jzwu

My Maxima's rear end bounces a lot over speed bumps so I decide to change out the rear shocks after over 60k miles.

While searching the web, I became very confused. Some places say 2001 Maxima has rear struts while some other places list them as shocks. And you know what, one online store lists out both shocks and struts and they look different. Struts use boots while shocks don't.

So what is it, i.e., shock or strut, that 2001 Maxima GXE uses on the rear? I am talking about OEM stuff. Sounds like it is KYB GR-2.

Any recommendations? I only want to change the rears now.

Thanks!

UGAd13

Struts up front, shocks in the rear. If I were you I would replace both front and rear at the same time.
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html

if you haven't seen that page yet.

JEDI2002

My shocks is doing the same thing.

super6

iTrader: (5)

shocks and struts are the same thing...arent they. a strut is a shock/spring combination with the spring positioned around the shock.

Whtmax'01

got this quote from reading cartalk.com "Shock absorbers" are physically separated from the car's springs. A "strut," on the other hand, is a shock absorber with a spring that fits around it.

jzwu

So that means installing struts you have to compress the springs but not so for shocks, I guess.

Sly

You've got struts at all 4 corners. You'll need spring compressors to do the job. KYB GR-2 are only slightly stiffer than stock, and are a nice match to a slight drop like H&R springs. If it's time to replace the struts, and you are thinking of replacing the springs in the near future, it's much easier to do it all at the same time. But you can use the GR-2's with stock springs too without any ill effects. As far as the dust boots go, you should be able to re-use the stock ones as long as they're in good shape.