Well i took a ride in my friends Se yesterday. I have the GLE and after the ride all i can say is... the GLE ride stinks. It floats and when it hits a bump or manhole cover or crack in the road it feels like the car is gonna break. Thought being the more luxury edition you would think it would have a smoother ride. My GLE hits the hole and bumps and cracks in the road much harder that the SE. The SE is stiff and hitting the bumps is like hitting a pebble. Im sold on a new suspension for the max. ? is this. I have been reading info on the maxspeed springs. Are they just as stiff or stiffer that the SE springs? Same ride feel as the SE? Also do the GLE and SE have the same strut and shocks just different springs. Just wanted to see what ppls thoughts are on the maxspeeds and the ride quality.
Also im only looking for a nice ride. i dont autox or race the car,. Just want something that will take an on ramp and make the car feel like it is riding on a good suspension not mashmellows?
Im also not looking to throw down a lot of cash.

 

i ride an se but i rode a few gle's and the feel is the same to me ... maybe its just your specific car ... and how much money you willing to throw down for this new car ...

 

dont want a new car. Was thing the kyb gr2 and maxspeed setup.
What setup does your se have?

 

my stock GLE suspension with 100k rode better than my friend's lexus and my dad's 300. I think your struts/shocks are nearing their end

 

GLE, although floaty, does soak up bumps better than the SE suspension. I have an SE with Maxspeeds and GR2's, they were nice when new and is right about 10% stiffer than the stock SE however i don't think the front GR2's are meant for any type of aftermarket springs. The damping is just not up to snuff.

Granted, i drive on relatively rough roads a lot (not by choice) so the GR2's are getting much more of a beating that they were designed for.

 

this is a known fact...the SE has a sporty stiff suspension and the GLE is softer (floaty).

 

Fixed

 

yeah yeah...ive driven both stock and although the SE isnt the best, the GLE is worse!!

 

i know the SE is the Sport edition while the GLE is the Grand luxury edition. I just figured the GLE would be a better ride. i like the SE ride. Sound mike, I drive on a lot of sh!tty roads too and i still liked the SE. I think i may just go for the maxspeed and gr2s. Soundmike. Wit hyour maxspeed and gr2 setup is in bonejarring. Since you drive on junk roads like i do i figure your input would def help.

 

the GLE is better...if you are old

 

really Sooner...? Is the maxspeed that harsh?

 

sorry...i meant the ride of the GLE is better than an SE if you are old. i wasnt comparing them to aftermarket suspension.

maxspeeds are good. i have H&R which are similar.

 

sooner, i am your elder. hahahaha I dont mind a stiffer ride. i like the stiffness of car as long as it can handle well.... On ramps, corners at greater speeds than the average driver and just all around knowing how the car will handle. Maybe ill try the maxspeeds. Now i gotta find someone looking to get rid ofthem cheap.

 

I'm sure you know this already, but just a reminder that ride quality is also a lot of personal preference. See if you can find some guys local to you who have set-ups that you are interested in and that can take you for a ride or something, or even better, let you drive their cars.

In addition to the springs, make sure that your shocks/struts have enough dampening in order to match the spring rates of whatever springs you decide on. Properly matching the shocks and springs will really impact ride quality and handling positively.

 

i wish i could do that. it seems no one in my area has anything done or they are so far away like you guys. The only person is the friend that has the Stock SE susp. I was reading this post on ther NYC maxima site. The guy did hr and blues in the rear and stock struts and maxspeedss in the front. Since i cant splurge on everythnig right now how would the stock shock and strut work with H and R. His review deters me from the maxspeeds because it sounds like they arent all that good handling for front springs.

 

Hi Jeff,

I wouldn't say it's bone jarring at all, just slightly rougher than it was with the SE. Also keep in mind i have 245/45/17's on. Some say this helps cushion the ride, although i think it's really transmitting more road imperfections to the car. I also have an RSB and FSTB if that helps you any.

The handling is by far the best thing about the Max/GR2 combo, in my opinion a drastic improvement over the SE suspension especially in quick lane transitions and maneuvers. I also have more confidence in the set-up/vehicle when taking those tight butterfly on/off ramp sweeps. The best way for me to describe it is that the car just keeps hunkering down even when the tires start losing its grip. With the SE suspension, i sometimes feel like the car is going to roll over.

On good roads, the car is better planted. When i do hit potholes (more like ditches down here) you can feel the suspension trying to absorb all it can and then tries to level out immediately. (as opposed to a GLE suspension which would soak it all up then bounce its way a couple of times to level out). I have not bottomed-out once, but have bent a couple of wheels in the process.

