Bad struts?
10-16-2011, 04:13 PM
#1
Bad struts?
When I hit any bumPs or holes, I get a strange noise from the wheels. Is that sounds like bad struts?
How can I check if my struts are bad?
What are my options of new struts?
Here is how I prioritize
1. Comfortability/quitness
2. Performance
3. Price
4. Look (dont care about look at all)
Thanks. Is it hard to replace struts?
How can I check if my struts are bad?
What are my options of new struts?
Here is how I prioritize
1. Comfortability/quitness
2. Performance
3. Price
4. Look (dont care about look at all)
Thanks. Is it hard to replace struts?
10-16-2011, 04:56 PM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 47
You could jack up the car and visually look at each strut to see if any liquid has leaked out, which shows you have a busted strut. That's not a full proof method but it's a start. I would think the stock struts would be best for comfortability and quietness but price might be a issue. Struts are a liitle difficult if it's you're first time. Autozone rents out a manual spring compressor so you can take the strut out
10-17-2011, 07:37 AM
#4
I almost replaced my front struts until I had my mounts checked.Mounts
will make one think they have a front end problem.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...g-startup.html
will make one think they have a front end problem.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...g-startup.html
10-17-2011, 05:24 PM
#5
Thanks. I do actually have same problem you had when starting the car. Is it hard to replace the mounts? On that post you send me you said you replaced with non electric mounts, whats the difference?
10-17-2011, 07:20 PM
#6
The front and rear mounts have a motor in each one that adjust firmness according to whether you're idling or in motion but not all models have this feature.Standard non electric mounts do not have any motors or connectors attached.I bought a set of ebay non electric motor mounts all 4 for $90 and you may also find a similar deal.I didnt do the work because I dont have proper tools.The thread below will give you lots more info than Im offering because I really dont know if this applies to 2002 models.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...l?ref=esp-link
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...l?ref=esp-link
Last edited by memphisballer; 10-17-2011 at 07:27 PM.
10-20-2011, 03:58 PM
#7
Hey, I was wondering, what mounts did you replace or which were bad?
I am thinking about changing two electrical ones that are under the engine ( on crosslink or whatever)
Are those the ones that normally go bad?
I am thinking about changing two electrical ones that are under the engine ( on crosslink or whatever)
Are those the ones that normally go bad?
11-07-2011, 02:24 PM
#8
Okey, I replaced my front and rear electronic mounts with regular cheap mounts from ebay ($90 for all 4). They are crap.
Now I decided to get OEM replacement. Can anybody guide me to best place to buy them?
I called Dave and he told me one will cost $240. I went to infinitipartsusa.com and found one for $220 and other for like $170. You guys know any other place where better price?
I noticed that on everythingnissan.com prices for same parts is little less than on infinitipartsusa, although it is the same company. So I'll take a look at that as well
Now I decided to get OEM replacement. Can anybody guide me to best place to buy them?
I called Dave and he told me one will cost $240. I went to infinitipartsusa.com and found one for $220 and other for like $170. You guys know any other place where better price?
I noticed that on everythingnissan.com prices for same parts is little less than on infinitipartsusa, although it is the same company. So I'll take a look at that as well
11-07-2011, 10:05 PM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 46
I just changed all four of my mounts. I got the 96-99 mounts (that's what they were labeled). They are basically the same thing, but the non-electric version. Very good choice. Picked up all four for about $170 and replaced them in about two hours. Night and day difference. I cut the wires for the electric mounts and taped off the harness connectors on the LH side of the engine.
11-08-2011, 01:23 PM
#13
Care to explain whats so crappy about them????When I replaced mine and had the solenoid wires cut I knew from reading in the forums to expect increased steering wheel vibration at idle.Other than that I could notice no difference in quality and vehicle still rides smooth as butter.
Last edited by memphisballer; 11-08-2011 at 01:29 PM.
11-08-2011, 01:37 PM
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 46
Care to explain whats so crappy about them????When I replaced mine and had the solenoid wires cut I knew from reading in the forums to expect increased steering wheel vibration at idle.Other than that I could notice no difference in quality and vehicle still rides smooth as butter.
11-08-2011, 07:14 PM
#16
11-08-2011, 07:46 PM
#17
It solved the thump noise on start. When I removed the old ones they were cracked, but they were pretty quiet on idle. The ones I put in makes not much noise on start up but sometimes my car shakes pretty loud on idle. Also I still get some noise if I hit a bump, but to make sure whether that problem is in mounts or something else, I will put oem mounts. I ordered the oem on ebay, which was $50 cheaper than I could find anywhere else, and I should be able to put those in over the weekends.
My brother has Acura TL and his ride is much more quiet so I wana see if I have something broken or i35 is just louder than TL
My brother has Acura TL and his ride is much more quiet so I wana see if I have something broken or i35 is just louder than TL
11-09-2011, 09:25 AM
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 46
It solved the thump noise on start. When I removed the old ones they were cracked, but they were pretty quiet on idle. The ones I put in makes not much noise on start up but sometimes my car shakes pretty loud on idle. Also I still get some noise if I hit a bump, but to make sure whether that problem is in mounts or something else, I will put oem mounts. I ordered the oem on ebay, which was $50 cheaper than I could find anywhere else, and I should be able to put those in over the weekends.
