My car rides like stock now! I'm so f-ing happy...here's what I changed.
#1
My car rides like stock now! I'm so f-ing happy...here's what I changed.
I've been getting rather sick of my ride lately. My Blues/Maxspeeds combo has been a bit harsh under certain conditions. I've thought about going back to stock, but then I see a stock Maxima drive by me and I quickly cringe at the sight of the wheel gap. That's out of the question.
So I decided to cut my bump stops 2 trims...that was pointless. Driving at standard speeds the car still hit bumps the same way. Going over a large speed bump/hump at a slow speed definitely saw an improvement -- but go 5 miles faster than that and it was still p*ss. The car began to flex more going into turns, and that really sucked. The piston began to hit the tophat...so I knew that was the wrong move big time.
So I ordered new bumpstops and I figured "you know...since the struts/springs will have to come off anyways, I might as well see what would happen if I used the stockers (struts) up front." And you know what, this is the best damn move I've made for my suspension.
The ride is f-ing butter! I can't believe how smooth it all feels now. And holy crap, I can't believe I'm saying this...but the car handles better now and rolls less! I was bracing myself for increased body roll, but it was just so terrifcly precise and accurate. I do believe I've decreased the understeer a tad bit, since I've got stiffer struts in the back, and softer in the front -- so the agility may be a result of a little bit of oversteer. But, I'm just beyond amazed right now.
I've read people constantly mention how they've installed spring-X with strut-Y and that it feels like stock...and I've driven those people's cars and it really didn't feel like stock and it did feel noticeably stiffer. Where as I can say, with ease, that my setup rides about as close to stock as you can imagine. NYC streets don't lie.
I'm happy.
So I decided to cut my bump stops 2 trims...that was pointless. Driving at standard speeds the car still hit bumps the same way. Going over a large speed bump/hump at a slow speed definitely saw an improvement -- but go 5 miles faster than that and it was still p*ss. The car began to flex more going into turns, and that really sucked. The piston began to hit the tophat...so I knew that was the wrong move big time.
So I ordered new bumpstops and I figured "you know...since the struts/springs will have to come off anyways, I might as well see what would happen if I used the stockers (struts) up front." And you know what, this is the best damn move I've made for my suspension.
The ride is f-ing butter! I can't believe how smooth it all feels now. And holy crap, I can't believe I'm saying this...but the car handles better now and rolls less! I was bracing myself for increased body roll, but it was just so terrifcly precise and accurate. I do believe I've decreased the understeer a tad bit, since I've got stiffer struts in the back, and softer in the front -- so the agility may be a result of a little bit of oversteer. But, I'm just beyond amazed right now.
I've read people constantly mention how they've installed spring-X with strut-Y and that it feels like stock...and I've driven those people's cars and it really didn't feel like stock and it did feel noticeably stiffer. Where as I can say, with ease, that my setup rides about as close to stock as you can imagine. NYC streets don't lie.
I'm happy.
#5
I think he is saying that he put his stock struts and new bump stops on with his Maxspeeds in the front. He said he cringed at the sight of stock wheel gap so I don't think he went back to stock springs.
#9
Originally Posted by NYPD-Arnold
Just a regular Nissan bumpstop. I didn't buy it, Maximum Tuning did. Basically, my setup now is:
Maxspeed/OEM struts @ front.
Maxspeed/Blues @ rear.
Maxspeed/OEM struts @ front.
Maxspeed/Blues @ rear.
#10
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Originally Posted by Maximized2000
Sorry....I know this was probably discussed before but since we are at it...could I just use the OEM bumpstomps (without cutting anything) when I install my new H-techs and Illuminas?
#11
Originally Posted by DrKlop
The thing is, unlike what most people think, shocks dont affect the stiffness of your ride (unless you really overdump your suspension.) Springs are the ones that make your ride stiffer or softer, your shocks only control your spring movement So, what could probably happen is either HPs are too stiff for the springs or you simply blew your HPs and what you felt were the uncontrolled oscillations of the springs.
i have had agx on stock springs and they were stiffer than stock struts with intrax.
#12
Originally Posted by Maximized2000
Sorry....I know this was probably discussed before but since we are at it...could I just use the OEM bumpstomps (without cutting anything) when I install my new H-techs and Illuminas?
#13
I have kyb gr2's/maxspeeds up front, when I hit a bump or a pothole, it seems like the struts want to come through the engine, the ride is harsh. Are my struts blown up front or is there something else?
#14
Originally Posted by JSutter
that really makes no sence. how can it control spring movement and have no effect on ride? more dampening equals more stiff.
i have had agx on stock springs and they were stiffer than stock struts with intrax.
i have had agx on stock springs and they were stiffer than stock struts with intrax.
The force that shocks exert in a properly designed suspension is completely absorbed by the springs. When your shocks are too soft they will not exert enough force to dampen you springs.
The only case when your shocks make your ride stiffer is when they are too stiff for your springs. In this case they exert more force that it is required to dampen your springs. So all the access force is now being transferred onto the chassis and the occupants.
according to this:http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?...KybAgxSettings
if you set your AGX to anything stiffer than '2' with your stock springs, you just overdumpen your suspension. This setup decreases both your ride quality and handling.
