My 5.5 SE drives almost the same as my friends lowered Celica. Now also makes a sound when I turn. Anyone know what is a really good suspension system that doesn't cost too much??? Comments and replies is appreciated. Thanks

 

Depends on what you're looking for. How do you want to improve it?

 

It makes noise when you turn? Could be your axle that mite needs replacing.. perhaps you need to change your struts..

 

Really good stuff usually isn't cheap. There are bazillions of threads on suspension systems / problems. Take some time and browse them, you'll find your answer for sure.

 

Did you mean handling? I test drove a Celica (the new style) before, and I thought it handled much better than a stock Max. It cornered pretty nicely for a front driver (not including the ITR's, they are undercover go-karts!). And about the sound, try checking the joints and the boots, you probably already have the transaxle recall done already. again, what do I know, I am a noob...

 

just want my ride to be comfortable when I go over bumps and stuff.

 

The celica handles SO MUCH better than the max. A lot smaller and less comfortable too.

For comfort I would say stock springs with tokico illuminas. Any aftermarket spring you buy will be a little rougher due to the drop-nature of the beast. If it is strictly comfort stick with stock springs and opt for a better strut.

 

Should I just get OEMs??? Do u know any nice aftermarket ones??? I just want comfort, something out of a Cadillac or something......

 

I think my dad's Rav4 handles better than the Max......I don't know if it's my car or what....I can't bust a U-turn into a small 2 lane street, I always gotta jump over to the next lane before I bust a U-turn.

 

That has nothing to do with with way the max handles...its just it has a large turning radius...but the max's handling isnt that good either

 

Progress and Illumina I love it!

 

Do you want handling or plush, cushy ride like a Cadillac? I'm afraid you can't have both without staying stock. With rear axle and stiff springs it's hard to get a comfortable ride with stiff handling. Maybe a GLE setup would be good for you. Or trade your car in for a TL.

 

Your car likely came with low-profile tires, probably 225/50-17. Harshness on bumps is expected due to the fact that the tire is stiff, and more of the wheel radius is taken up by solid metal wheel, not softer rubber.

An SUV, by comparison, is the direct opposite of this. A plush, buffered feel. At the expense of what we call, properly named, "HANDLING," the ability of the car to handle manuevers and stresses which threaten to break traction and put the vehicle out of control.

Also, stock struts may be to blame as well. The OEM Nissan struts are made by Tokico, which I've read has a standard "feel" to it where it stiffens up with high piston velocities, e.g. going over bumps. A non-Tokico brand strut may yield a softer ride. But going with a slightly higher profile tire (e.g. 225/55-17? although that's outside the speedometer spec), and maybe keep tire pressures a little lower, can improve things too.

Bottom line is, you got a sport sedan. Sport sedans don't have super plush, soft rides. But they'll do their damnedest to maintain stability and proper traction while taking a corner 20+MPH above the speed limit.

 

The large turning radius explains why it's such a pain in the **** to park, turn, etc. I hate it too.
I believe the stock suspension is sufficient for most highway purposes, combined with decent tires. I've never had a problem with losing traction while flying through a turn 10-20+MPH above the speed limit, even with a lot of weight or people in the car. It sways back and forth a little sometimes, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's breaking traction. I can deal with a little sway.

 

My handling doesn't seem terrible. Other than the steering radius, the only complaint I have is the awful ride of my stock SE suspension. It's absurdly rough and I feel everything. It's so bad that I sometimes wonder if there's something else wrong with the car, but I haven't figured that out yet.

 

The SE's are a bit more harsh in terms of the ride quality. I guess if you want a bit more comfort you should have purchased a GLE. The GLE's have softer shock absorbers and springs with gives you that softer ride, but the cornering might not be a great as an SE.

 

I'm guessing this is a matter of opinion anyways... I thought the stock SE suspension was way too soft and plushy.... dumped my OEM struts/springs for HP/Progress and it def feels more "sporty" now. Harsher, but handling is so much better, esp on sharp turns. Its all personal preference, although I still find it hard to believe that people say the stock SE suspension is harsh. I guess it is harsh relative to the GLE.

 

Hey, Spirilis.....dat may be true for Illuminas because of their adjustability but....the GR2s are far harsher than the Tokicos -specially in cold weather. I know, I've had both...

 

I think it's going to cost me $3000-$5000 to trade a SE with GLE. I think I can get some really suspension systems with that money. I heard the TL got transmission problems, that's the reason why I got a Max.

 

Do u know what size tires the other Max models use??? Also do u know if I change to 225/55/17 that anything will get messed up??? like uneven tire wear or something.

