For background on suspension… this year I installed ES motor mount bushings, a Racingline FSTB, and a Progress RSB. The car is 7 years old, and has 51k original miles on it – all mine. I absolutely love what these mods have done for my ride! Also, I don’t track, and I don’t street race. Mostly, I just commute to work.

I’ve pretty much blown my budget for toys in 2009. My plans for Spring 2010 are to replace the OEM Tokico struts that come on the 2003 SE, with Tokico HR Blues, and matched with the OEM springs currently in use. And while there, replacing the OEM mounts with Moog strut mounts.

The opinions I’m looking for are pretty open ended: What else?

I’m thinking ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends; (also Moog). I’m also planning on the NWP Torque Link. My knowledge of suspension parts has primarily come from this Org, to which I’m grateful, so I welcome educated and experienced opinions…

…except, “Lower the car.” That’s not going to happen. Please don’t try to convince me otherwise. I prefer the factory height.

So what do you think? With only 51k, do I bother with the ball joints and tie-rod ends? And am I right to go with Moog? Would I be able to feel the difference with new ball joints and tie-rod ends, or is it more peace-of-mind and preventative maintenance?

In other words: What else?

Thanks, guys.

 

What it sounds like, is that you're at 51K NOW. I think a better question to ask is, what mileage do you anticipate being at in Spring of 2010?

This will help us better gauge what parts you should be looking at. From the information provided, I'd say that if you're doing a strut job, replace the dustboots. Especially since you're in Rochester, the salt probably eats right through that rubber.

 

By Spring of 2010 (9 months from now), I'll probably be at 56K miles, based on driving only about 150 miles a week.

Dustboots... that's good advice. Exactly what I was asking for. Thanks, Djfrestyl.

Anybody else? I mean, I KNOW there are some very experienced suspension experts on this forum. Can you guys address these questions? Specifically, with under 60k miles, do I bother with the ball joints and tie-rod ends when replacing struts? And am I right to go with Moog? Would I be able to feel the difference with new ball joints and tie-rod ends, or is it more peace-of-mind and preventative maintenance?

 

Yeah definitely replace the dustboots. Moog is a very good brand from what I can tell; most of their components are as good or better than OEM. I'm at 100k right now, and all my suspension components are still solid as a rock. Some people need to replace different components earlier; it just depends on the car. Tie rod ends and sway bar endlinks are cheap to replace, so if you want to replace them while you're at it, it can't hurt. If you're not feeling any abnormalities in the suspension right now, replacing those parts will just be preventative maintenance...which, like I said, is fine. Especially since you have only 50k on a 6 year old car, you're not spending much on maintenance anyway.

 

Is a "dustboot" the "front strut bellow" referenced at EnergySuspensionParts.com?



http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...an+Maxima+2003

And I'm seeing front sway bar bushings, and front sway bar end-link kits here, too. In for a penny, I suppose.

 

Yes, same thing. Though for dustboots, I prefer OEM.

You're basing your strategy on one fundamental wrong assumption - that these other parts should be changed 'since you're in there.' I can guarantee that ball joints or tie rod ends are completely different jobs than struts. The only time you'd be saving is however long it takes to remove the wheels. Nothing else is common between the two jobs.

I personally feel 60k is slightly premature for balljoints and tie rod ends. I only started thinking about doing them around 75k. However the previous poster was right, it's all simply preventative, and you definitely will feel a difference using Moog parts over OEM, regardless of if the OEM parts need replacing or not. So it's up to you, but it's ok NOT to do them this early.

 

That's exactly the kind of advice I was hoping for. You're right that I was planning on ball joints and tie rod ends because I'm intending on getting new struts.

Yes, under 60K of mostly highway driving. However, that's 7 Upstate NY winters, too, which is why I was assuming these parts should go. Based on what you're saying, perhaps that's $400 in misc parts I should hold off on.

djfrestyl, wish you were in Upstate and not Jersey. I've got a great street-pro mechanic available to me, but from what I've been reading, you can do this stuff with your eyes closed by now.

 

It's refreshing to see orgers willing to take advice.

For spring of next year, struts/mounts/boots are the only things you should worry about. I'd aim to do ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar endlinks, possibly even some bushings towards the end of the year, before the winter. Even this is a very aggressive replacement plan. I have 125k on my car and have yet to touch my tie rod ends. Balljoints and other parts have definitely been replaced though.

Yea, you're pretty much right, suspension jobs are a cakewalk. You're welcome to take the drive for the suspension install