#15
Originally Posted by ICULookN
I have kyb gr2's/maxspeeds up front, when I hit a bump or a pothole, it seems like the struts want to come through the engine, the ride is harsh. Are my struts blown up front or is there something else?
#16
Originally Posted by Maximized2000
Sorry....I know this was probably discussed before but since we are at it...could I just use the OEM bumpstomps (without cutting anything) when I install my new H-techs and Illuminas?
#17
Originally Posted by DrKlop
The thing is, unlike what most people think, shocks dont affect the stiffness of your ride (unless you really overdump your suspension.) Springs are the ones that make your ride stiffer or softer, your shocks only control your spring movement So, what could probably happen is either HPs are too stiff for the springs or you simply blew your HPs and what you felt were the uncontrolled oscillations of the springs.
#18
Originally Posted by NYPD-Arnold
Naaaah, definitely not. The struts were perfect. They've felt like that since the day I put them in. They were completely tolerable, but it did get annoying after a while -- and I just knew there had to be a better way. It just goes to show that contrary to people's beliefs, HPs are *not* OEM replacements. They are, indeed, a stiffer strut.
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
So, what could probably happen is either HPs are too stiff for the springs or........
#19
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Originally Posted by NYPD-Arnold
Yes you can. But it's better to buy new OEM bumpstops, because the stockers may end up breaking without you knowing it.
How would you know when its broken? Any other negative effect from using OEM bumpstops?
#20
Originally Posted by DrKlop
The force that shocks exert in a properly designed suspension is completely absorbed by the springs. When your shocks are too soft they will not exert enough force to dampen you springs.
The only case when your shocks make your ride stiffer is when they are too stiff for your springs. In this case they exert more force that it is required to dampen your springs. So all the access force is now being transferred onto the chassis and the occupants.
according to this:http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?...KybAgxSettings
if you set your AGX to anything stiffer than '2' with your stock springs, you just overdumpen your suspension. This setup decreases both your ride quality and handling.
The only case when your shocks make your ride stiffer is when they are too stiff for your springs. In this case they exert more force that it is required to dampen your springs. So all the access force is now being transferred onto the chassis and the occupants.
according to this:http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?...KybAgxSettings
if you set your AGX to anything stiffer than '2' with your stock springs, you just overdumpen your suspension. This setup decreases both your ride quality and handling.
#21
Originally Posted by DrKlop
JSutter, I have to bring my apologies, I've just read one article which proved me wrong, shocks do affect the ride quality in any possible case. Though, I still stand correct about the fact that you should not use AGX settings that are stiffer than 2 with stock springs.
#22
Originally Posted by yofmatt
Anyone with adjustable struts who's played around with them will tell you struts DO affect the ride quality. Increased bound stiffness = worse ride.
#23
Originally Posted by yofmatt
Anyone with adjustable struts who's played around with them will tell you struts DO affect the ride quality. Increased bound stiffness = worse ride.
![+1](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/+1.gif)
#25
Originally Posted by DrKlop
people, why do you keep proving me that I was wrong? As I have already said in post # 20 I was wrong and shocks DO affect the ride quality. ![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Big Grin](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#26
Originally Posted by DrKlop
people, why do you keep proving me that I was wrong? As I have already said in post # 20 I was wrong and shocks DO affect the ride quality. ![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#27
Originally Posted by DrKlop
people, why do you keep proving me that I was wrong? As I have already said in post # 20 I was wrong and shocks DO affect the ride quality. ![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#28
If these maxspeeds have a significantly higher spring rate or if they lower the car quite a bit, you stock shocks will wear out in short order. They may ride fine now because they are pretty new (?), but expect them to wear out or plain blow out very fast.
#29
Originally Posted by Jeff92se
If these maxspeeds have a significantly higher spring rate or if they lower the car quite a bit, you stock shocks will wear out in short order. They may ride fine now because they are pretty new (?), but expect them to wear out or plain blow out very fast.
#30
If the spring rate is much higher, it will blow the shock also.
Originally Posted by yofmatt
i think maxspeeds may not be as severe of a drop as other springs, and as long as the drop isn't too serious he'll be alrite on stockers.
#32
Originally Posted by Jeff92se
If these maxspeeds have a significantly higher spring rate or if they lower the car quite a bit, you stock shocks will wear out in short order. They may ride fine now because they are pretty new (?), but expect them to wear out or plain blow out very fast.
#33
i saw a major improvement in ride quality and bottoming out after cutting my oem bump-stops. i know there are arguments against this, that struts will over-travel and wear out faster, but the ride quality is much better this way. i was going to go back to stock myself because of harsher ride with lowering springs, but i think i will try oem struts in the front, and blues in the back in the spring. i think i may put oem springs in the back as well. h&r's wheel gap in teh back is non existent, loox almost like it's sagging.
#34
Originally Posted by JSutter
that really makes no sence. how can it control spring movement and have no effect on ride? more dampening equals more stiff.
i have had agx on stock springs and they were stiffer than stock struts with intrax.
i have had agx on stock springs and they were stiffer than stock struts with intrax.
#35
Originally Posted by Jeff92se
If the spring rate is much higher, it will blow the shock also.
For folks that have adjustables you could probally duplicate this for daily use and stiffen at will.
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