I've had enough of it!

Every time I go over a speed bump, the whole rear of the car bounces up and down REAL HARD as if I have a rocket booster attched on the bottom of the car.

I happened to drive my friend's camry, and I am very amazed at how well the camry's rear suspension absorbs bumps without bouncing the whole car up and down. All you hear is a "pppppssssssshhhh" as the shocks absorbs the bumps, and the car just remains very stable.

On my maxima, I almost hit my head on the ceiling everytime I go over a bump.

This is not acceptable for a car of this caliber.

 

Sho you right!! I agree.

 

Doesn't it give you better handling though?

 

Rear axle giving better handling? Hellz no! It's dated technology, and Nissan is only using it instead of an IRS setup since they're cheapos. The new 2002 Altima and Nissans coming out post-2003 are all having multi-link IRS.

Nissan

 

If the pavement is smooth and absent of bumps, I heard the rear axle is better because it keeps hte wheels planted on the ground. However once bumps come into the equation, you'd want IRS to keep the back end from flying around during curves.

 

Correct me if i"m wrong, but we have the rear axle beams in the 4th gens to right? I've noticed a HUGE differnce in suspension from my 91 to my 99 and I liked my 91 a helluva lot better. I could go over speed bumps without thinking my rear end just dropped off , or I couldn't corner better without thinking I was gonna fly off the road. I also noticed I stuck to the roads better in my 91. If I go over bumps in my 99 I think my 99 comes off the ground!! Oh well, I'll just get used to it I guess

 

The rear shocks are what is causing the bounce. I agree I hate the beam too but a good set of shocks will help the soft a*s Maxima.

Mark

 

I got over 300 pound chilling right over the rear axle, so don't tell me about the bounce you get from the rear suspension. I've thought about taking care of it, but I decided that it is just not worth the hassle. It sucks, but it is a trait of the car.

 

The rear axle design has never been known for it's comfort. However, it does have the advantage of keeping both wheels planted in heavy cornering.

 

The Maxima out handles the camry and accords. Even if its a beam it has the link, that makes the difference. Stiffer suspension means more feel of the bumps which you are feeling.

 

Be gratefull you don't have the SE like me, I'm sure it is worse.

Here's the cheap fix. LOWER the tire pressures both front and back to 29 psi cold. I've done this for 7,000 miles and there is no accelerated edge wear on the front tires. Then again I don't corner hard. You will loose a little gas mileage, but I say so what - I can at least live with the car.

Try driving a Passat and see how the Germans got it right.
Sweet ride, butt ugly car though.

 

Since so many on the board love smooth handling, even if the Max came with IRS, we probably all get the RSTB just to stiff it up anyway. This is one instance where Nissan saves $$$ and we don't suffer too much.

 

Russ you can make any suspension handle if you stiffen the **** out of it. But when the road gets uneven or bumpy, the stiff max bean suspension will be skipping like a rock over water into the ditch.

The Accord's wishbone suspension is far superior to the 4-gen maxima strut and log beam. On wishboned hondas, you can ride low, handle well and still get a decent ride.

 

I used to have a Jetta GLX 5 speed before I got my Max. I don't want to admit it but the Jetta actually handles better than my Max.

There's a curve that I always take at 65 mph in my Jetta and the things sticks to the ground. Now when I take the same corner with my Max, it hangs on @ 65 but I can feel the rear end slipping. Make me wish for a 4 wheel indep.rear suspension and improved shocks & struts.

 

That's why I've gotta get my RSB! Man, when am I going to get my hands on one????

 

*RSB, RSB, RSB*

 

RSB it is...after I get my short shift kit..and the UDP..and the FSTB..

 

Really? Why do I see alot of Accords and other Hondas that try to take turns with me start to loose it and I don't? And that includes hitting bumps....MY rear starts getting pretty light, but not enough to make it come around. I see more hondas loose control than any other car...

 

To clarify, I didn't intend to say that the Maxima handles worse than the camry or accord. My whole point was that I believe that rear axles are dated technology, and we'd be better served with an IRS setup. After all, rear axles can be found on the likes of Mustangs and such. You could just as easily say that the Integra Type-R out handles the Maxima, which is a point in favor of the IRS. Of course, I'm not saying that the Type-R handles better exclusively because of the IRS versus the rear axle, since I realize a lot of factors come into play, but I thought to bring it up to show that your statement could be used either way.

 

Just to clarify, isn't a 'live axle' one that is actually driven? In other words, a rear wheel drive car with a solid rear beam axle would have a 'live axle'. The maxima is front wheel drive with a rear beam axle. The axle is not driven though.

 

Duh! You're probably right. I've always heard of rear axles referred to as live axles, but now that I think of it, that was in reference to rear wheel drive cars. Please excuse my ignorance.

 

UMD, you are right. Anyhow, the RSB works very well, and the new body sytle mustangs have IRS

 

If you're referring to the 1999-2001 Mustang, then that's not quite right. The Mustang and the GT both have live axles, while the Cobra and Saleen have IRS setups. My friend has a GT, so I'm certain on this point.

 

try taking that friend's Camry to Willow-springs...let's see which car you like better..hehe...
come on man...where's the love?
nah...guess the IRS would be nice...

 

Here's what I would like to know! Where do you live, speed bump city? I've driven my car 8000 miles so far and as far as I can remember I haven't gone over a speed bump yet.

 

Lucky you. Where do you live, how come there are no speed bumps?

 

Don't confuse driver ability w/ suspension design. Were the cars stock? Were they modded properly?? Did they just use cut springs and stock shocks? Were they lowered way too much?? Were they about 10 years old??
That is about 5-6 reasons Russ. So you think the maxima strut and solid rear beam is superior to wishbone suspension? When is the last time you saw struts/solid rear beams on a race car that didn't limit the suspension mods??

 

Ok, you caught me, i'm from Maine and there are very few speed bumps here we only have pot holes. But it isn't like speed bumps are being put on back road twisties or on the highway, or are they?