Well, this is a follow-up to my "initial impressions" thread about the H-techs, which replaced my previous Maxspeed springs (using Illumina struts).

They now have about 1K miles on them, and I just finished up a 400-mile round trip road trip to Va. Beach, where the highways are far from smooth.

Cliffs, in case you don't want to read: The H-techs are pitifully inadequate for the Maxima, unless you drive like an old lady. The more I drive with them, the more I dislike them. I've tried various Illumina settings, and none of them help.

Positives:
- at city/low highway speeds, they absorb all the little bumps. Ride quality between 35-55mph is very nice, with Illuminas set up to "5"
- it's a nice "looking" drop.

Negatives (get a comfortable seat):
- even with my bump stops cut, these things bottom out all the time. I think they must have made these springs for a 2300-lb car, not a 3300-lb car.
- on my road trip, had to make a couple of quick-highway-lane-change "emergency" maneuvers to avoid idiots....on both occasions, I damn near lost control of the car (or at least it felt that way). Driving the DC beltway every day, emergency lane changes are common, and the Maxspeeds always felt secure and in-control.
- The body lean into highway exits is excessively annoying.
- Did I mention that they hit the bumpstops every time you hit any large highway expansion joint or dip in the road?
- Torque steer is FAR more noticeable now.
- Wheel hop....which I had all but eliminated with my previous setup - it's back.
- Inside front wheel lifts and tire squeals on any launches turning at a stoplight, for instance. Thanks to the body lean there again.
- Overall, at highway speeds over about 55mph, they just make the car feel like a boat, especially during lane changes, uneven pavement, etc.
- My wife commented that the car felt "bouncy" ...I didn't ask, she just blurted it out. This was with Illuminas at 4. I upped them to 5, and she said that it was almost just as bad.....

To be honest, I pinpointed today what my car feels like now with the H-techs: It feels just like the 2004 Ford Taurus (base model) that I rented on my last vacation. Fine for cruising around, but sucks for any kind of "fun" or "spirited" driving.

I was leaning towards at least keeping these for the winter, but I dislike them so much at this point that I'm just going to sell them (don't ask, they're already spoken for).

H-techs =

btw:
-my struts are not blown
-the rest of the suspension is nice and tight
-I don't drive like a maniac on the streets, but I do like to drive like a MAN and not a grandmother.

Sorry to post another thread on this, but I want to change my opinion from "they're ok, maybe they'll grow on me" to "I don't like them at all and can't wait to take them off the car."

 

Coilovers FTW!

 

Progress worked well for me, just not as low as I'd like. Also gave an even stance. I knew I wasn't too appealed with H-techs for a reason. Sorry it didn't work out for you, Josh. What are you trying out next?

 

What are you going to try next? I have Maxspeeds and dislike them a lot, I've read good things about Vogtland ( in keeping with a similar drop), I'm pretty sure they will be my next spring.

 

i had stechs and was way lower the the htechs and the ride SUCKED. bouncy as hell. do my JICs ride rough, yes. does my car bottom out when slammed no pick one, great handling ****ty ride, or ****ty handling, nice ride. if you find a setup thats a nice ride, great handling, let us know

 

I'm going back to the Maxspeeds. The ride was a little bit rough, but they handled well and predictably, even when autocrossing. I'm going to strip the old powdercoat off of them (what's left of it) and repaint them though, since they are kind of rusty ....

I don't have the time or money or patience this summer to deal with swapping springs over and over. The Maxspeeds were fine for two years, so they'll be "fine" again....

Maybe I just don't like progressive-rate springs....linear springs are so far superior for "performance" driving....

 

Go for eibachs and SFCs. Hell your ride sucks with the maxspeeds anyway you might as well have a sucky ride and get the best handling spring.

lol sorry I said this before but I had to say it again

The ride would still be better than any coilover setup

I am still going with the H&Rs and now am glad that I stopped looking at the H-Techs as they were my #1 choice for a while.

