Is there a common period of time for a set of stock struts to last? I'm not having any problems with my stockers but I'm just looking down the road a bit. Once my warranty is up I plan on upgrading my suspension and would like to know if my stock struts are gonna make it the distance. Right now I have 20k on my 2k2 GLE.

 

Someone said stock struts only last 50K realistically. I'm at 50K and sorta wonder if my struts are weak... they do seem to be getting a little softer than when I first bought the car last June. Nothing dangerous (yet), but it is making me eye the Tokico Illuminas rather fondly...

 

usually stock struts last pretty long if you dont put any aftermarket springs onto them and you will know when you need one.

if you want to upgrade. spend the money on the struts and spring all at once. most peep spend on just the springs ended up going back to replace their stock struts.

 

When I do change em I dont want something that is less comfortable than what I have now. I want better handling, obviously, but not at the expense of a nice ride. Whats a good combo for that? I might change sooner than later..

 

usally stiffer suspension gives you better handling and it will make you feel the road more than that of the stock suspension. so....you have to gave up something for something you want.


I would go for H&R spring for the ride quality.

 

Do You know if struts are under 30K/3yrs warranty?

I have 30K on my 2002, when I took my car to the dealer (noise in left front) they told me that the strut have to be replaced, and that I'll have to pay for it. Isn't it covered under warranty?

 

It most certainly should be covered under the 36K/3yr warranty!

Go back and tell those bastards that... make sure they're not trying to rip you off

 

I am doing the Koni/Eibach route for replacement at 54000 miles, UPS should be here any minute!! The Koni's appear to be cartridge replacements in the stock strut, but I have not talked with anyone who has used them in a 2K or above Maxima. I have used Eibach before with KYBs and did not get any ricer bounce, though I had to be more attentive of potholes and speed bumps. I have never been happy with the stock ride in my SE, which I always thought has too much body roll, though a RSB helped immensely.
At 54000 miles I can tell my struts are gone. No leaks or anything, just worn, the car boats around over bumps and rolls too much. At high-speed in a curve on an interstate, I feel like I am driving a '62 Comet with the back end wallowing around.
When I get my stuff mounted and drive some I will let everyone know, BTW the Koni's are adjustable which could help.

 

I have koni and eibach and I am really happy with the ride quality and handling. It is a little bit expensive and I spent 1000 dollars on the entire thing (parts, install, alignment).

make use your spend 70 bucks on a pair of 4th gen strut mount or you/your installer will spend more time and efforts on modifying that from 5th gen.

FYI : koni front is on-car adjustable. Rear ones have to be taken off the car to do adjustment. leavel everything on the softest setting - I found the softest setting is already stiff enough.

here is my thread of koni and eibach install:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=138262

 

Hey Phatmax, how much were your Koni/Eibachs and where did you get em? I would go H&R if I wasn't poor

 

I got them at shox.com for a total of 700. I am now poor. They are not cheap, but I have heard the most positive things about those on other sites versus the KYB and Toks. Install is going to be over 300. It is not going to be cheap, however I need to keep the car 3 more years so, what the heck, right?

Maxi-overdose, do the 4th gen bodies fit the 5th gen chassis without cutting any chassis components? and is that a junk yard thing? I have never bought used suspension parts.

 

it fits. there's no cutting required besides your stock struts. I paid 70 bucks for brand new strut mounts. I wouldnt suggest to get those used.

I have some pictures and it's under suspension album.
http://www.nissanx.net/gall/v2-2000max

 

I hate replying to myself, but it is better then editing. There are new part numbers from Koni for the 00-03 Max: Front 8641-1439 Rear 8040-1297. Those I believe are the ones I am getting. I will find out soon. Fronts use original struts, so I might try to find 5th gen struts for the front. Anyone selling??

 

Nice. Phatmax, let me know how it rides when you get em on!

 

Stock struts can last 100K+ miles. Struts can be blown (leaking) or just slowly wear out (slowly get squishier). Its hard to notice when struts slowly wear out b/c they do it so gradually.

 

Now that's funny.

 

I just got Tokico HP struts and MaxSpeed Springs installed on my maxima....and it feels good...handling is much improved than before, i'm very satisfied

 

Hello Max Guru's. I have a 2000 i30t and I hear it uses the same suspension as the max SE. I dont like the fact that I can feel every little bump on the road. I wanted a more smoother ride. What can I do to my car to do this. Someone said use GLE springs, but I would have thought some high end springs/ shocks/ stuts or whatever would be better. I dont know anything about cars or how to hook them up. I just want a smoother ride over bumps.

 

Edubz,

First off what is your driving style? Commuter? Cruiser? Agressive? Wannabe World Rally Driver? If you smooth out the ride your cornering ability will drop a bit, but if that is not your bag; smooth her out like butter. I am not sure about fitment of parts between family members such as you are asking. I personally would ask a GOOD dealer or Nissan performance shop questions like that. They have exact measurements and not just hearsay. You don't want to ride at 80 mph with the family in the car with "maybes" holding the car up.

UPDATE::: My car is in the shop getting my new goodies installed!!

 

I have 80k+ miles on my stock struts. The ride feels alittle soft but nothing to drastic.

 

stock sturts.. if u drive properly will last u forever ..(with no aftermarket springs)
however if u do want after maket struts and a stiffer ride tockicos are the way to go..

 

You know your 100% correct. I live on Long Island NY, can anyone direct me to a place where they do these things?

 

Properly as in no driving over potholes or dips in the road. No heavy braking or hard cornering? That would have to be in a perfect world. There are few things on any car that will last forever.

 

MaxSpeed and KYB GR2s = pretty good ride, affordable and nice drop (not too drastic)

 

i would think you could expect 50-100k miles on stocks. all depends though i guess - maybe less, maybe more.

 

I think it depends on what kind of road you drive on. NY roads are bad with bumps all over the place. You can feel the bumps as you drive over them shaking the whole car. I dont drive down certain roads now because the roads ruin my driving expirence and I would think also shorten the life of my suspension. If you drove on nice smooth pavement for say 80,000 miles, then your suspension would be better then if you drove over the streets of NY.