More suspension woes...weird noises again.
12-04-2005, 09:51 AM
#1
More suspension woes...weird noises again.
Ok, so now I've located another weird noise coming from the suspension. When the struts compress a certain amount (like going over a large school bump slowly) the car makes this weird almost...errr...squishing/clunking noise when it compresses. And it only occurs on the driver's side too. It feels like the strut is compressing too much and the piston ends up hitting something, perhaps -- and this may be directly related to my springs getting weaker and allowing the suspension to become too sloppy (I've also noticed my handling has gotten worse, as a result).
I think it's time to revert back to stock for a while, but I'd still like to know what is causing this problem.
I think it's time to revert back to stock for a while, but I'd still like to know what is causing this problem.
12-05-2005, 02:57 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,860
Blown strut???
Sounds like it especially with the loss off rebound control... Get yourself a set of Illuminas and dont look back. They are the best $400 I've spent... Well except that time in Vegas
EDIT: The squishing sound may be the pressure blowing by a busted seal.
Sounds like it especially with the loss off rebound control... Get yourself a set of Illuminas and dont look back. They are the best $400 I've spent... Well except that time in Vegas
EDIT: The squishing sound may be the pressure blowing by a busted seal.
12-05-2005, 03:48 PM
#9
There are all kinds of weird noises that suspension makes in the winter even when it is perfectly fine. My H&R/Illuminas makes weird noises when I go over dips in the road and sometimes over speed bumps it squeaks the front sounds like it clunks or something and none of this ever happened in the warmer weather. Car still rides smooth as ever ...just noises that you learn to deal with...however as you noted it could certainly be due to your springs being worn or a variety of other problems but for the most part I think it's just inevitable noises with any suspension setup...they all have their drawbacks
12-05-2005, 05:49 PM
#10
Kruppa, I am with you on this whole suspension and noise issue.
This is my 5th Maxima and the suspension only stayed stock on my old 87 Maxi. Evey since then I have had every spring and strut combo out there. The stock setup was always just a little too high for my tastes and I never really wanted the all out handling of a coilover setup.
I would have been very pleased if there was a setup that offered a totally stocklike ride just maybe 1" lower. The only problem is to drop 3500lbs 1" closer to the ground the springs must get stiffer. Making this decision even that much more difficult is that every spring and strut out there is just a little different. This stiffness of aftermarket springs is what seems to make the rest of these components take more abuse and begin to make more noise.
The point I am making is that you definitely have to accept the tradeoffs with aftermarket springs giving you the enhanced appearance & handling we like with albeit more noise than the stock setup.
I too will be removing my maxspeeds and going back with my GLE springs paired with my Illuminas. With 3/3 setting I should get a pretty good compromise between great comfort and damping. Hopefully these dreaded noises will go away.
BTW if you ever get a chance, I mean ahold of WSPD, get their stage 1&2 SFC's, I finally got them to ship the stage 2's and had them installed a few days ago and they COMPLETELY change the way the car sounds and feels.
This is my 5th Maxima and the suspension only stayed stock on my old 87 Maxi. Evey since then I have had every spring and strut combo out there. The stock setup was always just a little too high for my tastes and I never really wanted the all out handling of a coilover setup.
I would have been very pleased if there was a setup that offered a totally stocklike ride just maybe 1" lower. The only problem is to drop 3500lbs 1" closer to the ground the springs must get stiffer. Making this decision even that much more difficult is that every spring and strut out there is just a little different. This stiffness of aftermarket springs is what seems to make the rest of these components take more abuse and begin to make more noise.
The point I am making is that you definitely have to accept the tradeoffs with aftermarket springs giving you the enhanced appearance & handling we like with albeit more noise than the stock setup.
I too will be removing my maxspeeds and going back with my GLE springs paired with my Illuminas. With 3/3 setting I should get a pretty good compromise between great comfort and damping. Hopefully these dreaded noises will go away.
BTW if you ever get a chance, I mean ahold of WSPD, get their stage 1&2 SFC's, I finally got them to ship the stage 2's and had them installed a few days ago and they COMPLETELY change the way the car sounds and feels.
12-06-2005, 10:27 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,860
Yes, things will start to make more noise (mostly creaking) as the temp drops, but the fact that he gets "squishing" noises and has lose of compression and rebound control points right to a blown strut.
Springs dont really tend to wearout very quickly unless you like to jump curbs and what not... In that case you would probably bend or blow a strut first anyway.
Springs dont really tend to wearout very quickly unless you like to jump curbs and what not... In that case you would probably bend or blow a strut first anyway.
12-06-2005, 01:43 PM
#12
Negative. My struts are fine. It is exactly what I thought it was: the piston of the strut is hitting the top-hat when I go over large enough dips. This is because I cut the bumpstops too much and created too much travel. The ride becomes floatier with the bumpstops cut and I don't like that. Sure the car goes over bumps softer, but I much rather prefer it stayed more stable on highway speeds.
I'm still looking into throwing H&Rs in the front. =)
BTW: This diagnosis was made at MaximumTuning. Yet another issue fixed by MT. =D
I'm still looking into throwing H&Rs in the front. =)
BTW: This diagnosis was made at MaximumTuning. Yet another issue fixed by MT. =D
12-06-2005, 04:12 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,860
Thats nice that it was only bumpstops.
Everyone was saying that I should have cut my bumpstops when I installed my eibachs, but Im glad that I didn't.
BTW, was this only happening on BIG bumps? I wouldn't think that the suspension would travel that much in normal day to day stuff. Only hitting a speedbump too fast or something.
Everyone was saying that I should have cut my bumpstops when I installed my eibachs, but Im glad that I didn't.
BTW, was this only happening on BIG bumps? I wouldn't think that the suspension would travel that much in normal day to day stuff. Only hitting a speedbump too fast or something.
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