If the H&Rs feel soft with the SFCs I'm going with the Eibachs

 

i love my progress springs even though the ride is harsh its probably because i didnt cut my bumpstops at all

but progress or coilovers imo

 

geez. i've been looking for the perfect susp set up and i guess i still haven't found it.

i have brand new h-techs in box sitting in my room begging me to install them every day. illumina's shortly on the way.

irish you've changed my mind about these springs. and i'm going from stock to a performance setup.

what am i supposed to do now?

 

This is the reason I still have my Vogtland sitting in my basement. I am afriad that the ride/handling quality will suck and I won't be happy. The only beef I have with my current set u (tokico hp/stock springs) is the wheel gap in the front. Rear gap is just fine. The stock springs with the hps are great and I wish I could keep the ride/handling but without the front gap

 

I just can't agree from personal experience on what was said by Irish in his post...I acknowledge the fact that he knows way more than I do about Maximas in general, more about handling, and more about autocross since I've never done it, but I think my experience is more in tune with the majority of people on this website. I went from stock setup, to H&R with Illuminas set 2F/2R, to H-techs front/H&R rear with Illuminas 2F/2R

I don't feel like the car is bouncy

It feels very planted to me

I don't feel like it leans a lot on on and offramps

I am very picky with ride quality and I feel that the H-Techs are very close to my H&R I ran for almost 1.5 yrs

I feel like the car is very predictable at all speeds as far as I'm concerned and I do often push my car to some limits

Also anybody who knows my area (Worcester, MA) knows the roads are absolutely horrible and I have hit my fair share of everything and haven't bottomed out in the few months I've had them

Once again my experience is rather limited when it comes to comparing different spring/strut setups but I just wanted to say that I am very happy with my setup and I feel that the difference isn't that large between the H&R (which are supposedly better than Maxspeeds) and H-Techs in terms of ride quality or handling...plus the drop is more aesthetically pleasing as well

I wouldn't let the review of one person persuade you from trying out H-Techs or similar springs...there have been hate posts on virtually every spring setup there is, but to each his own I suppose

 

Bottom line: linear springs are the best for performance driving. The only aftermarket linear springs for the max (to my knowledge) are the Maxspeeds (and most coilovers). The maxspeeds ride is about the same as SE stockers, but handling is improved significantly, and it's an "even" drop....coilovers are out of the question (trying to buy a new house) ($$) for me, and I will not buy another progressive rate spring until I have a different car to have fun in and this becomes a daily-driver "only"

 

The compromise between confort & performance is sometime hard to attain unless you are ready to sacrifice some of the aspect. I've been running on coilover for the last year or so, and what I come to understand is with coilover you have to sacrifice some of the confort to get a much better handling & cornering, the car perform in a way it was not possible before.

 

I agree completely. And I wouldn't call this a "hate" post. I'm relaying my thoughts on a subject (as I do with every maxima part I buy/try) and trying to be as honest as possible.

I realize most here do not autocross and so most people have different needs than I do - that said, your experience with H-techs will be far different from mine, since I came from Maxspeeds (a fairly stiff linear spring) and you came from H&R's (a fairly soft progressive-rate spring). I've driven maximas with H&R's and they are not the same as Maxspeeds in either handling or ride - I don't know who started that rumor. The only similarity is that they are similar drops.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of anything. If you drive more conservatively most of the time, the H-techs (or most progressive springs) are very nice. If performance is a higher priority, then linear springs or coilovers are the way to go.

 

Did you get the authentic Tien springs of the knock offs? where didy ou get them?

 

yes...they are authentic. Directly from Tein via RedlineMax...picked them up myself, still had shipping info from Tein on the box.

 

How did you like the H&Rs as they are considered by many one of the best handling springs for our cars.

 

so i'm guessing that this setup will be better than my current stock setup. but i still need it to be stiffer than stock while getting rid of that wicked wheel gap.

irish do you remember what stock felt like?

 

you could go with a ground control setup and get linear eibach springs to get the spring rate that you want..

the ride is rough, but you've got some level of height adjustability...(i wouldn't drop more than 2" or else the ride just gets downright nasty).

 

Id just suggest installing them. You already have them.

Since you are comming from stock I feel confidant that you would be pleased with the combo. Should handle much better and wont be as bouncy as stock.

