sup guys,

I got a 2003 maxima se only got like 9000 miles on it since the day i bought it brand new i always noticed the suspension was real stiff i couldnt go over those bumps with out having a heartattack. In the car i feel almost every bump i want a softer and smoother ride so i dont feel any of those bumps and so i could go over bumps faster without having to feel em i was wondering if i should throw the 2003 maxima GLE suspension in the car , would that help and make the car alot better on bumps so i dont feel them ? The dealer is aking about $1,000 for the front and rear shocks/sturts, would they help and can i get the suspension cheaper and suggestion please help .

 

Don't know if you can get softer ride than OEM.

 

i mean is the GLE maxima ride softer then the se ride >?

 

SE has the sportier suspension but I doubt having GLE springs and struts will make your SE ride any softer.

 

Did you not test drive the car first?
It's a firm suspesion but the car is solid.
You'll notice a slight bit "softer" ride but is it worth 1000$?

 

Also consider getting softer and higher profile rubber. That'll help.

 

Maybe you can upgrade your OEM struts. Either way, $1k for OEM suspension swap is not worth it.

 

To answer your question, yes the GLE ride is much softer. It's also alot more floaty feeling. You would probably want to get a RSB if you change. I have my 2k2 GLE stock suspension that I'll sell to you for tons cheaper if you decide to go that way. It only has 8,000 miles on the springs and struts, but I would really think long and hard about changing. Different tires could also help a bit.

 

Why did you buy SE if you didn't want Stiffer suspension?


But if you want "Softer" suspension setup, the OEM struts will have to do. Ofcourse costing you some money.

Alternative way is replace your 17" wheels with 16" and get higher profile tires.

 

Check you air pressure, at 32 hot it should feel softer. My air jumped 7 pounds of pressure in a month. Also I heard members saying that right from the dealership the tires were over filled.

 

As I have noted before, the stock SE suspension is way oversprung and underdamped, the worst possible combination for ride comfort, not helped by the Potenzas which are pretty harsh as well...

This wont be cheap but

- Swap the SE springs for GXE and/or I35 springs
- Do NOT install OEM GXE struts!! but rather, install the KYB GR2's which provide much more damping than the OEM struts and are generally accepted to be smoother than Tokicos
- Find someone who wants to swap your 17" wheels with their 16" wheels and install soft 55 series tires (ala Bridgestone Turanzas, for example)

You might be able to get the GXE springs from an Org member who has installed lowering springs....my recommendation is that you post your wants in the 'for sale' forum. You can also get 80% of the benefit by the first two actions above....the GXE springs along with the KYBs will deliver the best bang-for-buck versus buying new wheels & tires....

 

Try this-

1. Set tire pressures to around ~30-32psi
2. Get Tokico Illumina struts, or maybe KYB GR2's as mentioned above (I only have experience w/ Tokico Illuminas, which are Tokico's top of the line and only came out this past winter; IMHO they're wonderful)
3. Try smaller wheels with higher profile tires if you must. It's up to you.

Just FYI, I noticed the OEM struts on my 2K SE were pretty bad, in that the strut could bottom out without coming back up on its own. The Tokico Illumina replacement struts I installed behaved differently; the piston rod was easier to move, and it would rebound on its own when I moved it with my bare hand. The ride is much smoother, yet still better controlled than the OEM struts' ride.

 

You want a softer ride number one increase the tire size 215 also by Michelin or change the strut so that the seat is 1 inch higher and go to 225 to 35 bottom line increase the sidewall I have and always loved Michelin increased thickness increase the sidewall height

 

Nice job digging up a 17 year old thread

 

well mine has 50,000 miles and is 27 years old and every day someone wants to buy it I was off at 10,000 refused and it's 2022

 

might be all in my head, but when I went from stock SE springs to Megan racing springs I feel like the suspension got softer.