Yea its been good for like a year and started making that noise, no binding spring.

 

yeah, bearing.

 

my first thought was bearing.

second, is the strut shaft. Does it squeak going over bumps as well?

if you replace the mount/bearing, do the strut as well. Same amount of work so might as well while you are there.
Do both sides too.

 

No squeaking on bumps just turning. Im gonna do the struts soon anyway so im just gonna have the bearing ready.

 

So it is time to get new struts and I want to lower my car but I don't have the money to go and buy a nice full kit. What can I do as far getting a new suspension and lower it without breaking the bank?

 

I have H&R's (~$200 and 1.2" drop) and KYB excel G struts. About as cheap with quality as you can go. I only run KYB's on every car I own.

I have no complaints from the set up.

 

True. But this setup (including mounts and boots to do it right) still costs ~$700 not including installation.

Recommend saving up to do it right the first time. Don't cheap out and *just* do struts without doing lowering springs, or lowering springs without struts, or struts and lowering springs without mounts/boots, etc.

What exactly is your budget? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to disclose publicly.

 

THIS. 100%.

I did the entire Illumina setup (springs/struts/shocks) for 550 wheeling and dealing with an ebay seller, than an extra 180 for the boots and front mounts. So I spent around 750-800 on my setup, all 4 corners. And that's without paying a shop for the install.

 

On a different note,
Hey djfrestyl quick question...perhaps this was my car what would you recommend repacing...

 

First, the way you captured this video is freakin awesome. Kudos to you, sir.

I hear two noises - a squeak, and then a clunk.

Interestingly, both seem more related to the movement of the engine (by watching the oil pan) than the suspension itself. I'd check tranny mount and anything else in that general area. Only other time I hear a noise like that is a sway bar link..and ONCE, it was a badly worn strut mount.

Can you replicate the noise if you push up/down on the car at the fender? Also push and pull the fender so it shimmies side to side.

 

I couldn't possibly take credit for such an amazing video...but credit to jb(vid.op)but my car noise is more like @1:33.(engine bay not moving)so im leaning towards Upper strut mount being bad...as far as duplicating the noises no unfortunately it only happens under load,but(Parked) it is more bouncy when i push up and down on the hood compered to pass side...

 

That rattle at ~1:40 sounds like strut or mount.

The squeak could be from the engine/trans mount or the sway bar link. Just pop the tire off and start looking and shaking things around. Stuff usually isn't that hard to find.






personally, I think paying a shop to do this work is crazy. It's super easy to do with a basic set of tools.

 

[QUOTE=AWeb80;8854295]That rattle at ~1:40 sounds like strut or mount.

The squeak could be from the engine/trans mount or the sway bar link. Just pop the tire off and start looking and shaking things around. Stuff usually isn't that hard to find.





Ok,so i put her up on a pedestal(jackstands)lol....took the tire off and channeled my inner thor banging away with my hammA(rubbermallet)......
Well looks like lca bushing are shot...reading around here suggests going es...so will do....also ordered moog sway bar ends and ball joints...looks like at 185@#%mi.she's getting a mini makeover.
The whole kyb gr2,6,8,4,6,#,@,%whatever lower springs rear kicks out to the right etc etc is just too muCh...imo the driver side strut assembly is bad(Bad bearing and super spongy)a Fleetwood would be jealous so pick and pull here i come

 

is that 185,xxx on the factory struts/mounts?

I'd say your LCA's were gone a long time ago. New Bj's and end links are a good idea. Be ready to hacksaw off those end link nuts.

Are you pulling a stock strut assembly from a JY car? why? Just get new front mounts and all new struts.

 

I would think so(Mileage), i bought her last February $2300 ... both front struts shot pulled two of a doner and i think one has failed. ...just worried about the thump sound. ..i need to do all fours but just not in a real hurry beside lack of funds(weallgotpriorities)

 

For the LCA's, I'd just go with some Dorman or ACDelco arms from Amazon/rockauto. It's going to cost as much to get the ES bushings and have them pressed in and reassembled. New arms would be plug and play.....and since your lack of funds is a factor, I'd go with the plug and play method.

 

^^ Agree.

Doing a LCA 'renovation' with Moog balljoints and ES bushings can get pricey quickly.
...but well worth it

 

djfrestyl, I am wanting to lower my 02 max and have looked around at my options for quite some time around here and on google. While looking through the forums and the interwebz I have come to realize that this is an expensive mod to do right.

At first I thought I should just get some lowered springs because its the cheapest way to go without cutting the springs. Then I realized I will need to buy aftermarket struts because the OEM doesnt fit very well with aftermarket springs. Seeing as though when you buy lowered springs you have to buy a load of other parts, it all seems to add up. Is it better to just shell out the extra cash for coilovers? I'm trying to spend the least I can here while getting a good bit of performance at the same time. Whats the best way to do that?

