Steering and suspension
 

Well let's start by saying I know my rack and pinion has a slow leak (at least two mechanics said so, don't seem to be going through power steering fluid though) and my passanger side half shaft is grinding, but I also believe it's time for new shocks and struts.

First question is when I'm breaking my car likes to pull hard to the right, is that the rack and pinion?

Secondly I've been reading the posts about the suspensions, but most seem to be for lowering. I think I just want to keep the height the same although wouldn't mind a slight lowering. What other parts would I need besides what I have listed?

The parts I have so far are:
KYB 341341 GR-2 Shock x2
KYB 334367 Excel-G OE Replacement Strut x1
KYB 334366 Excel-G OE Replacement Strut x1

What are good parts to go with these? They will probably be changed out when the half shaft as well as the rack are changed so I don't have to get two alignments.

Will the Eibach 6350.140 Pro Kit work with factory wheels and tires?
Thanks!

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...on-thread.html

You're missing OEM Boots and front strut mounts from your parts list.

If you want slightly lower, get H&R springs. Do NOT get Eibach springs. DO NOT.

Where are you located?

Located in Arizona. Forgot to edit and add the KYB bearings and strut mounts that I was looking at. Do you have part numbers for the H&Rs? The eibach kit had all four and said it would lower about an inch or so, and had seen others talk about it on here is why I had that one.

Which boots would be good for it?

Please read my thread above. It has all the info you could possibly need.

Don't get KYB mounts/bearings. Get Moog.

OEM (Nissan) boots.

Eibach springs break. Don't get them. H&R part # is 53060 for your 5th gen.

Alright, thanks for the help on the suspension! The last question I have is will there be any rubbing of tires in the wheel wells if I am just using the factory wheels and tires on the car with a 1 1/2" lowering?

Where did you come up with the 1 1/2" figure?

This gives a summary of the lowering amounts of various springs:
http://www.shiftice.com/spring_strut_decision.html

You will have no rubbing issues on stock wheels/stock tires regardless of how low you go.

Alright, thanks for that link as well! I got those numbers from the H&R listing on Amazon, 1.4 inch for front and 1.3 inch for rear. But I'll check out the last link you sent as well.

THanks!


-Looking at the picture of the H&Rs I expected it to look lower? I'll have to take a picture of my car and compare, but I swear my car already sits lower then that. Not sure if it has aftermarket parts put in it, but I'd assume not on the assumption they hadn't changed the spark plugs in 146k miles.

Right, H&R is 1.4.

It's better to be exact. 1.5 and 1.4 is different - and with lowering heights, it makes a larger than expected difference.

Not sure if you know, but would it be easiest to replace the Rack and Pinion as well as the passenger side halfshaft while replacing the shocks and struts as well? Obviously I'll need an alignment after whatever is done.

And wasn't sure what I had read about the exact measurement of how low it was going to be, so it was a rough estimate.

Rack and pinion - maybe.

Halfshaft aka axle - no.

Just curious what is the difference between the GXE and the GLE/SE rack and pinions?

Also, before spending $1600 on all these parts I want to make sure they are all right. All the parts listed so far are correct, but what about these ones:

• Nissan Front Shock Absorber Boot - Oem: 54050-38U01 x2
• Nissan Rear Shock Absorber Boot - Oem: 55240-3M015 x2
• Moog K90299 Rear Strut Mount x2
• Moog K90655 Front Strut Mount x2

They should all be the same across GXE/SE/GLE

Nissan Front Shock Absorber Boot - Oem: 54050-38U01 x2 - this looks to be a "Febest" branded aftermarket replacement OF the OEM Part #54050. The picture is not a picture of the OEM part.

Nissan Rear Shock Absorber Boot - Oem: 55240-3M015 x2 - same comment as above.

Moog K90299 Rear Strut Mount x2 - You do not need these. Reuse your old mounts.

Moog K90655 Front Strut Mount x2 - This is correct.

All the part # information is available in my thread which I posted the link to above.

I'll go through and read your post again.

Was curious about the rack and pinion because Autozone sells the GXE rack around $125 or so cheaper then for the GLE/SE.

Very interesting. Not aware of that nuance. If anything, I'd have imagined SE to be different than GXE/GLE. Check with a dealer?