Hello guys. I just bought a 97 Max and the car had about 80000 miles. I feel that the ride is a bit bouncy and harsh. So I want to change the struts to Tokico HP with the stock spring. But I have some questions before I want to install the struts. Do I need the change the mounts, bearings, boots or even bump stop? I don't know much about suspension and I don't have the equipment to check the car myself. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

 

mounts = no
bearings = why not since they are so cheap
nissan boots and bumpstops come as one and dont need to be changed but is recommended if your boots are shredded as htey probably are.

simplest way to test.....try to bounce the car. If it comes back up and stays, the struts are still good. If it goes down and up more than the initial push, most likely time for a change.

 

Some people do have damaged mounts and insulators, but it's pretty hard to tell until the spring/strut assembly is taken apart.

I agree with the front strut bearings though - they seem to fail early often enough that putting in new ones is worthwhile.

Dave

 

heres a good suspension thread that you should look through, lots of talk about replacing specific suspension pieces
http://forum.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=491906

 

^^^^^^^^^^

Great post. Trilitai, this has all been covered before, but please read the post in the link above. After that, if you have more questions, please let us know.

 

From PM:
You want to change the srtuts, the strut bearings, and any rubber parts that appear to be worn or cracked. Unfortunatley, you won't know this until the car is apart, but in my experience, replacing the boots is a MUST. Other things have GENERALLY been in good shape, with the exception of this one isolator that always seems to dry out and rot. I will try to get that part number for you.

Will you be doing the work yourself? How many miles on the car?

 

are u going to get these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3373019&rd=1,1

has anybody heard anything good abotu these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-D...QQcmdZViewItem

 

54329-39U00 SPACER-FRONT STRUT ISOLATOR (P/C 54329N)
List price: $9.63 (ea)

 

STAY AWAY!!!! they are cheap and thats about it... youll save some bank initially, but when your spring snaps well we dont even need to talk about what can happen. heres a GREAT link... read up (not a thread)

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php