 

you do realize that lowering springs can be used w/ stock struts. I used H&R springs w/ new KYB struts, which are stock replacements. It's just a good practice to put new struts on when doing springs since it takes all of that same amount of work to do the struts in the first place.

It isn't expensive. ~$80 per front strut, ~$50 per rear, and ~$215 for H&R's. I threw on new front mounts because it is just good practice.....and don't use monroe struts. ever. spend the money to get good ones.

You'll spend a lot more on CO's.

 

Actually, I have spent quite a bit of time on the forums lately and from what I can tell Aftermarket springs+OEM struts= terrible ride. At least the large majority of what I have read seemed to say that. The OEM struts are not rated to be used with that low of springs, meaning the ride would be uncomfortable.

Also, the struts I was looking at were 135 apiece. Iirc they were Illuminas though. I'm not sure what mid grade struts are approved on the forums.

Basically I want the drop, but I want it to feel if not the same as it does on stock, then better.

 

I've listed what I have and I love the ride.

 

Let me clarify because we are getting caught up in semantics.

Post 779 makes note of 'stock' struts
Post 780 states 'aftermarket' struts.

Please note - there is a difference between OEM and aftermarket. 'Stock' is not the right term to use because it is too ambigious.

Lowering springs on OEM struts = terrible idea
Lowering springs on aftermarket struts = depends on WHICH strut. GR-2's are fine. IMO Tokico Blues are not.

Your spring will dictate which strut to get. So pick your ride height first and we'll go from there.

 

Okay, that sounds like a good idea. I was looking at the Eibachs for quite some time and was pretty set on them because other users say they love the ride and that it's about the best you can get. Plus, I don't want my ride "slammed". I just wanna lessen the gap between my wheels and the fender. Seemed like a moderate drop.

However, after reading a couple of your posts that randomly popped up, It seemed like you would NOT recommend the Eibachs. Iirc you said you have seen more of those break than any others. Which is not something I want.

As for struts, I know absolutely nothing about.

 

Correct, stay away from Eibach's. They're not comfortable, and they break.

H&R's are the best. They're not super low, but that's what allows comfort.

This might help:
http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html

Keep in mind the site is old and a few of those springs are no longer available, but it should help point you in the right direction.

 

I should clarify, I don't know why anyone would put lowering springs on stuck struts. If you go through all the same work to put the springs on, why woukdnt you just save the money to do it right. Unless you are a ricer.

 

Will I notice the difference between the 5/16 inch on the Eibachs and the 3/4 on the H&R? It seems silly, but I feel like I can see a difference. I want people to be able to tell a difference from stock and after I out these on.

Okay, let's say I go with the H&R. How does it ride compared to the Eibachs? Is it still smooth?

Back to the struts.. If I go with the H&R, what struts would you recommend?

 

KYB gr2's with either.

 

Any insight on my issue

 

Notice a height difference? No. But the difference between H&R and Eibach is not the height. It is the spring rate. You'll definitely feel the difference. H&R is the way to go, hands down.

And if that is your confirmed choice on springs, then agree on the above, GR-2 is the way to go for struts.

 

1. Please use punctuation. All of the above is separated by a single comma. I had to read it 3x.

2. Need more info. WHAT (specifically) do you have installed? What kind of struts? What kind of springs? It sounds like you have blown struts combined with shortened bumpstops so you're bottoming out, but that's speculation because I don't have enough background info from your post.

 

Thanks so much for the input! So, all this talk about Tokico Illuminas are overkill? Is the strut or the spring more important in terms of comfortablilty?

 

Correct, Illuminas are overkill for H&R's. You can certainly still get them and enjoy adjustable dampening, but you don't need it.

 

Illuminas are different...illuminas are adjustable...GR-2's are not iirc.

 

Spring is for ride quality. It's what holds the weight of the car. The strut is there to dampen the up and down motion of the spring and keep the car from pogoing down the road. It controls ride quality too...but not as much.

 

H&R's....
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...b-shifter.html


I'd see if he'd go lower.

 

Really appreciate the heads up!

Now, I've never done this before so I figured I'd ask, but are springs not something that should be bought new rather than getting used one? I think the lowest I've seen them online are 236. Eighty dollar difference.

 

I've used used springs before. As long as there isn't any cuts/knicks in the paint that could lead to cracks, I don't see a problem with using them.

I've had some and seen more factory installed springs break more than aftermarket.

 

Okay, after looking at my options, I am still considering coilovers as well. Is there a difference in ride in the available coilovers?

 

If ur in a area with good roads go for coilovers, if not go with lowering springs and good struts

 

Really? I would have thought it to be the other way around. Why is that?