Being a poor student, i cannot afford aftermarket rims AND a suspension set, so i need to pick one or the other. I will have around 550-600 bucks in a few weeks. That is enough for either used 17s/18s with tires, or Illuminas with springs. I know that many people say that the aftermarket rim/stock suspension looks terrible, but i dont mind it as long as the tires are not tiny.

My main question is this: is the handling difference actually worth it if i get Illuminas/tokico spring combo on ebay for 550? I LOVE taking corners hard and i LOVE feeling the road and the g-force, but the maxima body roll is the thing thats bad. If i get the suspension set, will it actually make the maxima turn sharper and stay on course, or will it just eliminate the body roll and keep everything else the same? It is probably hard to understand what i'm saying, but try.

Another question: Illuminas wont blow with a mild drop of the Tokico springs, right? I need this suspension set to last the life of the car, and i have only 67k on it right now, so it has a long way to go.

Oh, by the way, i have stock 15" sawblades on a 98 GLE with NEW el cheapo tires. They seem to stick pretty well though.

 

I was in the same boat as you, but If you had gone with rims you would have that 4x4 look for who knows how long, and not only would you have to look at your new raised maxima, you wont be able to lower it until you can gather up the money again.

I went the route of suspension, it may not look as good to have wheels and a drop but it will feel nice and you could take the corners much sharper.I dont like the body roll of the max on stock suspension so when you drop it and take a corner it should be much better.


Illuminas are good struts/shocks and definately should last the life of the car. the illuminas can handle a 2" drop just fine so pretty much what ever spring you choose the illuminas should be able to handle.




edit: I'm on the sawblades too, maybe down the line you maybe able to pick up some 5th gen wheel for $200 and get a better look going.

 

Have you tried a front strut bar yet? It noticably reduces body roll.

I would go for the suspension if I were you. The larger rims mean more expensive tires down the line. Being college student and all the added cost might be more burdening. The tires would probably run you $140 -$170 a tire for that size.

Suspension makes the car more fun to drive. You cant go wrong with Illuminas

 

Front Strut bar doesnt reduce roll much at all. Its pretty much just another cosmetic mod to have under the hood.

but I agree with you larger rims means larger and more expensive tires. Best to get rims when your TRUELY have the money to get a good set and good set of tires to wrapp them in, plus pay to have them mounted and balanced (if they dont come like that)

 

definitely definitely definitely suspension

 

Ok, thanks for everybody's input. I was leaning towards suspension, but i just needed that extra push.

Now for the hard part. I'm not a college student, i'm a high school student and i live with my parents. They say i'm allowed to get new rims, but i'm not allowed to get new suspension/major engine work (waste of money in their view). I need a good valid reason to get the illuminas. I have tried "it looks like it needs a hitch to go along with that lift kit", but that didnt work. The stock suspension isnt all that bad at all compared to my friends cars, so i cannot bring safety as an issue for the stock suspension. Somebody please tell me what to say!!

 

Im in the same boat as you my friend. I decided to get the rims first though. But that's because i'm not putting them on yet, I'm getting great deals on rims that i like...So i'm gettin the rims first, then doing the drop. Luckily i have family who does body work, so i dont have to pay for labor :-x

 

Get a Job and get both. only kidding. I would recommend suspension first.

 

ok i bought 17s for my max about a year ago. and i had a 4x4 truck look. i mean i liked the way the car looked, but after a while i just plainly hated the car itself. it was ugly. 2 days ago i put on my illuminas and eibachs, and dammm homie the car is sooo much more fun to drive, handles soo nice, and you feel glued to the road. right now i just need some good brakes and im set. i have the power already but what good is it if you cant harness it? you know what i mean? even with stock rims the drop would looks nice.

 

My dad was being a *** when I told him I wanted to get a new suspension kit. They don't know what it's like to own a monster truck.

So, will you change your screen name if you get a lower suspension? If your wheels and tires are in very good shape I would suggest a suspension. My tires/wheels were about to kill me, so I had to get some new ones. If your suspension needs work then lower...

