Hello All....

I have a 6th gen that has a manufacture date of 7/04 and I am extremely unhappy with the suspension and i'm about through with dealing with Nissan's stealership service departments. More politics and bs there than our current government. With that said, the suspension on my car is unusally harsh in my opinion and I just need some feedback from other SE owners. When I hit bumps, my entire dash shakes and the wheel pulls in the direction of the bump, if hit on one side. If both tires go over the same bump spread across the road, the whole car feels like it's being hit hard. Is anyone else experiencing this, because at this rate, I see the front end of my car falling apart after 50,000 miles. Dealership "says" they replaced front struts on the car after 2300 miles due to my complaining but they never test drove the vehicle to verify there was a problem. They just replaced the struts. I'm making one more trip to the dealership due to a recall on the rear end and I will once again voice my concerns, and being that I am almost positive they will once again tell me there is absolutely nothing wrong and that I have a sports car and this is how sports cars drive, what alternatives are there as far as complete suspension setups that I can purchase on my own accord that won't send me to the poor house that will offer a smoother more managed ride? TIA for any info.

 

Did you purchase your car brand new or used?

I have no problems with my suspension and even through big bumps the car feels solid.

 

Yep, that sounds about right to me (well not like it's falling appart, but very stiff for sure). Thats what the 'sports" suspension feels like on most other cars i've driven as well.

Test drive the SL. It has the luxury suspension on it, ie. softer.

EDIT: Also, you should test drive a new SE to see if you notice any differences.

 

check your tire pressure, it might be to high causing the hard bumps..

 

Bought car brand new. Before this I had a 1997 Passat VR6 that didn't even feel like this after a Bilstein/Neuspeed upgrade. Felt tight for sure but never harsh. The Max feels as if the bumps in the road are magnified as they travel through the car.

I've checked pressure over and over again and it's on point.

I'm thinking to either ditch the 18 inch wheels to see if that softens her up a bit, or look into suspension downgrades, I know how that sounds. I'm a little tossed on this one because I love everything about the car except for the suspension.

Everytime I hit a bump I wish I had bought an SL, then when I'm whipping around a sharp turn at 60 I'm pretty happy I got the SE, then I hit a bump while whipping around that turn and start screaming profanities. There has to be a way to even the ride out. I need to hookup with other SE owners this summer and maybe catch a ride to see if they all too experience this.

 

The SE definately isnt a smooth ride IMO. After Eibachs were installed I felt the ride was better but still a firm. After a while it felt rough to me but eventually I just accepted it. It didnt bother me but my wife hates it. Now she wont even get in the car since its on coilovers..lol

 

The SE suspension is pretty tight, border on jarring, on smaller bumps, and softer on larger bumps for the most part. The ride on mine is smoother now with progressive lowering springs on smaller bumps. My wife said the same thing.

 

Man... now I will have to go home and test drive my car to see if there is anything wrong. Maybe it's just that I have never noticed. The car seems perfectly fine to me, even through NYC potholes. Actually, even going through potholes the car doesn't shake much if I remember correctly. I will let you guys know what I find out tonight. I have done no mods to my suspension or tires, everything is still stock.

 

At least you have a sense of humor about it!

 

I agree with this posting, with these differences:

On my 04 I now have over 45 K miles and have replaced the lousy GSA tires (w Michelin's). The only suspension mod I have is the Catman rear sway bar. The shocks and struts are original.

The ride and cornering improved slightly with the new tires and the cornering improved slightly with the bigger rear sway bar.

I do not have any of the problems you discuss. Perhaps you are looking for a Buick ride in a sports sedan -- which you won't get. But it does sound like you have a valid issue with your harsh ride. It's been way too long since I drove in NY, but the streets there may be a part of your problem. Good luck finding the problem.

 

well i don't kno i have an SL nd wished i got an SE just because of the body lean...if it wasn't for the handling i would have put off getting coilover to get other things buh now coilovers are almost a must IMO for SL...especially bc of the body lean and sharp turns...

hey i lik tryin to keep up with my friend who drives a turbo dol sol on teins...wuh are you goin to do?

 

I know what the problem is "Staten Island, NY roads".............

Smooth and silky down in MD, OK maybe not Baltimore and anywhere close to the DC area...

 

I have a an 05 SE got it bran new and it was firm but not to the point that it bothered me. Dropped it on Eibach springs and it got a lil stiffer but it rides nice. I have no probs with the ride.

 

I would call mine a .........hmmmm...sport/firm feel on the suspension, I actually like it, has more of a road feel, better input............but I have been called strange before

 

Sounds like you'd be happier with an SL.... the SE is not for the faint of heart. The car is basically a big Z...

Either that, or you're just driving way too fast over bumps. lol

 

Upgrade the rear sway bar, less body lean.

 

I have OEM 18's, F1 tires, and what you describe is normal, this car hits bumps and cracks/potholes violently, and the wheel will follow an irregular bump. I dont care, I grew t like it bc n good roads it feels great.

 

maybe I expected worse knowing how "SE"s are sport tuned and all, but i love the ride.

i usually slow down or avoid bumps though. PA road are at the top of the worst as a state, and I think the Max recovers well after bumping.

not sure if they contribute, but is it possible your Struts have gone? check the Problems Sticky to see.

 

Ok, I thought we already confirmed on earlier threads that the SEs and SLs share the same suspension parts, struts and springs. The only difference is the 17 versus the 18 inch wheels. Am I missing something? My SL doesn't like the pot holes either, it will bang hard on the wheels, I think that is the drawback of the McPherson strut design compaired to the more superior double wishbone.