My brother has Acura TL and his ride is much more quiet so I wana see if I have something broken or i35 is just louder than TL
My brother has Acura TL and his ride is much more quiet so I wana see if I have something broken or i35 is just louder than TL
11-14-2011, 02:52 PM
#19
I had mounts on for about 3 weeks now and they still pretty bad. I am replacing them next weekend for the OEM ones.
Another question, if I hear my struts on bumps, does it mean the struts go bad? I mean if I hear them making noise when car goes down after a bump.
Another question, if I hear my struts on bumps, does it mean the struts go bad? I mean if I hear them making noise when car goes down after a bump.
11-14-2011, 09:09 PM
#20
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: St.Pete,FL
Posts: 153
This could possibly be your STRUT MOUNTS. Not to be confused with the engine mounts.
My grandfather's Lexus is making a tapping sound when it goes over bumps and I have narrowed it down to the strut mounts because when I spray WD-40 into them, the noise quiets down slightly. Strut mounts don't cost much. You could also probably do them yourself to save the money...
My grandfather's Lexus is making a tapping sound when it goes over bumps and I have narrowed it down to the strut mounts because when I spray WD-40 into them, the noise quiets down slightly. Strut mounts don't cost much. You could also probably do them yourself to save the money...
11-15-2011, 07:18 PM
#22
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: St.Pete,FL
Posts: 153
There is no real way to check. I would try spraying some WD-40 around the top of the strut mount(the part you can see in the engine compartment). That's all I can think of. They shouldn't be much to replace and again, you could probably do them yourself.
11-23-2011, 06:44 PM
#26
UPDATE: So I returned my ebay motor mounts and installed OEM mounts. WOW, what a difference! Not just on idle. Now, no matter at what speed I drive, its really quiet! It was totally worth $380.
Now on bumps I get less noise, but still 03 Acura TL drives a lot better on bumps, I'll try to find mechanic to check out if my struts or something else is bad. Car has 150k on it so I am assuming that it is time for new struts.
I looked on Infinitipartsusa and there are
Strut, i35, right, unisia - i30, i35 - I30, I35 02-04 $171.12 $128.34
Strut, i35, right, tokico - i30, i35 - I30, I35 02-04 $171.12 $128.34
So I see there two brands, same price.
Which of them is stock? which one is better and why?
Thanks
Now on bumps I get less noise, but still 03 Acura TL drives a lot better on bumps, I'll try to find mechanic to check out if my struts or something else is bad. Car has 150k on it so I am assuming that it is time for new struts.
I looked on Infinitipartsusa and there are
Strut, i35, right, unisia - i30, i35 - I30, I35 02-04 $171.12 $128.34
Strut, i35, right, tokico - i30, i35 - I30, I35 02-04 $171.12 $128.34
So I see there two brands, same price.
Which of them is stock? which one is better and why?
Thanks
11-25-2011, 11:35 AM
#31
I went to see mechanic today who visually inspected the struts and pushed on a car and said that I need to replace the struts. He said that dealer price for each strut is $270 and could not believe I found them for $128 each. Anyway, he said he will replace front struts for $150 and rear struts for $150. Is that good price? Should I just do front or I should do rear struts too? Should I also buy strut mounts? Anything else?
11-25-2011, 09:12 PM
#32
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: St.Pete,FL
Posts: 153
If you just replace the struts and don't replace the strut mounts, you will still have the noise that you originally posted about... Do it right if your gonna do it at all. Your mechanic should know what needs to be replaced with this type of job. Might as well do all 4, but I still can't imagine that they are all bad at 150k but who am I to say. He needs to know that these are a more luxury ride struts and should have some play when you push on the car. That is not the way to tell at all if you need new struts... But do what you want. If your struts were bad you would get excessive bouncing on speed bumps or any bump in the road for that matter. Seriously consider what you are doing, because after reading your threads on this car, seems you have dumped a lot of money into this thing. And if I were to say anything, I would say your struts are fine...
11-27-2011, 02:13 PM
#33
Thanks man. I did spend good amount of money into this car, but I think that everything had to be fixed. The only thing I replaced for no reason was oxygen sensors and valve covers, but that's fine. I got another job now so I am ready to spend money on a car so that it will drive quiet and comfortable. My next car is m35h, but it will take at least 4 more years to be affordable for me. I took some pics of the struts.
First one is passenger side
and this is driver's side
I don't really get bouncing, but whenever I hit bumps or little holes on the road, it hits pretty hard.
First one is passenger side
and this is driver's side
I don't really get bouncing, but whenever I hit bumps or little holes on the road, it hits pretty hard.
01-16-2012, 09:08 AM
#34
01-16-2012, 10:05 AM
#35
My wifes '95 4th gen had the same noise going over bumps as though it was falling apart.The rear of the vehicle would also act as though it wanted to swing out/fish tail over bumps especially on wet pavement and it became sort of dangerous.I replaced front/rear struts and also purchased the following items below #'s 18 all the way down to #14(diagram from infinitipartsusa.com).All issues went away.Also on my own '00 i30 my rear struts went bad at 120K.Check to see if you have any oily residue on the struts.Thats also a sign of failing struts.
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