 

If i were you, if your parents is telling you can get the rims, I would not argue.. Just get them, I mean then just save up from there. If you check the Parts/Sale Forum, there seems to be alot of people who sell there illuminas for cheap.. So down the road, you can get them when you save. But if you really want the suspension, Just tell them straight, your like any teenager, who likes to turn corners with really no worries .. It is actually a safety thing too, Because if someone decides to cut you off then stop(wouldnt know why), you would need to swurve quick, do that with stock suspension..who knows where you might land =]

 

i got my suspension (tein s-techs and tokico illuminas) on before rims. if you're on a budget, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get springs used.

 

wow you guys are lucky your parents buy you guys rims? wtf?

 

Only 50% of them...

 

They dont buy the rims, they allow the rims. I worked for that money myself.

 

good man - the way it should be

 

lol i hear you, i remeber when i wanted clear corners, my dad was like DONT DO SHIET TO THE CAR! i was like wtf. i put the intake on and he loved the sound, afterwhile he didnt care what i did to the car. btw he was the one who found the rims for me!

 

My pops dont care, long as it don't look ugly or ricey..its ok.. Yeah, i worked up the money to buy the car, and parts for it too.. He just does the work for me

 

My parents say that if i modify the car, it will decrease its life span. I can agree with them on some engine mods, but not suspension. I was going to get an intake, but then saw a dyno that showed how much an intake really looses. If i dont get suspension, then i guess i'll do small time mods which i am allowed to do. These are clear corners, intake, muffler, and so on.


What's better for straight out handling, illuminas or koni yellows? I don't care about which ride is worse, i just want to take turns at high speeds without it being dangerous, and i want the car to feel nicer.

So basically nobody has any realistic idea on how to convince my parents that suspension isnt going to be bad for the car/me?

 

how many miles does your car have on it?t tell them your car has a lot of miles, and tell them bs like ooo the struts are bad which could cause the wheels to crack at potholes, and engine mounts damaging and car bottoming out. just make up bs like that

 

Dont think that would work since i have only 68k miles. My dad knows how cars work, but he doesnt know about upgrading to better equipment. According to him, OE is THE best, which is true for some parts, but not suspension.

 

hhm tell him your a ricer


lol jk

 

you can get them off ebay cheap...

 

I was going to suggest the blown struts/shocks too but if he knows cars then that wont work.


Why would they let you get rims but not suspension? Why wont they let you spend your money how you want? I understand they are trying to help you manage your money but that doesnt make sense if they say yes to rims but no to suspension, if anything it should be the othe way around.

"I dont want you buying rims, you going to look like those celecrities with the 22s and what not . . . Hell No!"

 

The reason why they wont let me upgrade the suspension is because they paid for 50% of the car (i had the other 50%), so thats why i cant spend my money on what i want. It sucks, i should of saved up for a few more years and bought a 4th gen without help.

I really need to upgrade the suspension on this thing, shoot me some ideas.

 

you could make them a 5 year buyout deal or something like that. Say "if you let me get the suspension done now then in 5 years I will pay back your share of the total car costs." And more likely then not in 5 years they won't remember, or you sell the car and give them half of the money. It may work, may not.

 

id say get suspension. I myself have 17" Katanas sitting at home but i absolutely will not put them on without lowering the car first. That 4X4 look is horrible.

 

very interesting, i'll try this when they get back

 

does anyone have a picture of this "horrible 4x4 look", just wondering cuz im kinda in the same boat too

 

Here's a thread from a long time ago. I have too much time on my hands....

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=395290

 

im still in that situation...the look on his face of me bringing up clear corners or y-pipe is awesome..


does any1 know if that motorvate guy still updates or visits the org? he lives in the same city as me and ive never seen him, he could pursuade my dad with theknowledge he has on our max

 

Mine doesn't look as bad as the Max in that thread. I have the correct tire size though. By the way, what company made the stock shocks. Mine said Tokico, just wondering.

 

get the wheels and a rear sway bar.

 

defenitly suspension....

 

omg, thats what you call 4 x 4.. Do you see the max, it looks like a pathfinder =\