My 02 has 130k miles on it. I put Eibach's on it the 1st year but left struts/shocks original. A little later I swapped the 17" wheels for 18". About a year ago I replaced the blown rear shocks with Tokico Blues dialed to their stiffest setting.

Around that time I noticed that with 3 passengers if I went over a good bump I would hear a very short but loud scraping noise coming from the front wheel well. Presumably the tire is hitting some metal seam somewhere inside the well. More recently I noticed that this happens occasionally when I am alone in the car. So now I am wondering if the struts are past it. With my full weight on the car I can press down and bounce a little but nothing significant. I don't see any signs of oil leaks either.

Does it make sense to replace them? Thanks.

 

Check if the springs are scraping against something.

 

If they have 130k on them, they should be replaced.
Even with bad struts, our cars don't bounce much, and the SE model in particular. When I replaced my front struts (at 120k miles) there was no bouncing; but, what a difference! I am just about to replace my rear struts. I can tell that the right one is weak because of the way the car behaves on the road. That's more telling than the traditional "bounce" test.

 

Thanks. I agree so I ordered the fronts tonight.

 

Blues aren't adjustable. Illuminas are, but not blues.

Either way, not sure how many miles, but scraping doesn’t usually mean bad struts. Might need to check if the spring is scraping against something or if anything is scraping on something.

 

You are correct about the blues - my mistake. It was Illuminas in the rear. I will check the springs. There is some bounce to the car, more than my friends Jetta but just barely so this might be premature.

 

anyone know a good brand of quick struts for front and rear without breaking the bank, Def dont want a soft ride.

 

Something cheap just like with anything else is either going to not last or not have a very good ride quality.

 

Suspension is not something I’d cheap out on. Considering the T&E to install them I’d go for at least mid-level $$$. Blues are good. On Amazon there a lot of quick/loaded struts out there, but reviews seem to be sub-par, especially with the really low priced units.

 

Yeah I was looking at some on amazon and ebay, both seem to have a good variety but off brand names that ive never heard of lol. The KYb seems most expensive, and i was looking at monroe quick struts also but someone else said its too soft of a ride.

 

If you plan on keeping the car for a while bite the bullet and get kyb. If u plan on getting something else soon buy the cheapest. But if you buy cheap and keep the car you'll be buying shocks again.

 

well thanks for that advice man. Do they sell kyb in a quick strut?

 

coilovers /thread

 

I'm not sure. My guess would be no. Usually with the mid to upper level stuff they don't. I don't see why you need new springs though. Reuse the springs.

 

no dont need springs just never did the struts before, like the whole dissassemble process of compressing the springs ect.

 

Go and rent the compressing tool from auto zone. You'll need it don't try it without one.

 

https://maxima.org/forums/5th-genera...on-thread.html

 

kool kool

 

Not sure how I ever functioned without them.

 

I put them on three cars so far and when the struts fail on the spec v...
To be fair to the spec v, it really does have great suspension for factory. You can wing this little ****er around turns.