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Full suspension/steering overhaul

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Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:05 AM
  #1  
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Full suspension/steering overhaul

I recently noticed my steering gear rack was leaking. I tried to old stop leak stuff (of course it did not work). I just ordered a new rack and pinion. I'm also about to pull the trigger on these parts while I've got the car in the garage for the winter.


Rack and Pinion used 66k for 85 bucks.



Front Lower Ball Joint


Front Outer Tie Rod End


Front Inner Tie Rod End


Front Sway Bar End Link Kit - Passenger Side

Front Sway Bar End Link Kit - Driver Side



Coilovers =)

Ksports

Rims

19" G35 rays (my buddies G35 rims he sold me from his car)


Now is there anything else I'm missing here? I will be doing all this stuff in my garage during the winter so I have time =). Any suggestions or input on installs or comments welcome. I haven't done a rack and pinion on a Maxima yet, however I have on a few other cars, so it won't be that bad.
In the spring will be brakes!!

I will be taking pictures of all the work, and post progress to help the community.

Last edited by Stormzusmc; Feb 16, 2011 at 06:31 PM.
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:14 AM
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subbin for the hell of it
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:24 AM
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Looks like you're going to have fun this winter! Good luck on your project. Can't wait to see pictures when done.
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:27 AM
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fun...maybe...lol
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:33 AM
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lol wish i could put my car up for a season and work on it...my car works all year round
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:39 AM
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my wife and i own a few cars, plus i have a company truck that i use daily, so we are able to =)
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:39 AM
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+1 to guys following this thread. =)
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:41 AM
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Been through the same lately, make sure to get ES bushings while in there, makes a big difference on the handling.

And while playing in there might as well do the wheel bearings.
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 10:45 AM
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wheel bearings an hubs done =)

along with passenger side axle.
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 12:56 PM
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subframe collars.
Old Nov 23, 2010 | 01:00 PM
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+1 on ES control arm bushings and sway bar bushings. I've already done all this, aside from the rack and pinion. There's also MOOG parts for the strut mount on top of the strut tower.

Also, DO NOT forget to fill all your new MOOG joints with grease, there's hardly any in there. I learned the hard way.
Old Nov 25, 2010 | 05:23 AM
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Guys,

I am rebuilting my entire suspension system and thinking of going with Progress/stock springs and illuminas shocks but then realize there was a deal on D2 coilovers. A rough order of magnitude estimate tells me that the price of either option is comparable when you consider that need to replace mounts, bearings, etc... Can some of the more experience Max guys give me some recommendations on which way I should go? My biggest hesitation with D2 is that if they go bad, i would have to send them out for fixing, which is a no-no since I need my car daily. I am not particularly looking at lowering my car, just looking at a nice soft ride.. lowering with be a nice option but not a decision breaker.

P.S Right now I have 206000 miles on my Max 02 SE which just completely blew out its entire front end suspension.
Old Nov 25, 2010 | 07:23 AM
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I'd go coils. Just for the adjustability. If you use sense and don't slam them you should get plenty of life out. Of them.




Storms, must be nice lol. Subscribed.
Old Nov 26, 2010 | 08:54 AM
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Rims, and steering gear rack came in - pics of those coming soon =)

gonna put the rims on the car just to see what it looks like
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 02:27 PM
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Forgot to get pics of the steering rack, but its in now..not as big of a pain as I thought it was....

new issue came up and gotta replace my tranny now....what a money pit...

new engine
new steering rack
new tranny....
only 110k on this car

Last edited by Stormzusmc; Feb 16, 2011 at 06:32 PM.
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 03:41 PM
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Agreed, maximas like money...
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 06:25 PM
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Yeah - the motor mounts, subframe collars, tie rod ends, nwp torque link, ball joints, all stuff sitting around waiting install!

ill get pics of the install of these this time...i can show some pics of the installed rack next time im under the car

New headlights also are getting modified, but ill make a new thread for those soon

I also contacted shawn from truax about seeing if he can hook me up with fender braces and **** (even though the company is not longer around)

Last edited by Stormzusmc; Feb 16, 2011 at 06:30 PM.
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 06:28 PM
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most recent pic - current height not current headlights though, but thats not what the thread is about =P
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 07:00 PM
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Looks nice. Did you have to roll your fenders? All that work and now the tranny....arg! Good luck m8.
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 07:25 PM
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Since you're going to town on the front end, how about some Energy Suspension bushings in your lower control arms, and a pair of ES bushings for your front sway bar?

New motor mount bushings, for that matter. Keeping the engine buttoned down is a great mod for power and handling.

Last edited by Rochester; Feb 16, 2011 at 07:30 PM.
Old Feb 16, 2011 | 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by VQP0WER
Looks nice. Did you have to roll your fenders? All that work and now the tranny....arg! Good luck m8.
they are going to be rolled soon - yeah i will at that ride height and rims....i didnt in that picture as they got swapped back to winter rims

Originally Posted by Rochester
Since you're going to town on the front end, how about some Energy Suspension bushings in your lower control arms, and a pair of ES bushings for your front sway bar?

New motor mount bushings, for that matter. Keeping the engine buttoned down is a great mod for power and handling.
yeah should look into all of that
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