Getting closer on starting the suspension job. Had some other priorities to handle which put the i30 on the backburner. New rotors, pads, and hardware kit are in.

 

I bought spark plugs from Infiniti today. The car now has 70k miles. She had 63k when I got her last year. With no record of the plugs actually being changed, I honestly believe these might be the original plugs.

 

I think it's really cool that you're using OEM parts, but for some of them....why? Aren't they like double or triple the price of equivalent aftermarket parts?

So how's the car drive with new plugs, any better? I assume they're platinums if they're OEM.

 

That is very true. Aftermarket prices would be cheaper and the quality would probably be the same. But I've always liked OEM parts for all my cars, so it's just a habit at this point.

Yes, they're platinum. I took it for a quick spin after I finished. The acceleration is a lot smoother. Definitely a big difference over the old plugs.

 

So I was finally able to complete my suspension rebuild with some help from a good friend of mine. All hardware bolts and nuts were replaced with new ones from Nissan. We drained my trans fluid and refilled it with Amsoil synthetic 75w 90 GL4. I picked up a rear sway bar from a member here. Replaced the sway bar bushings with energy bushings. Next will be a good set of tires and an alignment.

 

Looking good! I look forward to seeing more!

 

Thanks!

 

Not much to report. Just approached 2 years of ownership, and just reached 75k miles. Also, I picked up a set of wheels from a member on here. New tires for them, Goodyear eagle sport A/S.

 

I have an 02 I-35 S with the Larger sport model rims which look similar to those but way different from the base model. Do you Notice a bumpier ride? I have heard others complain that the sport rims cause more friction over bumps.

 

Moving from a 15" wheel to a 17" wheel will come with a corresponding reduction in tire sidewall thickness, which will lead to a firmer ride due to less cushioning from the tire. Friction isn't quite the correct term for what you're describing. Larger wheels are typically heavier than smaller wheels, and increased wheel/tire weight also decreases ride quality. What you're describing is normal and is nothing to worry about.

98 i30t 5spd- It looks like you're missing a lug nut on your DS front wheel!

 

I owned a stock 04 i35 for 9 years that had the stock wheels 215/55/17. I also had the opportunity to drive both an 02 i35 sport and 03 max SE that had the stock wheels 225/50/17 and I can honestly say that I didn’t notice any real difference other than the suspension being a little stiffer on the sport models. On my i30t, my stock wheels 215/55/16 really don’t feel that much different from the 03 max wheels which have the stock tire size 225/50/17. Now I’d probably feel a difference if I was going from 15s to 17s. I also drove a modified 97 GS-R for the last 8 years, so the 4th and 5th gen all feel comfortable to me, so I’m probably the wrong person to ask.

95maxrider:Yeah, it does look like I’m missing one lug nut. The oem wheel locks are really small compared to the lug nuts. They sink all the way into the wheel.

 

Its a nice car no doubt.

 

 

Ahh, that's beautiful!

 

Thanks!

 

Clean car bro!! I also got a 98 5-speed.....we're the last of a dying breed.

 

Beautiful car man, great find. I picked up the same car, except mine is an auto and had 153xxx. *high five*

 

Thanks guys.

 

You been driving yours a lot? Mine has been sitting since I bought it.

I need a spoiler. Yours looks real nice w one.

 

I drive it occasionally. Is yours a touring model? All the 96-99 touring models came standard with a spoiler.

 

Hmmmm, I guess not..... unless previous owner removed it. I'll have to look next time I'm at the storage shed.

 

While changing the oil a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a small oil leak. It was coming from the oil pressure sensor. If I get time this weekend I’ll clean the throttle body and idle air control valve.

 

Cleaned up my throttle body and IACV today. Forgot to take a before pic of the throttle body but it honestly wasn’t that bad. It would’ve been great to clean my EGR tube also but I forgot to order the necessary gasket and didn’t feel like waiting another week to do this.

 

New parts going on soon: upper/lower radiator hoses, hose clamps, thermostat, egr gaskets for when I clean out the egr. Also found a OEM car cover with the original box and tote bag.

edit: I also found a part that I never knew existed, it’s a 3rd cup holder that goes inside the armrest. At first I thought it was silly, until I noticed the 8oz bottle water fits perfectly and allows the armrest to close.

 

Woah, that car cover is awesome! Where did you find it? I want one!

 

Randomly came across it when I searched the part number on google. Someone had one on eBay.

 

Do you remember what the PN is?

 

 

Talk about timing..... I literally bought a car cover over the weekend. Will have to return it, I never knew there was an oem version, very cool.

 

Someone gave me a universal car cover about a year ago. The difference is night and day. The universal cover is very thin and doesn’t fit snug. The OEM cover is a lot thicker and the material is suede like, I guess to protect the paint.

 

Got some stuff done this past weekend, coolant flush with new hoses and thermostat. I had a oil leak coming from the front/rear half moon seals and also had a leaking driver side axel seal. So I got all the parts needed for this job and my buddy and I got to work.

Parts used:
Driver/passenger OEM axel seals
OEM rear main seal, with front/rear half moon seals
OEM lower oil pan
Exedy OEM clutch kit
Monroe quick struts
Amsoil gear lube
Axels from the local parts store

The original clutch and pressure plate didn’t look too bad. I had the flywheel resurfaced at a local machine shop.

 

Very nice job, that's a lot of work. It will feel really good to be rid of all your oil leaks!

 

Thanks. The oil leak at the front/rear half moon seals were very minimal. But I know with time it would’ve gotten worse.

So I decided it would make the most sense to do it all at once, plus it gave me a chance to change my clutch and axels.

 

Found a set of 99 SE-L wheels at the junkyard. It was an automatic and the interior was clean. It had cloth, no heated seats, no digital climate control, but it did have a Bose radio. I don’t see what makes it so limited?

 

Limited were a select few SEs. They could be bare bones or loaded. Mine only had a few options​​​​​. SE-L got different colored wheels, gauges, and rear MAXIMA emblem. Leather seats were perforated with logos. Very few were specal colors like crimson blaze red.

 

Thats kinda what I don’t understand. Usually “Limited” means the car comes loaded. This just seems like a gimmick from Nissan to get rid of the last 99’s. I’d much rather have a regular 99 SE fully loaded than a bare bones 99 SE-L. The wheels and gauge cluster are definitely a nice touch though.

 

Yes, kind of a gimmick. Nissan did it to other models in 1999 as well.

 

Yeah, like the Sentra SE-L and Altima SE-L, both of which I have not seen in a very long time. I’ll see a Max SE-L once in a while. The i30 had a limited version, I think the only difference was the kick plates, wood grain steering wheel, Q45 shifter, floor mats that say limited, and a two-tone body color option.

Also, I never noticed the MAXIMA emblem on the rear was a different shade on the SE-L until you pointed it out. I knew about the other differences.

 

Replaced my old y-pipe with one from warpspeed.

 

How much was that Y-pipe? Does that retain the emissions stuff, so you can pay a regular shop to install it and they won't have a hissy fit? How much did it change the sound of the exhaust?

I've got a '96 I30 with the five speed, I've done a lot of the same work you have. My skills don't match yours though. I've put one set of front axles on, and left the original transmission seal (on the driver's side) in place - no leaks yet. When I took the original axles out, I took one look at how tight that reach is to get to that seal on the driver's side, and without the special tools I decided to leave the original in place. It wasn't leaking then, still not leaking. Somewhere I still have that original seal...