2000' GLE. Riding 225/45/ZR18 on 350Z wheels. Looking to put springs on it, I'm going to keep my stock struts in the new springs.

H&R or Eibach? I'd like a noticeable drop and good handling.

I've searched but cant find anyone in my boat where they are keeping stock struts, I've looked at pictures and different pictures show different things.

How much does a typical spring install cost?

 

Most people buy aftermarket struts if they are lowering because stock struts have a tendency to blow after installing lowering springs on them. If you are paying someone to do this for you, just remember you might be paying them again in a few months to put in new struts to replace the stock ones that failed. So you might want to consider buying aftermarket struts/shocks. I personally have H&R springs and I like them...if you are looking for a mild drop (1.5") without sacrificing too much ride quality, go for H&R. The only thing I don't like about them is that the front and rear are the same drop. If you haven't already noticed, the stock wheel gap in the front is bigger than the rear, and after lowering springs, it won't be any different. I recommend doing it yourself, it's a good learning experience. But if you don't have an impact wrench...compressing and decompressing the springs will be a b*tch. Good luck with whatever choice you make.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...on-thread.html

 

if only we had a huge thread in this forum about suspension on 5th gens.....

 

A lot of people say Blues are like stock replacements and they blow, people say illuminas aren't worth the money and they end up blowing soon too. any other strut suggestions

 

i've read that about the blues, but i havent read anything about illuminas not being worth the money.. i have some on stock springs, and they're good so far

 

Ive have cut eibachs on illuminas, best mod I ever did to any car.

 

please N00b, when have you ever HEARD illuminas arent worth the money and they end up blowing

not one post WORTHY of reading said anything of the like

 

Find me a quote of that on here. Everyone I've ever seen on here thinks the Illuminas are easily worth the money. Mine are going on 80k miles and still great....

 

eibachs on whatever IMO i had eibachs on GR2's and i never blew a strut ever... never had experience with H&R's before so i cant give a honest opinion on ride quality

 

h&rs ride better eibachs handle better both have sagging a** syndrome.

 

where is soonerfan when you need him?

To answer you question i have H&R

 

ok, it wasn't on here...but still a worthy person.

http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/2004_11_09.html

 

I've got H&R's also, i love the ride, front sits a bit higher than i would like, but hey, i live in a city with HARSH ROADS.....

 

he never said they WEREN'T WORTH THE MONEY

 

I have Eibach pro-kit springs on stock shocks,15k miles, so far no problems .

 

+1 I've got about 50K on mine and they are the most reliable aftermarket product I've ever used. Really better tham OEM in every way.


That being said I would usually say that Eibach is better and when I got the EIbachs I lived on smoother roads now that I've moved closer to the city and I guess I'm getting old. I am finding the Eibachs too rough for these city streets. If you have semi decent pavement though.. the Eibachs are fine for daily driving and with my carrent setup I can go around the local rotary at the same speeds as the new G37 and faster than the G35 sedan. So they do work handling wise.

 

Get used to the idea of a "floaty" ride and more bouncing when you go over pavement that heaves a bit. Places where there are oil stains in the middle of the lane are these kind of places, where a bit of relatively gentle bouncing causes oil droplets to be thrown off, and where a stiffer spring will tend to overpower a strut that's getting tired or was not designed to work with that stiff of a spring.

Noticeable drop, good handling, brand-new stock struts? Pick no more than two.

Noticeable drop, good handling, your old stock struts? Pick one.

Unless you drive mostly in circles on a skidpad, good struts (dampers) are going to be worth more than lowering springs, so I'd upgrade the struts before the springs. Did that, actually, since I'm not at all into modifying for appearance sake only (Illuminas, FWIW). Given that you want the lower ride, do both.

I can tell you that while the ride quality over very short, sharp bumps (such as railroad grade crossings) can be a bit on the harsh side with Illuminas set at 4 or 5, highway ride is as good as stock, with a much more planted "feel", even at 3 front / 4 rear. The shock balance is better than OE even when new, so the "corkscrewing" motions over another type of dip/bump that were there even when the car was brand-new are gone.

I think the innerbean-link guy prefers a soft ride above all else (with appearance stuff coming in second), and the OE bump damping that's a lot less than it was when the car was brand-new gave it back to him. Understand that he took them off when the car was at ~33,000 miles and I doubt that either the previous owner or the selling dealer replaced them before he got it, so they were already about halfway to shot.


Norm

 

Eibachs work well for me. and invest in struts, its well worth it. actually....get struts before springs if you want to illiminate the 'floaty' feeling. Illuminas set to 5 will take car of any 'float' you have with those 18s

 

My driving is pretty much always highway. Its all highway to work and to school. I never drive over rough rodes. Illuminas are typically like $500 right? I do like the idea of adjustable struts though.

 

$500 plus shipping from sportcompactonly, same as a month ago. I think somebody on this forum might still be associated with them and there might be a forum membership benefit if you go through him. Forget who, but if you google using the search term format
"YourSearchTermsHere site: forums.maxima.org" it might turn up.


Norm

 

I bought my Illuminas on eBay for ~$430 shipped IIRC. Eibach + Illuminas + SFC makes NJ roads even bearable

 

Steve Gonzales or Y2KSESteve

He's not on the Org anymore but just call and ask for him and tell him you're from the Org. His extension is either 173 or 183, can't remember.

 

So how's this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...spagenameZWDVW

 

The H&Rs arent high in the front mine sit very nice not to low and not to high and i am 20s too do it lowers it a good amount.

 

ahhh...i still dont know what to do. i'd like the front to sit a little lower than the back. i cant decide.