And if it helps any, my toddler doesn't seem to notice any of these and just sleeps right through them.

- Mike

 

By the way, i had maxspeeds and stock struts before i swapped them for GR2's. The stock struts lost steam after less than 5k miles. It wasn't blown per se, but was close to it. The ride was also horrible, i felt like the car was just bouncing along the highway.

In fact, the stock struts were so worn, it actually lowered my fronts an additional 0.5" which i gained back when the GR2's went in.

 

If your looking for a nice, low cost set-up MaxSpeeds with Tokico HP's are a great ride. Been using this set-up for a few 1000 miles now and absolutley love the ride. Not harsh at all, NO bottoming out. I drive approx. 120 miles a day roundtrip and have no issues with this set-up at all.

There is a set of used Maxspeeds for sale in classified for $70 shipped

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=515097

And I currently have a set of new Tokico HP's (never opened) for sale as well.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=517251

For less than $350 you can be riding lower and stiffer ;-)

 

yea i saw them and sooner already sold them. Those Hp look cheap ($). but unfortunately i gotta talk to the wife and i can hear her now... " you have a beautiful 68 camaro downstairs. Why not do something with that." Can i have my cake and eat it too.

 

you have a beautiful 68 camaro downstairs. Why not do something with that?

 

i am one of these weekends. New headers, steering components, bushings...
gonna dyno it too soon so i do have a lot going on with it. Maybe i just have too much stuff going on... hahahah

ok maybe this. I liked the SE ride. Dont need anything in the weeds or Circle track quality. If anyone is selling a set (4) SE springs i will buy them granted aty a reasonalbe price. Then i can get what i want and save money for the camaro

 

[QUOTE=soundmike]Hi Jeff,

I wouldn't say it's bone jarring at all, just slightly rougher than it was with the SE. Also keep in mind i have 245/45/17's on. Some say this helps cushion the ride, although i think it's really transmitting more road imperfections to the car. I also have an RSB and FSTB if that helps you any.


Also the SE i was in had 225/50/17
i have 215/55/17. Im gonna need new tires in a few weeks.
Would the SE tire size make it better. They look wider so handling would be sightly better i think.

 

I have Progress springs on my SE, when I hit pot holes, I can feel my brain rattle.

I never rode in a GLE, but I must say, I almost wish I never changed my suspension from the stock SE. my car now has rattles and squeaks out the yin-yang.

I would say if your area doesn't have nice roads, keep the stock suspension, just my two cents though.

jim

 

I've got a set of 4 se springs just give me a reasonable offer and i will take it PM me about it

 

Are they the same?

 

Elaborate

Are what the same.

 

 

I bought the SE because I wanted the spoiler and the 6 spoke wheels. The ride on both seems the same to me. Go aftermarket if you want a nice and low ride.

 

yea i dont mind it not being low just want to be rid of the floatyness . Ill get springs and then the shocks and struts later.

 

GLE ride is garbage. Just buy some tokico blues and some se rear springs and you will be fine. The SE and GLE both use the same front springs. Only 6 speeds have different fronts springs, I guess do to the weight differences....I have an SE and I have blues on stock springs and the ride is awesome....

 

I see that you're from Mass. If you want to checkout the Tein SS Coilovers in my car let me know.
I live in Waltham, MA and we've got a mini meet coming up next week

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=517663

 

I believe if all you want is to get rid of the floatiness, the struts/shocks are what you need replaced first.

 

If my SE could handle, corner, and ramp like my wife's Passat, I'd be ehappy camper.

But then, I also have a much more reliable car lol

 

Really? I didnt know that. I was driving it yesterday and wanted to see again what it does and if you are driving straight and cutr the wheel to go to the next lane like on a highway the front bodyrolls, meaning if i cut to go right the left drops and the right rises. Not terribly but like someone else stated.. the GLE doenst enstill confidence. Theres some ppl on here that have the SE springs and struts and shocks so im thinking of tryng those.

 

not sure what kind of problems you have had with your Max, but mine has been a gem. 71,000 miles of trouble free operation.

jim

 

Might want to read again. He stated he has "a much more reliable car" than her Passat.

 

Illjim,
i was reading what you have done to your car. I see progress springs and 18 inch rims. What struts and shocks do ya have. Also i heard the progress springs are a harsh spring. Combine that with the 18.. how is your ride comfort?

 

the Stock gle ride sucks. Need to upgrade ASAP!!

 

Joeb got his 15. Gotta pop the cherry some how....

 

15 posts!