Quick question for those who have the Ksports installed: did your set come with the open-ended strut mount nuts, or did you have to buy them from the dealership? If so, how much did they run you? I went to get mine done today, but the stock nuts only allow you to thread them only so far, so I have to wait til I find the proper ones. Hit me back with any info, thanks...

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you have nuts from a '99 Maxima. '95-98 were open-ended.

 

I'm not sure if the previous owner had changed the nuts, but I am certain it's a 97 model. Still, does anyone know where I can get these nuts from, or is a junkyard my best place to search for them?


***Problem solved, just found some in a junkyard from a 95 max......*****

 

So both of my front struts blew with in a week of each other. Thank god I am still under warranty (only for another 9 days). But the ride was horrible, real bouncy and acrap load of noise. Hopefully I will get a replacement soon.
Here are some pics:

 

..zip ties?

 

.

 

I've had these installed for about 3 weeks now. I really don't like them at all. They are very bouncy and uncomfortable because the springs are really stiff. You feel every little bump or line in the road, and half the time you're bouncing around. This probably has something to do with the "FOR OFF ROAD USE ONLY" written in big text in the cheap few paged, poorly printed "manual".

Oh... and yes, they are very f'ing noisy. It just adds to the annoyance. I've already re-tightened them twice... with a hammer.

I for one regret wasting my money on them. Almost 800 bucks... for a crappy ride.

I think that if I can find some softer springs, I might actually be happy, but where do I get different springs for these?

As of right now, I would not recommend these.

 

Mine were fine, until they blew. The ride wasn't much worse than h-techs/illumnias and I can deal with it because I have my desired ride height with a ride just about the same as the h-techs. I think after this year I'm gonna go with Boss Chens....after I get some money.

 

we offer springs with different spring rates if you desire to change to some softer springs. PM me about it.

 

Have you tried regreasing the pillow ball mount or seeing if the spring insolators are good? Those are two main causes for these things making noise. Mine made a clicking noise when turning at low speed so I regreased the pillow ball mounts and put new insolators on and it went away.

 

And are you sure you're hammering the right collars?

And did you actually methodically test all the damping settings, front and rear?

And are you sure you installed the kit with zero preload?



Man, this is getting tiring....

 

i don't blame u at all! i mean 54 pages.....


well i just bought mine and it should come in sometime. i've read a lot, but if i get stuck on something, i'll have to bug u again

 

Dood, why not ask a mod to organize everything...

Or have a post linking everything together and such

 

Like the first post in the thread?


Actually I really have nothing against the idea of doing even more legwork to organize the info available... except that if Ksport won't support the less knowledgeable customers or pay me to support them, I'm not really motivated to do so.

If someone has a non-cookie-cutter question, I'll be happy to answer. Otherwise, the most they'll get is a sarcastic quip...

 

First off all, this is for everyone that thinks Coilovers are going to be a nice, smooth, floaty ride GTFO...SERIOUSLY. Low spring rates and low cars do not mix. Keep in mind KSports are VERY smooth, until one of the shocks blow. Learn to install and set them up properly and you will love them.

Zip ties are just about the only way to hold the brake and ABS lines away from the hub.

On a side note, I've needed a new front shock for about three months. About a week ago, I noticed a rear one is also blown. I ordered a new front shock and it cost $136 shipped, I asked for any type of deal they could give me. I don't know if that is the current price for a front shock. So I will also need to replace a rear shock in the near future. It's just something I have to suck up and take like a man. Once that rear one is replaced, I've replaced all 4 in less than 2 years.

 

Yowch, that's about the same as Konis cost new.

Anyway, look on the bright side. At least you didn't go through 4 dampers in less than 3 months.

 

Oh well I still have to dish out the money at some point.

 

Now I read something completly insane on the mazda forums. Some people have installed Konis inserts in their D2 coilovers. Is this possible with the ksports?

 

Theoretically. But why would you do that? The cost/benefit ratio would be way too high...

