David W.

I have a 2001 SE with a Stillen RSB and 18's. When I have a fullly loaded car (4 adults and luggage) the rear of the car seems to bottom out and makes a slight noise when going over a dip at 65 mph. What causes this and how can I stop it? I would like to be able to carry 4 people without the rear hanging so low-it looks bad and bounces too much. I only have 39k on the car and I don't think the shocks are bad, Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!!

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

do you have aftermarket springs?

David W.

No, all stock springs, struts, and shocks. The only mod is the sway bar in back.

spirilis

iTrader: (2)

My rear springs appear to sag a little, probably due to the weight in my trunk (put a thick piece of MDF down as a floorboard since I had no other ideas last summer when I bought the car... it didn't come with a floorboard cover for the spare tire). Perhaps yours is similar?
I think the rear springs need to be a little stiffer on these cars

Luquire

The best thing that my friend was able to do to fix this to buy coilovers. i believe that another solution to this is illuminas and H&R's.

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

why would you lower when he's bottoming out?

Luquire

the coilovers dont lower the car if you dont want them to but they will give a higher spring rate and not allow the car to bottom out. I guess he could go with airbags. thats what big trucks use when the have to have substantial payloads. If you get illuminas they may help. you can adjust the dampening and rebound so they can handle the higher frequency bumps. (i.e. pot holes, dips) you know the quick hard hitting bumps that can make a cars suspension bottom out.

David W.

Maybe I could go with new shocks, maybe adjustable shocks in the rear and keep the stock set up front? I am not unhappy with the handling, but I need to be able to carry 2 adults in the back seat if I need to and I don't like the off balence looking low rear of car.

03maximan

http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB02-056.pdf
This sounds like what u got right here.

gsumax

iTrader: (2)

wow, thats right on the money

spirilis

iTrader: (2)

Note that applies to 2001-2002 GXE/GLE only...

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

if you going to get shocks or springs, do all 4

03maximan

I bet you could get them to fix it under warranty.
Or at least work with you on it.

David W.

Thanks for the info, I checked into putting Eibachs on it, but that is going to run over $400 after parts labor and alignment-really not trying to spend that much right now. That TSB describes the problem exactly. I am going to get an estimate on replacing the stock springs with stock and maybe they will work with me, if not I am going with the Eibachs. Note: this problem can happen with an SE too not just GXE/GLE.