I am currently looking at suspension parts for my 96 GXE and have a few questions.

The car is pretty much stock, with exception of stillen FSTB, and has over 250,000kms (155350miles) on it. I have not had to put a dime into the car except regular maintenace (oil,tires,brakes etc). I know that the shocks are completely shot. Was thinking of HP blues, with tokico springs. I know this will greatly improve the ride over the crappy GXE ride.

I am planning on replacing the CV boots while i'm there, as well as the upper strut bearing, and possibly brakes.

My question is, Is there anything else I should be looking at replacing while I have the whole thing apart? Any bushing, boot, anything that should be replaced while its all apart anyway?

Thanks for any help you can give!

 

If your suspension dust boots/bumpers are ripped in any way (it may be hard to tell when they are compressed on the car—see if you can pull the accordian folds apart to see if it's ripped beneath) and you're planning on getting new struts, definitely get new ones. Otherwise you'll be shortening the lives of your new struts as dust and dirt will get in there and damage the piston surface.

I'd recommend getting Illuminas over Blues...I think someone said they're as low as $369 per set on eBay now. Fantastic price.

This should be helpful to you:

http://www.kcmaximas.org/tech/suspension/index.html

 

Your making your first mistake by using Tokico blues with lowering springs... thats a big

Tokico HP's are a stock strut meaning if you use them with lowering springs you'll blow them out in a few weeks. Get Tokico Illuminas...

The only other thing I would say to check is your control arms, ball joints, remember to cut a little off your bumpstop in the front and thats pretty much it. Also when changing the axles, get yourself new axle seals as well... since your already in there its preventative maintenance... thats all I can think of for now...

You'll love your car once you lower it... the difference is amazing

 

Hmm, are you from the Badger state?

 

No, I'm from Canada (BC)....just a nickname i picked up long ago.

I was gonna use the spring/strut hp combo from tokico....would thier own combo be harmfull to the struts??

I do have to replace the boots, they are shredded.

Thanks for the help

 

Illuminas will last longer if you use any lowering spring, period. Plus they're adjustable. If you really don't want to spend more, the HPs will work.

Wow, 8 posts since Novemeber 2000!

 

well, I haven't had much go wrong with the car at all....never really had the money to mod either, but I have read quite a bit of the forums...just not posted

 

A testament to the reliability of the Nissan Maxima. Cool cool.

 

If your boots have disintegrated, you need new ones. The bound bumper rubber also comes attached to the boot. Also, replace the bearings in there as well, as when they go bad it can cause a God awful amount of racket.

 

thanks for all the help guys!