I am looking to upgrade the Shock/Strut setup on my new used 97 GXE and i want to get the KYB AGX Shock/Strut setup. Now, this car will be used as a daily driver and will be driven everywhere in all kinds of weather, so comfort is definately a must, but i also want it to be sporty enough to take a turn without having my car feel like Noah's Arch. This is the never ending quest of the comfort and sporty setup. What springs would you recommend pairing to the KYB AGX?
I am only looking into getting intake, y-pipe, cat, b-pipe on this car so i mean i dont need the most amazing spring to hold me down. Just a nice sporty comfortable ride.
I went to MaximaSuspension and it looks like the H&R Sport springs will be the springs i go for, but i just wanted you guys to give me your opinions for you have all the experience over me with this car.
Thanks!!!
-Jalal

 

If you don't care about the car's wheelgap too much, I say go for the H&R's. They are supposed to be one of the softest springs available for the Maxima. However, the drop is also not very large, only about 1.3 inches.

 

The wheel gap is not a big issue to me, considering i do not want to scrape when i pull into some of my friends driveways, i just want a better spring than OEM that will be more sporty but wont sacrifice alot of comfort. My parents will be driving this car alot as well so i do not want it to be uncomfortable because than i will hear the *****ing.
-Jalal

 

I have the setup that you are thinking of using, KYB/AGX's and H&R springs. To me the ride at first felt a lot stiffer than stock. After about a week I realized one of my strut mounts was busted, I tried to save money by reusing the old ones and had to pay twice for the install. When putting in the new strut mounts the shop knocked off $40 bucks off the price though. The ride to me still seems stiff, but not as much as before. Maybe I'm getting used to them. People say to turn the settings up, but even when I did this and was going either slow or fast over uneven pavement I felt a solid jolt. Right now I am using settings 1 for the front and 2 or 3 in the back, can't quite remember right now, and I am happy with these settings. You get a more planted feeling with the higher settings on the freeway, but I prefer my family to be more comfortable. People say that you get a rough ride from the lowest settings, but the lower settings to me just absorb the imperfections on the city streets more comfortably. I am happy with my new suspension, and like it more everyday. I think that to a certain extent a comfortable ride is subjective(kind of like a "good set of speakers"), so play around with the different settings. One thing, just make sure that your replace all the items recommended here on the org. so your suspension will be nice and quiet.

 

hmm...jus out of curiousity, is there any additional parts besides the shock/spring needs to be purchased? are the stock parts usable over the new shock/spring? did u install this urself? if u didn't how much did the shop charge u?

 

Ever consider using the Maxima SE springs combined with aftermarket shocks and a rear sway bar? That setup is actually a pretty decent performer.

 

Progress Technology springs till I die...so many doubted, i got no regrets. Right now I got the shocks on 2 in the front and 1 in the rear cuz I'm temporarily living in detroit, feels like stock. when I go back to pittsburgh it goes back to 3 in the front and 5 in the rear. So controlled.

 

Thats my current set up. I love the way my car drives and handles.
Stock SE springs coupled with AGX's, Generic FSTB and Addco RSB rolling on sticky 17" tires. The car rides sweet!

 

but it sits so high

 

Im on progress springs too, a nice drop, not really low (I wanted lower), but the ride I have is like stock. It handles way better with a very comfy ride, what more can you ask for??? Im on 2/3 settings.

 

I'm on KYBs with the Progress springs... I love'em! I was not thrilled at first that my ride got really stiff, but I LOVED how much better the max handles. I've got tons more traction off the line now too. It's a trade-off I guess.

I eventually got used to the new suspension while on 1/1 settings. Then I played around with the settings... I've been on 3/6 for about 2 weeks and I love it. REALLY similar to the S2000!!! So, yeah, kinda stiff. But it's not bouncy, doesn't bottom out, very little rebound, if any.

I'm on the stock 'blades though... I assume some harshness could be added this setup if its paired with some 19"ers and 205/40 rubber bands.

Later,
D

 

what would be the wheel gap if you have 18" rims and H&R springs?

 

Looks close to this: