I'm trying to keep this job simple and cheap. I appreciate the suggestion anyway.

 

Chances are if you need to replace the springs you probably are due for new struts anyway.

 

Hold on now, I read or was told by someone that the springs do not go bad unless if they break. Did I hear wrong? Why are you replacing yours OP?

 

i just did monroe quick struts, i could have waited as my struts were not bad at all :/

however i do feel a difference in some areas i did not think i would. for instance:

going around a corner at a grade under acceleration, before i would get wheel spin now the car feels more planted and is able to get more grip.

no one seems to offer different springs for SE which i what i have but in a 10-15 year old car any brand new sping is going to be firmer than what you have now!

 

they CAN be used for the life of the car. however i have put quick stuts in four different cars now. they DO feel firmer (some more then others i learned my max wasnt that bad)

changing the springs also helps your struts to do less work and they will last longer.

 

My spring is broken, due to rust. Story is in the link below. That's why I need to change it. The struts were replaced 30-40K miles ago so I don't think they need to be replaced again.
The springs appear to have color codes hand painted to identify them. When I bought my Maxima new I drove the SE and the other models. The ride of the other models was not nearly as stiff all around as the SE's. Maybe it's due to something else but I have to think the springs had something to do with it.


http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...eleration.html

 

The damping properties of the struts also make a big difference in the stiffness of the ride. This partly explains why putting on a new quick strut assembly makes the ride stiffer - the new strut cartridge itself is resisting motion more than the old strut.