Irish came from some pretty stiff, more sport oriented springs to some that are quite a bit softer. So it is not surprising that he finds the ride floaty and unpredictable. You have to consider his frame of reference with this evaluation.

I ride on Eibachs and Illuminas (4/4) and love the handeling although the ride is pretty stiff. Im sure I wouldn't like the H-techs either with my experience.

Remember that everything is relative.

 

Yeah i fully understand where irish is coming from here. and i have no qualms selling brand new springs. i just dont want to spend a lot of money in an upgraded susp which isn't really an upgrade, yah know? kind of like spending money on a brand new stock nissan susp.

anyways, thank you for your input.

what i'm looking for is a nice drop with handling and a good ride.

sorry for hijacking your thread! (c'mon, you have two! j/k)

 

My front H-techs feel fine so far, for my driving style, but I guess I won't be tossing my Progress springs just yet...

 

I personally didn't have them, but drove a Maxima with them. They felt soft, but then again there are other factors (17 vs. 18" wheels, tires, LTB, bushings, etc) so it's not a real valid comparison for me to do.


The Maxspeeds felt alot like stock in ride quality, but brought the front down a bit (good for handling) and were firmer on hard cornering.


Like I said, I don't really want to spend much more money on this car. Buying a new house is going to run me about $600K around here...need to save my pennies unless absolutely necessary. That, and I just don't have the time to play with different spring installs every weekend.

As to the drop, not concerned. I don't want to be ANY lower than the H-techs/Maxspeeds go, otherwise I'll be scraping my LTB all over the place.

Agree 100%. Just because the H-techs weren't for me, doesn't mean they won't work for you, since you are coming from stock and probably don't autocross. Every h-tech review I've ever read has been positive for the "daily driver" and they certainly ride better than stock. I would go ahead and put them on and see what YOU think....

damn, we really need to put those rears on for you! You're running out of time to finish the car I'm around Friday and plan to do the switch-back of the springs and possibly finally do those control arms/bushings. Let me know if you want to get together.

 

Irish I was more wondering how you felt the H&Rs handled.


I have wierd preferences when it comes to ride comfort... I seem to think stiffly sprung RWD cars ride great, and well so far I dont seem to think any FWD car rides that great but I havent been in too many other than my old camry and the I35 I have now and both (and this is the best way I can describe it) "crash" over bumps as in theres a lot more noise and (what I feel to be) vibration transmitted through the cabin. Every vette I have ever been in I felt rode like a dream... could live with that ride every day and love it. Been in camaros.. again all very easy rides.. BMWs, Benzs all of which I love the ride. Even my buddies S2000 thats dropped over 2 inches is completly smooth untill you go over raised traintracks and although the car is jumping around bouncing over stuff like that there is no "crash" feeling (s2000s have very stiff chassis). Hell my buddies kit car with coilovers rides AWSOME in my opinion. Where as the only RWD car I ever gotten that crash feeling in is my buddies 89 mustang which are known for crappy chassis ridgidity. I swear to god when he goes over speed bump, if one front tire hits the bump first I swear I can feel the whole chassis flex as the suspension on that side compresses and I swear I can feel the back of the car twist if one rear tire goes over a bump and the other doesnt. I hope the addition of the SFCs will get rid of this "crash" feeling which I cant explain but cant stand.

Less than a week till my car goes in to get the SFCs done. Cant wait to see how it works out.

 

if they work out, I expect you to get a 2nd set made for me

 

Can somebody post-up those spring rates again, for an honest side-by side comparo...??

Also, it'd be helpful to everyone to get that last bit of subjectivity out of the equation if everyone'd post-up the Make, type, and size tires you're running with your susp. mods.

I've been saying bad things about my progress springs for a while now, but I was surprised to hear this from Irish about the H-Techs. Everything really IS subjective, but it's nice to have these opinions posted for all to read.

I just dropped my Illuminas to 1/2 and it is much more tolerable than 2/3 or 3/4 - but in my opinion, I shold be able to ride on 4/5 and just begin to experience a too firm ride. I DID have the realization the other nite, that the roads I ride on are pretty crappy (in town Atlanta), and my tires are pretty firm as well. I'm thinking maybe back to a 225/50/17 or taller, MIGHT make a noticeable difference in ride comfort as well without sacrificing handling. We'll see -- I don't like those skinny-*** 225's on stock 17's.

