5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

Tried a search, all I could find where performance threads. 2000 GLE 59,000 miles. When I test drove the car it felt fine. The more I drive it, the more I realize the ride is really bumpy and stiff, especially with all the so called road construction that has left constant bumps every 40-50 feet or so. I know it's not a cadillac, but expect a little smoother ride for the car. I'm going to be upgrading my struts very shortly. I don't really care about performance at all. I know most struts are geared toward the enthusiest, so I'm at a loss.
Looking for people who have upgraded their struts to enhance there ride quality. and on a 1-10 scale how does it feel. 1 being a real stiff set-up for hydraulics. 10 being a full air-ride suspension, and of course a 5 being stock.

spirilis

iTrader: (2)

I like my Tokico Illuminas (stock SE springs/etc.) because the damping is adjustable. I have it set to 2 in the front and 3 in the rear ("2f/3r" as I call it) and it's very good. Bumps still stuck though, that's unavoidable and probably has more to do with the low profile tires than anything.

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Anything higher than the stock 16" wheels and you'll feel every bump. My GLE came with 17s and while the handling was nice the ride was unacceptable IMO. I changed over to 16" wheels with 215/60 tires and the ride is much better than stock without compromising the handling. For comfort I suggest a tire with no more than an H rating and a decent size sidewall.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

I'd rate my set-up 2.5/10 on your scale.

Progress springs, Illumina struts (4F 4R), 235/45/17 Falken 512 tires (36 psi all round).

One word of caution: take these comments/ratings with a grain of salt because ride quality is purely subjective and will feel different to different people. Someone else riding in my car may say its 1/10 or 5/10. For example, kobalt mentioned how he didn't like the ride with the stock 17s, but I thought my SE suspension with the stock 17s was way too soft and floaty. That's quite a difference in opinion there. The best way to find out what is best for your tastes is to actually ride in Maximas with different set-ups. Find some local .Org guys, go to a meet, whatever, and check out their rides.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Btw, check out these sites for more info:

http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaHandling

boondoxmax

iTrader: (1)

Tokico Hp with stock springs and the ride is great. Hp have great dampening quality unlike the stock shocks....

Whtmax'01

The the stock gle with 16 in wheels feels very soft. The car would float way too much. I changed to h&r and tokico illuminas set at 2f2r with original gle wheels. The ride is very comfortable and and the car hardly ever feels like it floats.

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

I went to Tiresplus today "yea I know, bla" and they recommended a monroe strut. They told me they are a major improvement in ride quality, and that there's not much of a market for "ride improvement" struts. The aftermarket was geared more towards handling.. You have a valid point puppet. I guess I'm jsut wondering if it was an improvement in comfort over stock or not. You would think anyone with any common sence would know if it was more comfortable than before or not...Anyway's they recommended the monroe sensa-trac. any experience with it?

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

Monroe are very squishy and soft struts. You lose a bit of controllability because the car feels rolly. Get some illuminas and keep em on a soft setting and you'll be good.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Easiest fix would be to get smaller diameter wheels.


Riding around in my 4th gen is sooooo much more forgiving than my 5th gen, and the 4g I have is lowered on Eibachs(considered a rough/stiff ride from the majority of people with them) and my 5th gen is not lowered...and feels much more stiff/rough.

I blame this on the 17" wheels, but for the looks, I don't mind.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

SFCs will improve ride quality too....get rid of the "jarring vibrations" over every bump

...but that's another story for another thread!

For best ride, I'd suggest H&R springs with illuminas set on the softer settings....

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

kobalt and spi - Yea, when I get replacement tires I'm defiently going to be replacing with something with a softer side wall. Probably less than H rated. -I never do 130 MPH anyways. (Except when I first bought it )
puppetmaster thanks again for the info. You're right, because I have a 2000 GLE with stock suspension (59,000 miles) and I think its a terrible ride and demand much better from a car that MSRP's at around the price of an X-Type. - I would go crazy with your set up...That's what the street rod is for. The daily driver gets nothing but luxury and comfort.

TY DJ, IRISH, and Whtmax'01

I once thought about lowering with that exact same setup after reviewing the ever popular "poll-what set up are you running" thread, but decided not to go lower because of the potential stiffer ride. To me I would rather lose the drop look, then lose ride quality.
So H&R's and illuminas are an IMPROVEMENT over bumps as compared to stock ride?? Is that the general concensus?? any other input from others??

