I tried searching to no avail, but has anyone compared 4th gen and 5th gen coilovers side to side? With nearly no REPUTABLE options for the 4th generation, I was looking at the Tein SS for the 5th gens...I believe the top mounts are different, but since the SS don't come with top hats, maybe the 4th gen top hats can be used, thoughts?

The Q45 guys have done it with s-chassis suspension, 4th/5th gens are way more similar though, they may be a perfect fit...

http://vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7218

I was also lurking on cattman's website, and they use "modified" AGX struts for 5th gens with 4th gen top hats....

 

You're doing the inverse of what we did when adapting the 4th gen AGXs to 5th gen, and actually that makes it all easier. If the coilover set includes the upper front mount (the triangular piece that bolts into the top of the strut towers, either as a passive bushing, or in some cases as a monoball-based camber plate) then there's no interface issues, it bolts right in. If its a coilover set that does not include the upper front mount (you're calling it a hat, but I would use that term for whatever sits directly on top of the spring), then it should work with the stock upper mounts, but the thread will stick out farther from the center of the mount (you can also purchase a pair of stock 5th gen mounts and use those if this doesn't work for some reason).

The main difference is the lower front mounts because the bolt patterns are different. The larger lower mounting plates on the 5th gen should have enough room to drill-machine so it will fit the closer bolt spacing on the 4th gen. When we were adapting from 4th to 5th, it required slicing off the entire lower mount and putting on larger plates, but I don't think anything like that will be necessary going the other way.

Last issue would be upper rear mounts. Any good coilover kit for the Maxima should include upper rear mounts because the stock upper rear mounts are rigid and don't allow the angle of the strut rod to change as the car is lowered (as it has to do). This puts enormous lateral force on the strut rod, not a good thing. Whatever is used for the upper rear mount has to allow this lattitude.

That's probably about all I can contribute to this, but all of that said, I would encourage you to consider the Progress Technology coilover set, which is available specifically for the 4th and 5th gens (different version for each) and sold exclusively by Cattman Performance (on sale, $1099).



They are the only coilovers developed specifically for the Maxima (instead of being assembled out of parts bins), with track sessions at Willow Springs overseen by Cheston Chiu. Very possibly the only coilovers for the Maxima that are developed and manufactured entirely in the US, with Progress's US-based race lab to back them up.

Brian

 

WOW! Awesome response!!! I TOTALLY forgot about the progress coils! I will most definitely take those over Teins, which are decent, better than the other crap, but still not up to my standards...

For some reason though I don't recall some being available for the 4th gen, this changes things considerably, thanks once again, I may be giving you a call soon

 

I'll just mention that we're down to a very few sets, and I'm not sure when we'll be making more.

Brian

 

Ehh O well, i don't have the money right now to buy a set o well...

 

Don't take this the wrong way but you came in here asking about custom fitting suspension options and we are talking about penny pinching?

Have you read through the GC/Koni thread? One of the best setups you can put on a Maxima and can be assembled for a very decent price.

 

Do you sell any individual components to the Progress/Cattman such as just the dampers or just the upper mounts? Thanks in advance.

 

Im in college, I need to get a job first Haven't worked since the summer, so I am completely broke...

The only thing I would concerned with is how low I can go, currently I am at 1.5 inches, I want to increase that to 2-2.5...just enough to kill the wheel gap...

I've heard of shortened Konis, maybe that could be my solution. Time for more research

 

In the middle of finals week myself. I agree that you need more research to determine what setup can reach whatever goals you are going for.

 

one word: research stickies in this and the 5th gen forums....this thread is finito...