Well, kinda. Just trying to get some data how long your Illuminas lasted since these are some of the most popular shocks/struts for the 00-03s. I know this isn't highly scientific, but this is the best way I could think to try to come up with some average mileage.

This will most likely depend on weather, road conditions, other suspension mods, your lowering springs, if any, and maybe also your settings used for the majority of the time, so if you respond to the poll, please post this other information too.

If your Illuminas are BLOWN lease also post what you think was the reason for the shocks blowing (regular wear, bad road conditions, drop, etc), how you verified they were blown, etc. As much info as possible would be good.

If your Illuminas are NOT blown, please also check the appropriate status and current mileage, and post similar information.

This survey may or may not work, but it's worth a shot to get this info.

 

I'll start I guess....

My Illuminas are not blown. They have about 30k miles on them and for the most part have been paired with Progress springs on settings 3F 4R. The front bump stops were cut one "rung" for the last 5k or so miles. I had a few months with H-techs, but it isn't significant.

Road conditions have been relatively good, except the past 2k miles when I had to drive into DC, but I've always done my best to avoid the manhole covers, potholes, big bumps, etc. During that last 2k miles I did turn the settings down to 2/3 for a slightly more comfortable ride.

 

being <30k there is no telling how long they will really last.
H&R springs and run them soft in the winter 2f/3r hard summer 4f/5r.
Road terrain has been somewhat gnarly and definately have been putting them to work weither they are soft or hard.

 

No problem, this wasn't for me to try to necessarily predict the life of Illuminas, rather just to see what people have experienced to date. Thanks for the info.

 

I have over 30k on my Illuminas paired with H-Techs. Bump stops were cut, I believe one "rung".

I really don't know how many miles exactly. The car has been driven in the midwest and northeast exclusively. Road conditions have been terrible to say the least. Potholes, pavement irregularities, snow, ice, etc. The rears have been set at 4 since install. Front has spent time, almost equally at 3,4 and 5.

 

I have Eibachs / Illuminas. The front two Illuminas have been replaced around 20,000 miles ago. I have had the whole setup for the past 40,000 miles. Combined with Boston city driving and occasional trips to NYC, the suspension on my car takes a beating. I usually drive 3F/4R, but when I went down to Maryland for vacations, I crank it up to 5/5, it's pretty sweet on full stiff.

 

Not blown btw 61 and 100k. I am running either Eibach's or H&Rs, I cannot remember, but in either case it's a very mild drop which I would imagine is serving as a positive contributor to their longevity.

 

Replaced because they blew or just because? Just wondering, thanks... or maybe I'm misunderstanding....

 

50+K miles on Illuminas. The first 25K on Tein S Techs and the last 25K on Eibachs. No problems yet (knock on wood)

Need to get suspension looked at, strut mounts, etc + motor mounts.

 

I'm using them with eibach lowering springs, set st 3f5r. No problems, bump stops were not cut but I have noticed that the stops are torn and need replacing on 2 corners. Somewhere around 50k kilometers for me, lots of rough roads in my town, the family jokes it's like going 4x4ing on asphalt...

 

Sorry I didn't explain that. Had one blow out, replaced both to keep it even.

 

<30k
5F/5R
H&R Springs
DID NOT CUT BUMP STOPS
Have not yet detected a blown strut



random info:
Ive got less than 30k on mine....probably about 18k miles on them all around

I keep mine set at 5 all the time....and on occasion i will set the fronts to 4 or 3...if im doing some highway driving...I also have H&R Springs installed


I havent noticed anything wrong with my struts, HOWEVER, my front driver side does occassionally make a popping noise when i pull down out of the drive way while steering in a particular direction...but its only when its cold out

I may get around to taking it apart and seeing JUST FOR KICKS, what might be causing the issue, but its not that bad to warrant me doing it right now

 

Thanks, so basically one blew before you hit 30k miles?

 

mine are fine with less than 30k.. is it bad that i ride around on mine set at 5 all the time for the fronts and rears? lol

 

Im surprised some of you guys can stand to ride around at 5/5 in the winter. Mine felt a good bit stiffer once the temps dropped below 40*F. But it doesnt help all the roads to my house have repair batches on them.

 

Nope, I do the same thing, lol...dont feel so bad

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. Please keep the input coming.