SFC'S???---yea I guess you could call it "jarring". on my last trip across town, I watched the road and noticed these "bumps" are simply the lines cut in the pavement every 15 feet or so to prevent cracking.. The other day I was driving around with my guy in his 97 Exploder with stock suspension @ over 100,000 miles. It felt about the same as my car. Funny thing is before I bought this I thought his ride was horrandious when I compared it to my Denali. - I guess you could compare my ride to that with something off a mid 90's pick-up.
I guess I should have mentioned that the "bumps" where kind of noisy as well as rough. It kind of sounds like your going over a smooth set of rail road tracks at every bump.
Puppetmaster - you just gave me an idea. I'm going to find a used 2000/2001 with the same rims GXE/GLE model and test drive it to see if maybe my struts are just worn and need replacing @ 59,000.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

Get the Illuminas and if you can find the Maxspeeds springs.. you are done and good to go.. if you cannot find the maxspeed get the H&R.. it is basically the same ride but a little lowered.....

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Ever consider thath the source of the floatiness/sloppiness was the crappy 512s? You spent good $$$ improving the suspension, so do it justice and get tires that are fit for a sporty ride, not a minivan.

5thgenmax, if you test drive a GXE/GLE, pay attention at what tires are on. My SE fitted w/512s (stock suspension) rode softer and sloppier than my friend's stock GLE w/the OEM EL-42s.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Nope, that was with the Potenzas. I have no issues whatsoever with the 512s and am very pleased with them for the price I paid. I understand that there are better tires out there, but these are just fine for my purposes right now.

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

and this should improve ride quality? Not so much stiffness and handling, but comfort over bumps and old roads? Like puppet said everyone feels differently about how it feels before/after just verifying that in general most people feel a more comfortable ride.- I would probably set them to their softest setting..Two more questions...do the maxspeeds have the "sag" that is known with the H&rs. and which ones have a more comfortable ride maxspeeds or h&r? I'm a complete newbie when it comes to suspension upgrades, so I appologize for the repeated lamen questions.

boondoxmax

iTrader: (1)

Great point! I know that my nitto 455 ride much softer than the stock craptenzas did. I have to put almost max psi just so the ride doesn't feel so soft. Won't be buying nittos again. Craptenza may not grip well but they have a sportier ride then nittos

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

bump..I'm ready to purchase. Any input is helpful. Thanks...I guess I should also add I wasn't going to lower it. But if the masxpeeds actually improve ride comfort then I might as well spend the extra $$ since I'l be there anyways..If it takes away from smoothness/comfort at all I will probably keep stock springs.

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

What about illuminas on stock springs?

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

I would be willing to do that. Illumnas on their softest setting are going to have a more comfortabe ride than say a Monroe sensi-trac? (adjusting isnt important to me, they won't more from their softest setting anyways)
Stock springs are going to be more comfortable than the maxspeeds correct?
I also went to O'really's auto parts to see what they sold. They also suggested the sensi-trac. They then told me it will improve handling and ride comforst both. I asked wasn't it a give/take idea, the more comfortable over bumps the worse handling and the opposite. He said "well, ugh, that's all I know these are suppossed to improve every aspect of driving compared to stock."

djfrestyl

iTrader: (89)

I would say Illumina >* for struts for 5th gen.
It will improve handling too, IMHO.
OEM springs are the softest you can get.

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

Thanks
Edit: when you say Illumina. Are you talking about these or do they come from several different manufacturers? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...spagenameZWDVW

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Those are it... Tokico Illuminas.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

we really need to change your sideline from "eats out of a maxima" to "Abe Frohman, Anti-Ziex King of Chicago"

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

A: You can never go too far. B: If I'm gonna get busted, it is not gonna be by a guy like that.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

........ .

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Don't worry about it... its Irish's way of postwhoring....

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

I'm guessing you were born after....say....1985? Am I right?

5thgenmaxima

iTrader: (1)

I'm guessing your probably wrong. I suppose I'm not a know it all, old timer like yourself, and like to be clear before dropping $440 on a set of struts.