1: so my question is this i really want to know is there really that big of a difference between SE/GLE suspension (honestly on a scale of 1-10 how much stiffer is SE than GLE) the reason i ask is my last car (audi) had the sport suspension.. i know it isn't as bad as some, but it was pretty harsh over rough roads (but i loved the cornering etc...) and i dont want something that rides rough cause it will be a daily commuter..

2: also i want to put on 18" rims/tires and i dont want it to look like a 4x4 but as i said before i dont want a rough ride..... so what spring/strut combo will give me the most comfortable ride and still give me a drop? how much more rough is the ride between stock/aftermarket (1-10 scale)? and do you guys with drop have any problems with camber???

thanks a bunch for any and all info!!

 

Have maxspeeds and illuminas..and I love the ride. I can adjust the struts so to me is a plus. The SE suspension is just a bit tougher than the GLE...

 

I'm not sure about the GLE, but the stock SE suspension isn't as rough as most cars. Maxima's stock handeling is fairly poor however.

As far as i know, the most comfortable lowering spring is the H&R set, and the tokico illuminas are basically the best strut with just about every spring set

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

good info keep it comin' although i would also like to know how big a difference there is in aftermarket (softest spring/strut combo whichever one that is?) versus stock! i know i have to give up some! but i want to get an idea of how much?

 

I have a gle and after installing H&R and illuminas, even on the softest settings the handling is amazingly better yet the ride is only slightly harsher. Before changing the suspension , my car was prob the worst handling vehicle i have owned. It would wobble on turns and just felt unresponsive.

In terms of the difference b/w gle ans SE i doubt its significant because many SE owners probably felt a huge difference in handling after installing aftermarket spring/struts.

 

very good info guys thanks! i would like a couple more opinions just to make sure i know what to i want to do but so far looks like i will be getting some suspension stuff!! also any camber problems (uneven wear on tires/tires wearing out faster) due to drop????

 

keep it coming guys i know there is more of you with aftermarket suspension than this!!! i need opinions!

i would just take a ride in someones car that has suspension but i dont know anyone with suspension here!

 

the se has stiffer springs than gle. someone said se comes with a 23 mm front swaybar vs 22mm for the gle. i had h&rs with tokico hp blues on all four tires, and recently put oem springs on the back axle. the stance was way too low in the back, and it rode very harsh. i still have h&rs in the front. you will get better cornering if you add a RSB (progress, cattman, maybe others) and FSB (www.mattblehm.com). its common beleif that strut tower braces in the front and back also improve handling, but not as much as the lower tie bars.

 

I have driven both. Had a GLE rental for 4 days in Flordia and I own a 03 SE. You really notice to difference in the way the rear hits bumps. Its much more controlled in the SE then the GLE. The GLE also lended more and the steering didn't feel as sharp, maybe cause of the lower profile tires on the SE. As a whole ride differnce isn't huge but its noticable. And I think the handling of the stock SE suspension is just fine. Replace the stock shocks and your in business....

 

Agreed. I promised myself I would keep my car as stock as possible, but after riding in another Max with coilovers, I am starting to have second thoughts.