Bad installation of suspension parts, or bad parts.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 49
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bad installation of suspension parts, or bad parts.
So I paid a shop almost 400 dollars to get shocks and struts installed, which I bought from amazon.. The KYB GR/2s to be exact.. These are not known for issues.. They may be defective parts, I can't have the shop reinstall them. They want again around 400 dollars to rip them out and put in new ones.
How can i go about getting my money back from KYB/Amazon/the seller/or the shop? I don't want to screw the seller, and I don't want to screw the shop I got em done at..
Should I sue kyb and/or amazon?
I had two nissan techs say there's nothing wrong with the tie rod ends, control arms, ball joints, strut mounts.. Nothing wrong with the front end except the struts are blown.
Sears said they could not do an alignment because both tie rod ends are loose and struts are blown.
Who should I go after in a lawsuit? <- totally serious, I'm not paying another 400 dollars to get my suspension fixed!
How much should I sue for?
How can i go about getting my money back from KYB/Amazon/the seller/or the shop? I don't want to screw the seller, and I don't want to screw the shop I got em done at..
Should I sue kyb and/or amazon?
I had two nissan techs say there's nothing wrong with the tie rod ends, control arms, ball joints, strut mounts.. Nothing wrong with the front end except the struts are blown.
Sears said they could not do an alignment because both tie rod ends are loose and struts are blown.
Who should I go after in a lawsuit? <- totally serious, I'm not paying another 400 dollars to get my suspension fixed!
How much should I sue for?
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 175
I can tell that you're stressed out a bit from the issue but perhaps you could explain a little more in depth.
What were your issues prior to install and what are your issues now? Why do you think the shocks are defective?
There are definitely suspension issues that can arise on our cars that, to the uninvolved and/or inexperienced, may present as what one would call "bad shocks". Its very sensical to go after shocks as most of these used maximas have 100-150k on original units - even if they don't solve clunking/noise issues they were overdue for replacement.
You have have an issue somewhere else, regardless of what the techs are saying. Getting a forum member, someone you're friends with and/or trust to take a look at the car that doesn't have an interest in lightening your wallet is a great idea. I'm not sure what your issues are but the chances of your shocks being "bad" are pretty dang low. Its frustrating to throw money at a problem and now have it fixed but you probably needed shocks anyway if you know what I mean.
Have someone, whoever touches your car next, SHOW you how they check your ball joints, tie rod ends, end links, control arm bushings...etc It is not rocket science, but it is also not 100% accurate checking these things while still connected.
What were your issues prior to install and what are your issues now? Why do you think the shocks are defective?
There are definitely suspension issues that can arise on our cars that, to the uninvolved and/or inexperienced, may present as what one would call "bad shocks". Its very sensical to go after shocks as most of these used maximas have 100-150k on original units - even if they don't solve clunking/noise issues they were overdue for replacement.
You have have an issue somewhere else, regardless of what the techs are saying. Getting a forum member, someone you're friends with and/or trust to take a look at the car that doesn't have an interest in lightening your wallet is a great idea. I'm not sure what your issues are but the chances of your shocks being "bad" are pretty dang low. Its frustrating to throw money at a problem and now have it fixed but you probably needed shocks anyway if you know what I mean.
Have someone, whoever touches your car next, SHOW you how they check your ball joints, tie rod ends, end links, control arm bushings...etc It is not rocket science, but it is also not 100% accurate checking these things while still connected.
I wasn't aware of a definitive means to diagnosing blown struts on a car. Not sure how shops, or you have done so....how was this determined?
Also, I'm not aware how blown struts prevent alignment. Now, you mentioned other things they identified......have you addresses those? I know I questioned my spring/strut combo, I knew something was wrong and was dissatified with their operation. I looked elsewhere for problems. Ended up replacing LCA's, ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar end links (all part of group buy in sponsors forum), and wheel bearings. All of that was bad on my car. Afterward, I knew those issues where the problem instead of my springs/struts.
All I hear is that you've been told your struts are blown. What are you experiencing in driving to support this? I think prior feedback has been good. I understand your frustration, but if both your front struts are indeed blown, any part you buy is going to only cover the part, not labor. But, the chances of both going bad prematurely and at the same time......what are the chances of that, probably more likely to get struck by lightning. Out would make more sense you've got something else going on.
I hope you get some help from a local member to track the problem down.
Also, I'm not aware how blown struts prevent alignment. Now, you mentioned other things they identified......have you addresses those? I know I questioned my spring/strut combo, I knew something was wrong and was dissatified with their operation. I looked elsewhere for problems. Ended up replacing LCA's, ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar end links (all part of group buy in sponsors forum), and wheel bearings. All of that was bad on my car. Afterward, I knew those issues where the problem instead of my springs/struts.
All I hear is that you've been told your struts are blown. What are you experiencing in driving to support this? I think prior feedback has been good. I understand your frustration, but if both your front struts are indeed blown, any part you buy is going to only cover the part, not labor. But, the chances of both going bad prematurely and at the same time......what are the chances of that, probably more likely to get struck by lightning. Out would make more sense you've got something else going on.
I hope you get some help from a local member to track the problem down.
Check in here http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...thread-11.html
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 49
From: Ann Arbor, MI
I actually posted in that as well about my problem initially (it has gotten worse thought..)
I do not have lower springs. OEM springs I read here are the best for roads like in michigan.
So I just got new shocks and struts kyb brand and they are clunking.. New moog strut mounts, moog sway bar end links, and energy suspension sway bar bushings..
It feels like my old suspension 3 days after installation and took it to sears to have aligned and couldn't because tie rod ends on both sides need to be replaced..
drivers side being the worst, but was replaced at nissan dealer with an aftermarket part 6 months earlier.. (300 bux down the toilet because of expensive alignment..)
Took it back to nissan recently and they did 2 road tests with me and seems the strut could be defective..
They deny anything wrong with both of the tie rod ends, and wouldn't give me a free alignment..
I'm sick of shops lying and cheating me out of my money..
My buddy works at sears and wouldn't lie or cheat me and has been ase cert. for 25 years..
I don't have another strut to replace it with because the shop took the old part..
The passenger side strut seems to bounce and clunk (Almost as if the strut piston is hitting something..)
However I no longer bottom out and scrape my front fender going up steep driveways and such. But when going over those railroad tracks, and chewed up roads around campus I for sure hear a nasty clunk from the passenger strut, and the drivers side shock in back..
The tie rod ends are not going to be easy to get nissan to replace since I had them installed less than 12,000 miles ago..
It feels like my old suspension 3 days after installation and took it to sears to have aligned and couldn't because tie rod ends on both sides need to be replaced..
drivers side being the worst, but was replaced at nissan dealer with an aftermarket part 6 months earlier.. (300 bux down the toilet because of expensive alignment..)
Took it back to nissan recently and they did 2 road tests with me and seems the strut could be defective..
They deny anything wrong with both of the tie rod ends, and wouldn't give me a free alignment..
I'm sick of shops lying and cheating me out of my money..
My buddy works at sears and wouldn't lie or cheat me and has been ase cert. for 25 years..
I don't have another strut to replace it with because the shop took the old part..
The passenger side strut seems to bounce and clunk (Almost as if the strut piston is hitting something..)
However I no longer bottom out and scrape my front fender going up steep driveways and such. But when going over those railroad tracks, and chewed up roads around campus I for sure hear a nasty clunk from the passenger strut, and the drivers side shock in back..
The tie rod ends are not going to be easy to get nissan to replace since I had them installed less than 12,000 miles ago..
Last edited by Yoshimitsu; Oct 28, 2012 at 05:31 PM.
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