The big weekend finally arrived and the drop went very smoothly! I installed Progress springs with Tokico Illuminas and am very impressed with the results. The ride is near stock on the softer settings (around 2) except for the occasional large potholes and dips that hit harder than before. However, I only cut the rear bumpstops a 1/2 inch and didn't cut the front at all yet, so I'm confident trimming these down a bit eliminate this issue. Body roll is greatly reduced, particularly on settings of 3 and above and is crisper across the board. I've also really noticed the sudden near complete elimination of dive and squat! Now I can nail it from a light and it just feels like a sled And, of course, I'm loving the elimination of the horrid wheel gap. Let me know what you guys think of the look.

Also, I have posted a LONG how-to for spring/strut installs on my new website, which is still a work in progress: www.innerbean.com/housecor. Many other how-to's and pics are up already. Please roam around and let me know your impressions and suggestions!

Finally, a few shots:

 

Nice drop and nice site - lots of good info that's valuable to a lot of orgers, I'm sure. Very well done.

 

Nice site housecor!

 

Is progress lower than h tech?

 

That car is f*cking beautiful...

 

Very good site. Very useful information. Good work.

 

Vey nice! You did a very good job on the write ups.

 

Excellent write up!!! Your car looks clean and tight. I am going to install my Illuminas with Eibachs this weekend with my grilfriend. I hope mines will turn out well both in performance and looks.

 

housecor: So there are 2 "top hat" nuts on the struts, 1 of which you have to remove *completely* to get the strut to fall out, and then a 2nd one which holds the spring pressure?

 

A very nice write up, congrats on the new setup.

 

nice..Im riding Progress w/ stocks, but seriously in the market for some new shocks next..think Im gonna go w/ Illuminas like you as well...very clean man

 

Nice write up, and nice looking drop!

 

you're sick........

 

i really like that first picture. nice job

 

Yes, especially in the rear:
Tien H-Tech drop: 1.6F 1.0R
Progress drop: 1.7F 1.5R
There is more info on springs and struts on my site as well:http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html

Actually, no there is only one top hat nut that holds the top hat down and keeps the spring under pressure. Is there a part of my how-to that makes it unclear? Please specify where and I'll revise

Finally, thanks for the compliments guys!

 

Step 6-
Remove the center bolt (which was loosened previously) from the top of the strut. The strut will fall when this bolt is removed so be sure to catch it.

 

Your car is freakin beautiful. Sheer Silver is the best looking color they have ever put on a Maxima. I played around with the settings on my Illuminas and have found that I like the 3 setting all the way around. One thing to note on your installation instructions. I've noticed with my H&Rs that I don't need spring compressors to remove or install them. You can compress the thing enough by hand to get the top hat nut on.

 

This is incorrect. You remove the center nut after you have compressed the factory spring. This nut is the only thing holding pressure on the spring. I think you meant for the 3 bolts around the outside to be romoved at this time.

 

Awesome site. What do you think of the ride and do you have any good side profile shots?

 

I agree, there's only one bolt holding in the spring. That should be removed ONLY once the spring is compressed.

 

I quoted directly from housecor's HOWTO, so that's the step he needs to change

 

Car looks awesome. Very informative web site.

 

Whoops! You guys are absolutely right - Step #6 on the front struts is incorrect. I will make this correction after work. Removing the tophat nut at this point would be a lousy idea!

Thanks for pointing this out. Please let me know if you have other suggestions/comments!

 

The ride is pretty close to stock outside of large bumps, which should be resolved when I trim my front bumpstops. I also described the ride in my first post.

There are multiple side profile shots and mesurements here: http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/2004_2_28.html

 

WOW...your car looks awesome..
that color silver with those rims makes it looks bad ***!!!!!!!!!!
keep up the good work

 

where is the best place to buy progress springs and how much?

 

very good write ups! Great pics of the Max as well

 

I'd suggest purchasing a used set off the for sale forum. Last I checked there was still a set for around $100. They have a lifetime warranty, so why not buy used? Otherwise, google it and you'll find quite a few distributors.

 

housecor is the man, sick looking car, and sick write-ups all the time!!! GOOD WORK.


brandon

 

excellent website. Thanks for hooking it up.

car looks good.

 

That third pic is bad a$$!!! Car looks amazing!

 

Alright guys, I've corrected the mistake in the front strut install step #6. I think everything is accurate now. Please let me know if you see any other errors or have other suggestions. Thanks for all the positive input!!