This is a rear-axle sway link. Is this new on 2003's?

Rear-axle sway link on 2003 Maxima SE

 

Not new for 03. I have it on my 02 SE.

 

Did they have this panhard bar prior to 2002?

 

Can't help ya there, the 02 is my first Max.

 

Nothing much has changed since 2k. In fact most of the 5th gen suspension isn't that far off from the 4th gen either.

 

It looks like I have it on my 2K SE. So may not be all new...

 

The WHOLE supesnsion(sprins, shocks), sway bars and rear beam are differnt on a 5th gen

 

2k2 and 2k3 have softer suspension then the 2k/2k1
also the steering wheel is a lot softer

not sporty at all

at least we 2k/2k1 guys got a better suspension then you 02 guys

 

Looks live I've got it on my 2K1SE as well. You mean the steering is even more vague in the '02s and '03s. I thought it was bad on mine.

 

That is Nissan's hokey transverse link, it's the same on all 5th gen, 4th gens had the same thing but in front of the axle rather than behind. The multiple arcs and excess rubber of that linkage are most of the reason the rear of the car feels so funny on bumpy turns.

 

Thats not true.. 2002's actually have a stiffer suspension then 2000's. So infact are cars are "sportyer". Besides I dont have a stock supsenson on my car.

 

Not really, I used to have 2000 SE and the minute I drove off on my 2002 SE, it felt much softer and pitched and rolled much more.

There was an article about 2002 SE suspension changes and they said that Nissan used new shocks for 2002 compared to 2000.
I wish they stayed with the same shock that were on 2000 SE.

But either way, suspension on any year Maxima, starting from 1995 until now 2002 SUCKS. I hate it.


Stupid rear beam, is all I have to say.

 

They are right the 02's supsension is much softer than the 95-01's. It has way more body lean and nose dive in hard manuevers than the 95-01's. Their are several topics about people complaining about the soft suspension on the 02's and 03's, I know I have complained. I think Nissan is catering the SE to former GXE owners since the GXE is so limited in production, leaving the base SE as its replacement.

 

So we now know that the suspension has sucked for years now. Is that why Nissan puts a race-worthy engine in a car that handles more like a bus?

 

I recall reading when the 2002 was released that thw SE's supension has been stiffened. Now I have heard peoplw say it "feels" softer and I have also heard people complaine that it got stiffer. So really we need some literature on this subject and not a gut feeling.

 

Nothing was really changed from 2000 SE to 2002 SE. I had both and I can tell you that 2000 SE handled much better.

Only thing I read that changed on 2002 were the shocks. I will try to find that article about new shocks that are used on 2002 SE.