yea man, that's common knowledge

no one can say anything specific about each without comparing it to the other though. so that's why i'm asking

 

i hear you on that one...but it is somewhat difficult to accurately describe a strut, because there are so many different other factors (springs, personal preference, etc.) so comparing them to others is basically the best one can do for another...i'm having such a hard time deciding on what springs i want to go with that i actually posted a thread in the regional forums asking if anyone would be up to taking me for a ride if they had either H&Rs or H-techs, just so that i could feel the difference for myself....

 

yea i'd expect both to be similar seeing as they're supposed to be o.e. replacements. i just remember reading somewhere that someone claimed the hearsay was that gr2's were stiffer than hp's.....

 

tein s-tech& blues

 

Just got Dropped on Tokico Blues/Tein S-techs, Love the look and the ride is very near stock just a little harsh over bumps and boaty

 

The struts on the 6gen SL.

 

I was just wondering what the longevity of KYB GR2 struts would be when paired with Tein H. Springs. Lets just say 70% highway and 30% city.

So approximately how much. thanks

 

That's what I've heard as well... what we need is some damper dynos.

Btw, the GR-2s supposedly have equal compression and rebound damping, which is good for performance, but supposedly makes for a worse ride, which may be why people think they are "stiffer". But I guess we'll never know will we?

 

I don't think there's any way to really tell since you're driving under different conditions and you'd put them under different strain than anyone else. H-Techs aren't too low of a drop so I'd think they'd last for a "long time".

 

well with all my jumping between gr2's/illuminas im going for the illuminas.

it cost me $410 on ebay plus i had $25 credit on paypal for doing a survey, and now ebay is giving 10% with the coupon CELEBRATE when you pay using paypal for a maximum of $25 off.

So it ended up costing me. $360.

So its a good deal

 

Is it me or did struts get a lot more expensive in the last year or so?

I've been in the maxima community for like 5 years and remember buying my KYB AGX brand spanking new for like $330. Now they are like 400+ shipping.. GR2s used to be like 200, now around 300.. wtf

 

I am wondering why so few people have KONI? From what I know they make the best shocks. I have also heard on other forums that Illuminas tend to bottom out sometimes, is it true for maximas?

 

bump, anyone?

 

I would totally rock Koni's if you didnt have to hack up your stock struts. Im in the market for a good suspension set up, and i really wanted the koni's (only becuase i cant get bilsteins) but the minute i saw you had to cut your stock parts i took them off my list. I think that is the reason that so few people have Koni's...to hard to install.

On a second note, does anyone have a GR2-vogtland setup? If anyone does, how does it ride and handle and does it eliminate the endless bottoming of our rear suspension? The main concern i have with replacing suspension is that i want to eliminate bottoming out over speed bumps. Do people still have this problem with aftermarket suspension?

Thanks in advance for any kind of help on the matter!

 

If it’s that hard to do, can a professional shop do that? What is the price range for this kind of jobs? And another question, is there some other product which can be used instead of hacking the stock shocks?

 

Never bottomed out on my Illuminas.... yet.... but under what conditions are you asking? It depends on the bump/hole you hit, your strut setting, your springs, bumpstops, etc, its not just because of the struts. I could bottom out everytime if I drove my car on a bumpy dirt road even with my Illuminas on 5, or not at all if I only drove on nice roads and avoided speed bumps. Need more specifics here.

 

Let me re-ask my question guys...im asking will new shocks like GR2's stop the bottoming out with people in the back seat or things in the trunk, it just gets really annoying. I mean there is even a TSB on the bottoming but i dont want to get stock springs replaced with more stock parts.

 

What he said

 

I want to know the same, but how much to get coilovers mounted on Koni Yellows for my I30. If anyone knows what a decent price for this work would look like, would appreciate it.

 

I've got two questions here that will hopefully be pretty easily answered. What is the lifecycle of the stock OEM struts? ie, at what point do they typically need replacing? And what are some good sites to buy struts?

 

I had almost 50,000 on my 02 before it got totalled and the shocks/struts were still in new condition. My 03 I replaced it with, the shocks/struts were trash after 45,000 miles. So I don't think theres a definite answer. Just check them and I'd probably replace them after 3-4 years. Ebay is a great place to get them. I got my tokico hp for 300.00 shipped............Best shocks I have ever owned

 

Whats a good price for a Tokico Illuminas install?

 

I need to change my vote to Tokico Illuminas as I just installed them today and love them!

 

Anyone with kyb agx/progress?? what is the cheapest place where i can get them?

 

anyone????????

 

Tokico Illuminas - 420 dollars

Shipping - 0 dollars

Install on your own - 0 dollars

Knowing you can do it yourself and save 400 dollars in labor - priceless!

 

i have an 03 maxima se currently on Eibach springs and stock struts. this ride is absolutely horrible. I HOPE it gets better once my illuminas arrive.

 

I'm in the same boat as you but I havent hear of many maxs riding on illuminas that bottom out. If it makes you feel any better I have bottomed out my max with stock suspension, and I have bottomed out my moms mercedes on stock suspension so.... as long as its a rare event I'm not to worried about it.

The Konis are well known for being awsome shocks and can handle higher spring rates than the illuminas but they are a ***** to install, and the rears are not externally adjustable. (they may technically externaly adjustable) but from what I've heard when I was reasearching them is that you have to have the car on jacks, you have to get under the car and like twist something... all I know is a PITA. I am not sure where the adjustment dial is on the rear illuminas but I know its easier to get to and adjust than the konis. I would just carry a small flat head screw driver in my car if I got the illuminas or some pocket change if that works.

 

there we go, finally getting an answer to a 6 month ald question.... lol Thanks anyways!

BTW, I also found out that konis are not as reliable as illuminas and blow quite often.

 

Illuminas/H-Techs = $620

 

Really?? must be the Konis on Maxs cause on most other cars people swear by Koni, and supposedly they can handle some pretty high spring rates, arent they used in Grond Control coilovers?

 

That's possible, I know at least 2 people whos konis blew very early. (on a maxima) As far as I know, BlackBIRDVQ, blew a couple of sets before he switched to JIC.

 

i installed Illuminas this weekend with my Eibach springs. i turned it down to 2. the ride feels exactly the same in my opinion. still ****ty

 

Maybe I'm wierd but I find the eibachs to be quite soft. I even felt they were too soft so I cranked my illuminas up to 5/5 and most of the time its perfectly fine now I get some slight oversteer around quick transitions. Its soo cool!

Btw did you cut your bumpstops when you installed the Eibachs?

 

Incase I do drop my car (most likely tein s-tech/h&r and Illuminas) will I have a problem if i used spacers?

 

I've been following your posts about how you like the Eibachs. Personally I think that Eibach's spring rate matches the weight of your I35 well. I have had Eibach myself and my teeth (top and bottom) are rattling against one another when the road is not smooth. I can't be happier with H&R now.

 

Deff could be somewhat of a factor, but theres only about 50lbs difference between an I35 and a fully loaded automatic maxima.

 

My 2000 Maxima weighs 3199 lbs VS your I35 weighing in at 3306 lbs.

 

Is your maxima a 5sp? If so thats 50lbs of difference right there. Plus the 5.5 gens supposedly have some minor chassis differences from the 5th gens. The 5.5 gen being a little stiffer.

If your car is a 5sp than add around 50lbs and thats where your maxima would be if it were an auto.

Not to mention Irish has a 2000 maxima 5sp with Eibachs and he also found the ride to be sporty but forgiving.

 

stock sturts FTL!! They sux