Come on, there's gotta be more people who blew their Illuminas...

I don't know... I feel like even though that's what they were made for, and I'm sure the damping tolerance was made even higher than for the maximum setting, you gotta figure there is increased stress running the damping at full stiff, and more so when it is cold.

Whether it is significant or not is anyone's guess at this point, which is partly why I started this discussion. But as you all know, it probably also depends on your roads - how many bumps you're hitting on full stiff, drop, climate, etc etc etc.

 

i was wondering on this too as i do not have illuminas but plan on installing this spring.
I was curious if you adjust them on a common basis such as
driving around town and usual places with one setting and:
then if you are doing and extended drive such as a vaca or highway for hours were you will be on better/ worse roads changing settings then.

Does adjusting every once in a while lower the life span vs keeping them on the same setting all the time?

 

Yes. In their defense, I had more wheel hop back then, haha.

 

I had blues w/ S-Tech, H&R, and Eibachs w/ nasty road conditions all year round...Worse during winter. Held up 30k miles just fine. Feels much tighter during cold weather though.

 

I have been driving my Illuminas with maxspeed for over 45K miles and not one blown yet.

 

Got about 60K out of the fronts. They started to make a slight knocking sound over small bumps at slow speeds. Drove me nuts trying to figure out what was causing the noise. The dampening was still fine, but the knock drove me nuts.
Eventually put a set of Monroe's in. Everthings nice and quiet now.

 

Bump for more info. Thanks.

 

I'm pretty sure that I have unintentionally hit 4-5 massive pot holes (like 6-12 inches deep) this winter. Nothing's blown ... yet.

 

Hmmm.... so far the failure rate out of 31 people has been about 4 people or 13% across all mileages, but out of the 9 people who have over 60K miles, 3 or 33% have blown them. i.e 3/4 with blown ones are > 60k miles.

Keep the responses coming folks, thanks.

 

I have been running eibach springs with illuminas for over 80,000 miles. I've had the car since 2006 and put the suspension on it right away. The suspension runs great but im tired of the loud bang when you hit a real nice pothole. It's been a long time being dropped. I bought the car with 65k and now im at 147k. No problems yet but I really do want to have a nice smooth ride. Any suggestions?

 

Are your bumpstops cut?

Better yet, just get some good coilovers like Tein, BC Racing, or JIC.

Bump this thread for more input.

 

Bump for more info. thinking about getting illuminas or maybe blues Thanks.

 

update i'm around 50k miles here on the Illuminas & H&R set up. still No huge problems as of now. knock on wood. little squeakyness here and there, im guessin thats from beat up dust boots.

 

bump for more info

 

Got 80K on mine time for somemore....front are fine, backs are softer than usual but not blown!

 

im starting to think this about mine too, gotta bout 58k-60k on mine, and they just dont seem as stiff as the were a year 2 ago.
could be just me...

 

Planning to change struts on my '03 Maxima SE-Auto-84K;
Will it be OK if I only change the struts or do I need to even change the springs and mounts too?
Also which ones do you recommend-i was thinking of monroe sensa - trac strut.
Thank you

 

Definitely replace front mounts, may as well replace springs too. They tend to get spongy with time and your mileage. The rear mounts are not necessary. Get Illuminas, they are adjustable and don't forget the replace the bump stops on all four corners, get oem.

I have Illuminas with eibach for about 15,000 miles. Set to 2F 3R. No problems thus far. Did not cut the stops and have only bottomed out once or twice.

 

Front Mounts: Yes. Get Moog mounts. They include strut bearings
Rear Mounts: Not necessary
Springs: Not unless you decide to lower the car
OEM dustboots with integrated bumpstop: Agree
Illuminas: Not necessary unless you decide to lower the car more than 1.5". KYB GR-2's are fine for moderate drops such as H&R or Eibach.

 

I have a little over 100k miles on them now and they're not blown. On the horrible louisiana roads, these struts exceeded my expectations and I will be buying another set as a preventative maintenance measure shortly.

 

Old thread but mine are coming up on 100K and they get pummeled nearly daily. New England has some bad roads

 

nice to see and how to they feel when compared to 50k ago?

 

Shocks blew in 6 months after 10k miles.

Right front started rattling after a cold week of -4F.

 

What springs were on them and where are you located?