If I switch again, it'll be H&R's, and beyond that - back to stock.

 

This has probably been discussed BUT...dont hate. Ive seen ppl that cut a coil on aftermarket springs and put them on their car sooo...why not cut a coil or 2 on the stock springs and see how that works out? If noone has done it im guessing its a bad idea but im curious...thoughts???

 

I dont think he would do that. Too much risk involved. If you cut a spring its worthless. If you dont like it your out every penny you paid for it. But if he just goes to another spring after using the H-techs for such a short time, he may be out 20-50$ Thats why I'm not worried about getting the H&Rs because if I think they are too soft I will make up my mind right away and get rid of them and I shouldent lose much more than 20$ on the swap if the springs have seriously 100 miles on them.. at that point they havent even settled yet. Irish can still re-coupe most of the money spent on the H-techs thus I dont really know why hes so down about spending the money on them.. if you dont like them Irish STOP putting miles on them now and just tell the next person on the board thats lookin for H-techs that you'll take 20$ off the best price for new ones. If I was looking for H-techs I would go for that deal knowing how few miles you've put on them.

And Irish you'll be first to know when I get the SFCs on. Given my camera still works (it likes to decide on its own when it wants to work and when it doesnt) I am gonna be posting pics the day I get it back. I am gonna tell him to deff make sure he keeps the dimensions that he used for my car in case more people want to get this done.

 

It is in teh Stickies....

 

I recently put a Tein H, Illumina, Progress RSB combo on my '02 SE and I have to say I'm not really impressed. My other car is a 91 Accord wagon with only an Illumina/spring kit on it and it handles WAY better than my Maxima.

My problem is this (as mentioned above by others too) - The front bounces. This is especially a problem when turning. It's always bouncing off of the outside front corner and it's bugging me.

So, the question is.... Will a larger SB in the front help this roll to the outside corner and stabilize some of this oscillating? It seems that the Progress bar in back creates a little bit of a roll balance problem now that needs to be compensated.

 

the front is like that on most maximas with a lot of different springs. you can get gen1 or gen2 ltf from matt blehm, and that helps with the bounce. i think an rstb under the hood will help as well, in addition to the front ltb.

 

I agree with what is stated by Kruppa in the quote and with our personal experience. I like my front H-techs and no complemets about them so far with handling, dives, and etc. I know Irish would feel more other things with those since he's more agressive driver then most of us, but still sounds like normal driving is not as good as mine. Once again me and Kruppa may not see some of those issues because we're not riding on H-techs all around, therefore I know it will feel different with a combo set up of different springs.
I cannot make verdicts here since I'm not riding on full H-tech drop.

 

Nah... stiffer sway bar will make it even worse, just like stiffer springs...

 

Cutting a linear spring will not affect ride quality much. People "hate" on cutting springs when they cut progressive-rate springs, which is a no-no since it changes the *duh* progressive rate..hitting the bumpstops is the only real concern if you only cut a little bit (1/2 coil maximum)...


That is PRECISELY the feeling I get as well...when the spring compresses on the margin between the "soft" initial travel and the stiffer compressed rate...very annoying and makes handling unpredictable. This is the case (to some extent) with any progressive-rate spring, which is why almost no "race cars" use them...

I have both a FSTB and LTB, plus poly bushings on the FSB.....it's the springs, not the lateral bars, that affect bars.

The front is "like that" to some extent with any progressive-rate spring, more or less depending on the rates (H&R, H-Tech, Progress, whatever)

 

irish, i was referring to a different post. i know you got all the mods on anyway.

 

I know you know, but the way you said it, others might not

 

Dude you gotta turn the illuminas down if you are going to "bouncy" in teh car

 

I would have thought that his increasing the setting on the illuminas would decrease the bouce (stiffer). Weird.

 

I dont think you quite understand what he was saying

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, I get it..... Silly me... Gonna go kick myself now