 

go try tein coilovers then, those will be everything you say is impossible to have with coilovers

 

From what I have heard its the salt and the nasty winters we get up here in the north that causes COs to **** out like that...

 

I was thinking it would be cool to do when it's time to rebuild all the dampers.

 

Yesterday i noticed my front driverside coilover would make a weird "clunk" sound when i hit bumps..so i checked the coilover this morning and there was oil all over it..

iam so fed up with this car its one thing after another..as soon as one thing is fixed something else has to happen...i just spend about 1500 on repairs and i was hoping i was gonna be problem free but i geuss not..


i hope this isnt a costly fix ...any ideas as to y there is oil on the coilover?

thanks for the responses..and sorry for the rant

 

most likely a blown dampener. they cost just over 100 bucks from ksport if i remember correctly. If its covered by warranty you have to send in your strut first because they dont do advanced replacements anymore.
things break dude...its a car.

 

KSports = SHEX

 

just got my new struts back in. Car is back to being great again. So much difference between the blown and new ones....i think i broke my back with the blown ones

 

anyone ever have any problem with the bottom of the strut hitting the CV boot??? I think mine are doing that....

 

I was going to post that question in here. Mine are hitting...I don't know if I can go down any lower. I guess the only way around it would be to tighten the preload/spring to compress the whole suspension, but that's not recommended

 

the black part on the very bottom of the strut is rubbing against my CV.....doesnt make any since b.c i am at a 2figure gap in the fronts....and also since that should be getting any closer to the CV since it is connected to the two bolts on the wheel....

 

The only way I can see that happening is if the knuckle is angled outward relative to the strut via the tolerance in the upper bolt hole. Loosen both strut bolts, push the knuckle inward as far as you can, and then tighten the bolts back down.

 

I gotta take a picture of mine to show you guys. It's weird

 

I am having some problems with my Ksports. Not sure if its them or something else. I am getting a grinding/rubbing vibration and noise coming from the front drivers side. It only happens during acceleration, and can still be heard when maintaining speed, but not coasting or braking. The noise/vibes are lessened when turning. I got suggestions on CV and wheel bearing. Im thinking CV, due to the fact its dampened when turning. Im not tucking or anything, no slammin here. Any ideas?

 

i encounted a similar situation when I replaced an axle with a half decent autozone replacement. I had mainly a vibration that was present especially under acceleration and somewhat during coasting, when I shifted to neutral no vibration whatsoever, I replaced the axle with a raxle and never had the problem again. I was about 2" drop so kinda low.

Do you hear it/feel it when coasting and in neutral?

Also did you greese the pillow mount at the top?


edit: my axle was a re-man by the way....

 

Thanks for the reply. Sorry for posting it in two spots, figured I would get the non Ksport experts in the 4th gen forum, and the Ksport experts here... I kinda feel it under coating. Never under N though.

I did not grease the tops, they had grease in them, and excess on the top.

Thinking about some raxles...just in case and for the future.

 

so just to get it straight, you had no vibrations or noises pre-ksport and since the Ksport you not experience noise/vibrations/grinding in the front driver side strut only?

 

Before: no vibes, or noises.

Post Ksport: Vibrations and Noise from front left of car mostly heard and felt under acceleration and maintaining speed. The moise/vibes are reduced when turning, and I cant tell(without smooth roads) if its felt at all during coasting in D or N. It is most pronounced at moderate speeds, say 30-60. Anything above or below is minimal.

It almost feels like the brake is rubbing, beacuse its kind of like something is holding the car back, but if it were, it would cause me to drag left when coasting and Im not. So, that leaves: Ksports, CVs, Bearings. I dont think its a bearing, because of the speeds it comes at, and it is reduced when turning. So, that leaves: Ksports, CV's, correct?

Thanks!

 

You need new axles buddy.

 

Lovely. More cash to spend. How safe is it to run on? The vibes are pretty bad, it causes some small rattles in the car(i.e. dash, console, etc...) occasionally, but never constant.

 

About a year until you hear and feel a LOUD popping/knocking sound that thumps in the whole car.