 

I have Eibach Pro's w/ Tokico Illuminas, cut stops front and rear (about 1/2"). I am an old fart and am quite pleased with the ride and am able to dial in the handling I want. Alot of the poor ride you get is the 50 series tire. If you go to a 235 width you will get a better ride also, more side wall.

 

do u know what kind of suspension system the GLE uses???

 

Whereas the Maxima transmissions are wonderful.

 

don't tell me the transmissions on the Max is crap too......

 

Well, I've been here for less time then you, but I guess I've spent more time on the forum. I see threads about problems with the Auto trannies all the time, and I think there are problems with the clutch if you get a stick. Just look around a little bit on the 5th gen forum and you shouldn't have a hard time finding complaints about tranny problems.

 

um...it uses the GLE springs instead of SE springs. The GLE springs are softer. You could always go to your local dealer and buy a set of GLE springs with good struts and install all that. Also you could change to 16" rims with a higher profile tire. Those two things would improve ride "cushiness"

otherwise...this thread is getting way out of control, and nobody is reallly saying much, and louis doesn't seem entirely sure what he's asking about

also not sure what a celica has to do with a maxima, in any way, shape, or form

 

Well said and very true!

 

The thread isn't going well because you guys need to learn how to listen. He said the following in so many words:

I WANT A SOFTER RIDE - You will not get a softer/less harsh ride by lowering you car and reducing to amount of room the strut has to work with.

You will NOT find softer springs without comprimising. I am not looking at numbers here but I am pretty sure you are not going to find and aftermarket spring that is softer than an OEM one. It would defeat the prupose of upgrading suspension. Look for some GLE springs on the forum although I highly discourage wasting your money. The difference will be small because you are not addressing the real issue which is the dampening rates of the SE struts. You need to get Tokico Illuminas which are asjustable in order to get a strut that fits you comforts. Most, if not all, KYB struts are more harsh because they are gas struts. That is all you need to know man. Now go get some. You wont be able to get a Cadillac ride in a Maxima.

Also smaller rim size with a bigger tire would help much. The more tire you have the more cushioning. When you get into low profile tires your ride gets harsher.

Mark

 

I am not going to lower my car or change the size of my wheels. All I wanted was a more comfortable ride, maybe not as comfortable as I want but more comfortable than what I have now. I compared the Max with the lowered Celica is because my friend owns one and both cars hit almost the same when going over smaller bumps. I think I should just hook up my suspension with them air suspension systems. I think those are pretty comfortable, and I also can just make my Max hop like a big stupid blue bunny. Also put 2 TV attenas on top, paint my car pink, and put a bunch of energizer stickers all over the car......jk

 

don't scare me.....I didn't see as much complaints as I see at the TL site. I saw couple of complaints about the 5 gen but I don't think I've seen one for the 5.5 gen. Cars.com rated the TL w/ 5 stars and the Max w/ 3, also the I35 w/ 4 stars. Why is that??? What's going on with these new cars, my friend had a 3 gen Max w/ over 200K and still running fine and my other friend with a 140K 4 gen max that's got couple of sensor problems buit no type of major mechanical preblems. I think I should throw down couple thousand and gotten a GS300.

 

Obviously you don't work at a Acura dealer like I do, TL - Trans Launcher, I see cars with 3-7 trannies put in them by 60K miles. I rebuild manual trannies, and just install new rebuilds into TLs, besides other work I do like Comptech stuff etc. Next car is a NSX- next year

 

Is the transmission on the TL that bad??? I know couple of people that has the TL but I never heard they got any problems but I see a bunch of people complaining in the TL site.

 

You have a dead rat in your springs. Put a piece of cheese in your strut and it will get the rat out of your springs.

 

how do u know I have a dead rat in my springs??? I have 4 rats one in each strut, now I know where the squicky noise was coming from. Thanks for the help. How would a dead rat go after the cheese???

 

Well buy a 00-03 TL, drive it for around 40K miles and lemme know how manny trannies you have had go bad.

 

Good job whoring the thread guys.

 

Do you know how much it costs to open up a shop ? do you know how much hassle it is ? I ran a shop before, and I seriously thought bout doing my own shop. I reather work at a dealership, have free insurance, sick days etc... and still bring home close to 100K. I work at Acura, so I know them... nothing wrong with them but trannies do suck on TLs. Take any older Acura and you can almost be guaranteed 200K miles with no major mechanical problems. I am no biased in any way. My next toy car will most likely be a NSX in a year or so.