or direct me 2 a good web-site that explains how the suspension system works?

I'm confused as to how the spring, shock absorber (damper) & strut work 2gether ... in particular ... not sure what the strut is for ... also is a coilover simply the shock absorber inside the spring?

Also .. why is the Cattman coilover so expensive? Worth it? Is Cattman the only guy 2 buy from?

In advance,

Tkx

 

Well, first off, a "shock absorber" isn't really a shock absorber. The correct term for those units is "damper". The springs support the vehicle. The tires are also part of the suspension system and are the first defense against bumps in the road. Anything that the tire wall can't absorb is cushioned by the spring. Thus, the springs are really the shock absorbers. The purpose of the dampers is to control the motion of the springs. Without dampers, the springs would never stop moving and the car would bounce constantly (which is what happens when dampers wear out). A coilover is a unit that has the spring around the damper, on an adjustable perch. This allows the ride height and corner weighting to be adjusted.

 

tkx 4 that ... is it worth it? the coil-over? Cattman's is $1500!!!

I've also heard of Tokico .. which is better? why?

Also ... what's a strut then? where does that figure into the equation? I've heard of Koni's ....

 

A strut is a general type of damper. Tokico, KYB, and Koni are brands of dampers for the Maxima. Unless you roadrace, a simple spring/damper package will be plenty (and cheaper).

 

try http://www.se-r.net they've got several good writeups on info you're looking for.