 

it is rude to hijack a thread and may result in a

read around and/or contribute posts, then you can make your own thread (if not already covered).

 

No persuasion there huh?

Car leaning to the left also? j/k

Good luck solving your prob.....

 

I have a set of SL rims to sell if you are interested. PM me and we can chat.
I loved my SL 17" the ride was phenomenal super super gentle, however with my Wilwood Break upgrade the 17" rims dont fit over the oversized rotors.
So they are up for sale 6000 Miles on the continental tires

Back on topic, Now i have the 19" Nismos with Toyo 255/40/19 tires. Yes the ride is a bit more harsh, not to mention the Cattman springs add to the harshness but the car is planted like a rock. You decide, performance handling or soft ride.

Peace,
Kam

Kam

 

i have an SE im in NEW ORLEANS now.. there roads here are horrible.!!! unless your pot holes look like canyons then u have it good.

 

Its just the way most japanese manufacturs tune there sport suspenisons. Stiff springs with underdampened shocks/struts plus Nissan doesn't make the stiffest chassis in the world. Try riding in a european car with sports suspension and you will see how much better they ride and handle. I love my max but Nissan needs to improve on it's supension tuning. When I first read the reviews on the 6th gen they called it ALL MOTOR with sloppy handling. That was true on the 5 gen and it still holds true on the 6th gen.

 

I think they just did, with the new "D" platform for the 07 altima,

 

Huh, what hijack? And your first post is advising for a ban?

On topic, tires, tire pressure and road condition completely dictate ride quality. The SE is not a grand touring town car.

 

You just have to get used to the ride. I know exactly what you are going through. I remember my first impression after trading in my 2000 Infiniti I30 (Very smooth ride) for 2005 Maxima. When I drove maxima It felt like it was awefully stiff, you will get used to it with time and actually enjoy it. I am also going to upgrade my suspension to Cattman/Progress springs with KYB GR2 struts. It doesn't make the ride any softer but definately improves handling tremendously.

 

if you want to switch to 17s i can trade ya tires

 

details...

look closely to who edited his once off-topic post

 

Thecritk, it seems the issue at hand here regards the determination that your suspension is faulty. Although interesting, our feedback is very subjective. May I ask you dumb question? Have you test driven any other Maximas on the same roads? If not, take a new one out for a spin and see if it feels the same. (Like BadBlackMaxSL wrote, all SE and SL suspensions are identical. The only differences are the rims and tires.) If another SE feels smoother, bring it to the attention of the dealership. It will serve as proof. If another SE feels same, maybe you just need a car with a softer suspension for your tastes or for your terrible roads.

 

I was just looking up prices for my 04 with the same problems. I am considering keeping it and just driving it forever seeing how i paid cash for it when I bought it. I am gonna get the bumper cover and morrors repainted(chips) and was just looking at prices for all new struts(63k on car). I can get all 4 for $353.00 and I will have a small shop put them in for me. I have noticed a much much much better ride since I got rid of those crappy rs-a's but I think new struts might help a little more. Should I be looking at new springs instead of struts or is there another brand for our cars that is comparable in price to what I listed above? I am gonna get a HEMI grand cherokee and drive that from October until may from now on(unreal deal on a lease $298.00 out the door per month loaded up). So what you think??? new springs or struts or maybe not Nissan OEM. Thanks for any input. O ya..can you put SL struts on an SE??? I do agree on european cars...they ride like a tank, no matter how old they are..very little chatter at all.

 

Check GB, I think Cattman has set of KYB and Progress springs for really good deal. http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=479131

 

You're welcome stop by here tonite http://forums.nycmaximas.org/showthread.php?t=13468
and meet some of the Long Island NYMaximas crew, drive my car to compare the ride [stock '06]

 

wow $215.00 for all 4...Im in..how do I order them?????????

 

Well, FWIW I once owned a Mustang King Cobra that had aftermarket high rate springs, shocks set to the stiff position, and the whole thing was lowered, and I think it road softer than my 2005 SE does!

Of course, I could just be getting old!

 

Well I once owned a 1965 Corvette rag top (with removable hard top) that had Koni shocks. And it rode much harder (harsher) than my 04 SE. And I AM much older than I was from 65 (when I bought the Vette) through 73 (when I sold her).

 

Its the one thing that completely kills me everytime I drive this car. I have a Millenia that is dropped with summer tires on it and that car rides much smoother. Plus the rear deck rattles on every highway bump adding to the effect with the Max. Its been this way since a couple thousand miles. Chicago doesn't have the greatest roads but this is way too harsh even for a 'sport' sedan. Every person that rides in the car notices how rough it is; no one expects it to be that bad considering its a mid-level sedan.

 

hmm its actually different.
well from what i know is that the difference i CAN SEE is the orange sticker.
i hit a big pot hole and blown my strut and had to replace both 2 times.
might be my third since i wanted to play monopoly last week.

but the struts have an orange sticker mine is a SL so mine says SLL OR SLR(right/left) when you guys check for the SE stickers.

 

You say you've checked the tire pressure, but you didn't say what pressure you're running. You need to wait until the tires are cold (like overnight), then check the pressure before driving.

Then set the pressure to 30psi with a good quality gauge. If you have to drive to get the air, don't go over 3 miles or your pressure will go up due to heat generated by raod friction and flexing of the tires.

If the air source is over 3 miles away, overinflate your tires slightly then do the test the next morning, letting out the excess air.

I've found that the 30psi cold pressure is the best compromise between ride and handling.

 

there are different parts, but it's not determined by simply SL or SE. some SEs and SLs have the exact same strut:
http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...54&postcount=3