Can you lower a 4th gen with stock struts or is it just a bad idea to do so? I was thinking about going with some HP blues if i can and i dont know what type of springs im looking for a mild drop no more than 1.5 inches

 

you can, but they will blow out very quickly....

As to type of springs, do some research in the 4th gen section.....

 

what does everyone prefer here, HP or Illuminas? Are the Illuminas worth the extra money

 

i prefer Koni Yellows...and they are def worth the money....even illuminas are better than KYB AGXs or Blues

 

we all prefer Konis, but unless you need the extra performance, you dont want the extra trouble of installation/cartridges.

just get illuminas and call it a day, unless you're going to track the car.

 

Can you lower a 4th gen on stock struts? Sure. But the problem is that lowering springs are stiffer than the stock springs, which means they will cause the suspension to move in ways that are different from what the stock struts are designed to handle. It'll work, but the ride will be harsh and/or bouncy, and your handling, traction, and braking on rough roads might get worse. The stiffer the spring, the more important it is to have the best struts you can get.

Now, 1.5 inches isn't really a big deal; you're probably going to be looking at H&Rs or Tein H-Techs, which are mild springs. Given that, Tokico HPs will be okay: they are much better at keeping things in control than the stockers, and will let you get the handling benefits without too much compromise in comfort. These are pretty much what people get when they want to go cheap but aren't completely out of their damn minds.

Tokico Illuminas will be a big improvement over the HPs. These are one of the .org's pet products: lots of people use them and love them. The best thing about them is that they are adjustable, which means you can tune the ride to your preference: you can make them stiffer if you get too much bouncing and wallowing, or make them softer if your suspension hits too hard. And of course, on top of that, they are well designed and pretty sturdy.

Koni Yellows are the undisputed kings in this arena. They will absolutely outperform and outlast anything else, and they'll handle just about any spring you can throw at them. They're adjustable, too. Nothing you can buy for the Maxima will even come close. Few people use them because they are rather expensive and the front ones are complicated to install, but if you ask anyone who's used them they will say it was worth it ten times over.

 

Get the Tokico springs with either the Blues or Illuminas. Both will work fine, but the Illuminas are adjustable for your taste.