Sup guys. Well I was wondering for those max owners with dropped rides that live in a big city with pot hole infested streets and roads is it worth dropping the ride????? And also if i do decide on dropping it do i really need aftermarket shocks when im only gonna give it a 1.5 inch drop??? Lots of people im sure especially in la they dont drop it the right way they either cut or drop there rides with no new shocks etc etc and i know its really bad for your whole car but for a 1.5 inch drop do i still need aftermarket shocks??

 

Whatever you do don't cut your springs. As far as the 1.5" drop goes...My personal preference is to get aftermarket shocks every time I drop my cars. Save your labour and do it all at once, because your stock shocks will blow eventually. One thing people neglect is Spring Rates. If you're dropping 1.5" you could get away with GR-2s or Blues if the spring rate are low enough. But you if you get a set of really stiff springs you should pair that up with something better like Illuminas, AGX's or Konis. Either way look at the ammount of drop AND spring rates to determine what kind of shocks you need. And as far as driving a lowered car in the city. I've been driving my cars lowered for years (Nissans, Acuras) with minimal ground clearance in the winter (I live in Canada) without any issues. Just watch where you're going...

 

I'm running S-Techs (about 2.2" front and 1.7" rear), ride is harsh and I'm always dodging potholes and bumps. Is it worth it? Sometimes, I get sick and tired of looking out for road flaws but I can't stand the wheel gap. Overall, I'm pretty happy.

If you buy springs, you should think about getting a set of aftermarket struts. They are good investment.

 

Look through this thread for some good info. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=281194 You should replace struts when you replace springs. It will save headaches down the road. I didn't replace my struts and my ride quality was OK for a few months but now it is horrible. I am on Eibach's with stock struts, but my Illumina's shoudl be here by Tuesday.

 

I've seen several people comment on how great H&R springs are, and of course everybody loves Illuminas. The most common complaint I hear about H&R springs is that they don't drop the car enough in the front, so they leave the appearance of a larger gap in the front fenders than in the rear. I've heard all of the explanations about how this is merely an illusion produced by the fact that the front fender well is larger than the rear one, but does anybody have a definitive answer? So far the H&Rs look like the choice for me, but not if my car is going to look like it's sagging backward.

 

First off, the 2 front and 2 back settings are on the Illumina shocks. There are adjustment screws on the top of each shock, ranging from 1-5. 1 is softest, 5 is hardest setting. I wanted a smooth ride, so I chose 2/2 as my starting point. After driving the car now for almost 2 weeks, I plan on leaving them on 2/2!! The ride is incredible!! It makes the stock suspension feel like a mistake that they just threw on the car and said **** it, we don't care!! The stock s/u is just terrible. Now, with the H&R's and Illumina's, the car drives like a real sports car, still smooth (a little firm over the very harshest of bumps/potholes but really not bad at all, but then my stock GLE suspension was even worse over bumps) and just so much better all around that it is a blast to drive!!!
As far as your setup, when you put on the RSB, if it is adjustable, dial it in for a little understeer, so when you put on your H&R's and Illumina's, your car will handle neutral-which is what you want!!!
As far as comfort goes, go 2/2 on the Illumina's to start, I am sure you'll like it!! These settings on my car are so much more solid,smooth, and sporty, that I have a hard time believeing that this is the same car I've been driving the last few years. If you decide that 2/2 is too harsh (it's not), then dial them down to 1/1, and you'll be all set. Let me know when you get them put on your car, I can hardly wait to hear your feedback once you drive your car with this setup!! You're gonna love it!!

 

I know alot of people complain about the uneven drop with the H&R's, and I would like to set the record straight on that. The drop with H&R springs is 1.4" in front, and 1.3" in back. MORE drop in front than in back!! It is just our huge front wheelwells that make the drop look uneven. Go look at 5 series BMW's, the gap in front seems larger than in back,again because the front wheelwell is larger, to allow for turning and suspension movement without the tires rubbing/hitting the fender and /or wheelwell.
So,there you have it. I hope that helps. Each car has a spring and shock that is ideal for performance, and ideal for comfort, and I think the best choice for blending those two together is the H&R (especially combined with the adjustable Illumina's!!!).

Take care, and good luck with your
suspension upgrade !!

 

thanks for the info guys.