I wanted to share some pics, I had two members come to me with crazy noises out of their suspension due to the fact that many shops charge us more since our cars are bigger and are installing our suspension incorrectly. This plastic mounting bearing is not cheap. Two of them will run you at least $50 for two.

Problem one. When he turned the steering wheel a loud nasty noise was made. Took it apart and the spring seat was installed improperly. This caused the plastic mounting bearing to break. It also scuffed the upper spring seat badly

Problem two different maxima, I rode in this Maxima and everytime he hit the brakes or hit a little bump it made a little irritating noise. Took it apart and quickly noticed that the upper spring mounting seat was installed improperly. This is a picture of what it looked like.


http://images.cardomain.com/installs...27_43_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/installs...27_42_full.jpg

If you paid over $200 for an install and your stuff is jacked up take it back to them and tell them to fix it. This member took his car back and was told that it was done right when it was not. That was not the fact. Hondas and Nissans do not have the same type of suspension you just dont slap the upper spring seat in a rush and call it the day. It has a "out" sign on al 4th gens and a "v" lip on the 3 rd gens.

 

"The plastic mounting bearing" = Strut bearing

 

keep the tips coming Jay.... interesting tidbits for the database~!

 

 

$50US for the two?

Those're the only parts I paid any attention to in detail when I changed my suspension. I removed, regreased and reinstalled em myself ...... which leads me to ask, how the heck did it get so beat up?

 

strut bearing hahaha i remember when i had ground controls i went through 2 of them cost 35 bux each at the dealer. lesson learned=maxima does not like to be low

 

damn my right side is way phucked up. it looked as bad as your pics jay. hmmmm.

 

I wish you were still here Jaime. I don't like working on suspension. I think I need to get new dust boot installed which involve taking off the whole suspension assembly. That sucks.

 

These plastic things break easily. they look like a fat washer w/ a lip. When you install the upper spring seat wrong and turn the steering wheel or hit bumps it will destroy it completely. I have not checked my own yet geez but I do this all the time.

Now as far as price I just threw that number out there, add up to $10 more each. which could add up to $70 easily for two.

Tony I didnt know that part name so got it off the Nissan manual thats what nissan called it.

Confused: As long as I am doing this Ill keep everyone posted. I am sure this has been discussed before Ill post pics of what they are suppose to look like when they are not crushed.

 

Leech.

 

I've done enough suspension installations to know exactly why that bearing broke. I even made the mistake the first time I did my own suspension.

That bearing was installed upside down!

It's a very easy mistake to make. It should sit flat side down on the spring perch. If you put in on the perch upside down it gets crushed and the results are shown in that picture. Ange, 97maxgurl's car had the same damage to her bearings which was the cause of all the noise she had.

That plastic bearing is a $20 part at most Nissan dealers. It plays an important role and I highly recommend replacing it when you change your springs and struts.

 

i think common sense would tell u that it sits flat side down.

the bearing is extremely small and cheap roller bearing. another way for nissan to cheap on the 4th gens.

 

reason #3 why sprinty is getting coilovers

 

My suspension used to have those problems. I dont think it ever ruined anything though.

 

I never installed this plastic bearing backwards it has a flatside and thats the bottom side, you can easily place it upside down as you just said. As far is as placing it upside down thats a definite it will break totally whether the upper seat is correct or not, youll crush the little lip instantly. If this plastic bearing is in good condition as I will post a good pic of it you do not need to spend $40-60 for two you can re use your old bearing again no problem as long as it is not broken or crushed. You guys can do what ever you want with this info for whomever is creating a database use the pics. Just give me a little props 'pics by jaime or Jay25" Deezo. I do how ever on the bottom of my sig have that new page I am working on on cardomain, there is more information on there as my how to is incomplete and wordless but pics speak for them selves. check it out when you get a chance. Remember is under construction still.

http://maxima.cardomain.com/member_p...=259227&page=5

 

Nothing has to be damaged for your suspension to make noise. You can isolate the noise problem by wrapping the coils etc. My suspension is not damaged and I still get noise. Bottom line and this is my opinion once you modify the suspension expect to get little funny noises here and there. Thats just part of modifying the car.

 

damnit.. i have mine apart right now and they are in perfect condition.. i put the new ones in anyway since i dont' feel like returning them

 

wow. a very good suspension how-to on your car domain. good job !!

 

I still need like two more pics and I am almost done.


Sprint you could have taken them back. The down fall the Dealer might charge you a 15% restocking fee like they did to me moferf.ukers I was pist off and didnt use the part I returned.