I have a stock 2003 SE, I find the rear end to be unstable when driving over rough highways in the GTA. Once I hit a bump the rear wheels feel like they bounce off the ground and shift sideways.
Is this the OEM tires? I am leasing the Max and don't want to spend a fortune to improve this.
Any suggestions?

 

That is my biggest complain with my Max too. Why the heck did Nissan stick with the solid beam axle design? I drive a 04 Altima company car and that thing feels like a sports car in handling than my Max. I don't think there is anything that can be done about this. Even with suspension mods, the rear is still a solid beam axle which will hop sideways over rough surfaces.

 

but basiclly over smooth roads it preforms better, its like having a sway bar compared to independent rear suspension

 

I thought it was just me, I have driven Accords before getting the Max. Will better tires help the situation?

 

Run your rear tires 3-4 psi lower than the fronts, add a rear swaybar and KYB GR2 rear shocks, the rear end will feel a lot better, but never quite like an irs.

 

I'm not sure about the sway bar making things better. Mine became rougher after putting the sway bar in - you literally feel the back-end jump to the side when going on a sweeping curve and hitting a dip or bump along the way.

Anyway, given smoother roads - i'd take the Multi-link any day over an IRS. But put in some potholes and/or dips/bumps on the road then the IRS will perform better, though not enough for me to not like the Multi-Link.

 

Good advice..... I think the stock shocks are the biggest culprit. If you think about it, that rear beam axle setup, cheap as it is, is not that heavy and should not be bouncing around like it does. We've all driven cars with live axles that bounce less. I even upgraded my GLE springs to SE springs, installed a Stillen RSB, and the axle still bounces around. The shocks seem undersized to me. That's my next upgrade.

 

Thanks for the info - BTW any ideas on the cost of the shocks and installation charges?

 

Prices on the shocks/struts vary depending on which one you want to get. Same goes for installation.

GR-2's run about $280 and installation here in Houston is $125 at a performance shop and will take approximatley 2 hours or well over $500 for a regular shop (e.g. they quote based on shop rates) and they get to keep the car the whole day.

 

Most Japanese suspensions are over-sprung and under-damped, meaning the springs are overly stiff and the shock with insufficient dampening, I agree with the post above to replace the rear shocks with KYB or Tokicos....

Reducing unsprung weight -ala, replacing the nearly 24 lb OEM wheels with lighter ones- will help as well

 

I got the rear KYB's for $120 from tire rack, did my own install (you need a spring compressor). I think you only need the rears with an SE, it seems that the 00 rears were a little weak compared to the fronts but in 02 they became even weaker, there is a noticeable imbalance front to rear. The GR2's seem to be a good match with the stock SE fronts.
Dropping rear tire pressures will help a lot - after all, if they carry only about 35% of the weight they will be bouncy at the same pressures as the front.

 

i agree with what you said about the anti-sway bar. ever since i put mine in, the problem seems to have been exacerbated. i've contemplated taking mine out because there are so many more bumpy curves where i drive than smooth ones.