After reading the sticky on all of the stut stuff, I am thinking about buying the Tokico Blues. I am doing a replacement (mechanic) and am not looking for lowering...just to fix my ride. I have an annoying noise that makes me want to pull my ********* off and my mechanic says its the rear strut.
1) Thinking of going with Tokico blues....do I need springs (I dont know if this is a stupid question or not so sorry if it is) or can I just replace the struts. How can I tell if I need springs, or just struts or both.
2) Saw that some come "assembled" with the spring attached. If htis is the case, is there a difference in the installation price that would make hte purchase of new springs worth it.
3) Cost estimates (buying just stuts and reusing springs...unless you recommend springs (see #2). Saw $139 each for fronts and $88 for rears online)
4) Will do all 4 (front and rear)....Anything else to do while doing it (alingment, bushings, etc)

Appreciate the help.....coming up on 200K and the maxes 10th birthday.

thanks,

gene

2000 Maxima SE (black)
Totally stock (accept the baby seats and paint chips on the hood)
194500 miles.

 

The Fifth brand new struts thread in a week. im going to shoot myself in agony.

http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html

There's even a how-to on how to replace struts and springs! You don't have to replace springs when replacing struts. replace springs if you want to lower.

 

Thanks for that constructive response.....please feel free to shoot.

I did not have time to scour the web or maxima.org as my blackberry screen is not the greatest for web surfing. I started with Shiftice....which is how I decided on the Tokico blues. And question #2 is a lower derivative of someone elses question that I found while looking.

I thought by stating "mechanic", it was clear that I was not going to do this myself, so a How to is not much help. The first question (stuts only, or springs and struts together)....I was just not sure, the others I did not see on the Shiftice site.

Sorry if I offended the maxima.org "purists". If a non maxima-faschist could answer this apparently, easiy question, I appreicate the 2 minutes of your day.

Thanks,

Gene

 

You dont need new springs

Probably.....from what I have read, the most difficult part of changing struts is compressing the springs to remove the strut and seating the springs on the new struts. However I dont know how much shops would take off the price or how much extra the struts that come with springs already installed are. You'll have to check that out yourself.

Several years ago, I had all 4 struts and mounts replaced for around $200 for just the labor.

I would definitely do all of the strut mounts while you are at it. Get OEM or MOOG mounts. Take a look at boots. If they are in rough shape, replace them. Same for the spring isolators.

I would get an alignment afterwards as well.

BTW.....Col Ronson is right......there have been several similar posts in the past few days. You should have been able to find those even on your blackberry.

 

Buy the Tokico Blues, Moog mounts w/bearing for the struts, and new boots. Pay your mechanic no more than $200-250 to install. Then get an alignment.

 

OP, where are you located?

 

i'll make it up to you, sorry.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...ht_2490wt_1101

$309 for an entire set. Bargain.
That's all you need. A reputable shop will put it in for $200 or less labor. Go to meinike or something. Deff need to do allignment.

You dont have to replace the boots or bushings unless they're cracked/broken and/or there is squeaking noises.

 

hahahahahaha, owned.
Don't take it to heart man. We got a few people on here who are just used to doing all the work themselves.

To answer imo-

1-You don't need springs. You're switching out the struts because struts tend to wear out after a long use. Springs however almost always stay in tact. You only need springs if you decide to lower your car or for some.. Higher or unless you somehow break the spring

2-If they already come assembled this would save you money by the mechanic. Make sure you trust the mechanic because most charge by hour, and depending on them it could take 2 hours with the right tools and propper knowledge(if no problems are ran into) or a day if the mechanic wants to take his time and steal your money. On average it takes the noobie joe 6-8 hours, and it took me about 5 my first time, and 3 1/2 my second with air tools(assuming your mechanic has air tools). So keep that in mind.

Springs that come compressed by the way are a matter of changing out bolts. merely 5 minutes a wheel. Give or take unless rust is extreme. However, you're only buying struts so either way I believe the mechanic will have to take the springs off the old struts and recompress on the new. So unless you buy springs also, it really doesn't matter.

3-I believe you can get tokico hp's which are similar to oem struts. But meant for minor drops (some even use tein s-techs which slam you car) on your car. These are longer lasting similar to oem that last longer imo. So i'd get those.

4- While everything is off you might as well change the boots, or any rubber pieces you found that are torn. Dust boots especially tend to keep the length of a strut alive longer. And over years, (especially 10) most of these rubber components will rip, either already are, or will once installation from being so fragile. So i'd do that also.

Anything else don't hesitate to ask.

 

^^ Nice summary. I agree with these points.

Col Ronson - maybe in AZ the weather is not as harsh on the rubber components of the suspension. Here in the NE, every time I do a suspension (and I do a LOT of suspensions) where the OEM components have 50k-60k miles on them or more, I advise to change out the mounts, boots, bearings. The road conditions wreak havoc on anything rubber.

To the OP, please let me know where you're located. If you're local, I can help you out with advice on part selection & pricing, and likely will charge you less than your mechanic will.

 

Bearings?

Help me get a handle on these parts, please, DJ. By that do you mean the ring inside the mounts? I thought that was more like a bushing than a bearing. And doesn't that usually come with replacement mounts; (like Moog)?

 

Strut bearings. There are two 'rings' in the mounts. One is a big rubber ring that goes on top of the spring. The other is the strut bearing, which is smaller and goes below the stud plate. Strut bearing ensures steering is smooth. Yes, Moog mounts come with replacement strut bearings.

 

Thank you, Sir. And these rings... are they part of the kit when you buy mounts?

I'm asking because struts are being replaced in the Spring, and I'm lining things up: Tokico Blues, Moog mounts, Nissan boots.

 

The big rubber ring is #6, don't need to replace it. The strut bearing is #4, advisable to replace- comes with Moog mounts (which are #2)

SPRING?!
Get it done now, I'll do it next weekend

 

Thanks for the answers. I appreciate it... I'm sure a number of other people do, too.

No, I have to wait for Spring 2010. Just spent $$$ on NWP spacers. Now I'm laying low for winter, saving up for suspension, brakes and tires.

Take care. Glad you got the OP's business.

 

Glad I could help. Hit me up when you're ready to get em installed

Sorry about the threadjack...