I have a '96 SE and the other night, a guy in a 3rd gen pulls up and wanted to ask some questions about his suspension. He said when he's on the highway and goes around a curve or bend, the car shimmies and shakes when he hits bumps and the springs compress. Sounded to me like something was loose but he said he'd pulled the tires off and checked as many things as he could see. He said nothing looked unusual and all the bolts were tight. I don't know much about the 3rd gens, whether the suspension is the same/different on the front or not. Does this problem sound familiar to anyone. He tried to get on here but said he could't find the forums. I'll try to show him sometime so he can possibly describe this problem better.

 

The struts (mostly the front) are shot.

 

most likely it's because the struts are shot (both front and rear)..

another common problem is that the large 2" rubber bushings on the 1/2" rear sway bar fall apart, so the rear sway bar basically doesn't even connect to the suspension. you should be able to see this pretty easily by looking at the ends of the sway bar.

the suspension on 3rd gens is waaay different than 4th gens, but the problems are usually similar.

If this car has the original struts on it still (with anything over 60k miles) I will pretty much guarantee they need replaced. most people try the "bounce test" and they'll pass, but when you're actually driving they don't work worth a damn. I bottomed my car out dozens of times going over speed bumps with the stock suspension.. then I lowered it and got new struts. never bottomed out again on a bump.

 

but i don't know what to get i want the same factory ride but i also want a good pair of struts and springs for the turns can u give me any suggestions please

 

if you don't do much extreme driving and simply want the car to corner better, I would recommend the Suspension Techniques sway bar kit and a strut tower brace. that will reduce the lean a lot in the corners, and help overall feel of the car.

You'll still ned to get new struts though.. I would recommend either new OEM struts, or Tokicos.

unless you want a rougher ride and to lower the car, keep with the stock springs. they're adequate for basic stuff, but a little squishy for high speed driving. if you REALLY want to make the car corner well, you'll do all the above, PLUS a set of eibach springs and some 16 or 17" wheels.. Subframe connectors are next. I'm having a set installed soon and we'll see how they work on a car with a fully modded suspension.

 

i never really knew what the term bottomed out means.. what does it mean?

 

When the bottom of the car hits things, mostly speed bumps.

 

Look at your oil pan.. if it's got scratches or dents in it, then you've "bottomed out"..

basically it's just banging the bottom of the car on stuff. on my stock suspension, it happened so often that my oil pan only held 3.5 qts of oil. it was smashed about 1" in in places. you'd think nissan would design the frame so the oil pan wasn't the lowest thing on the car!

 

Aren't KYB struts closer to OEM in performance (and cheaper too) than Tokicos? Wouldn't those be better in this application or....?

 

yes, they're similar in performance and cheaper than the Tokicos, BUT I fell the Tokicos are a better strut altogether.
And Tok struts on stock springs are by no means a harsh ride.
(FYI, Tokico makes our OEM struts. of course different valving, but they're still made by them).

 

does bottoming out count when you scrape when you go over steep hills or such? because i scratch on certain driveways that are really steep

i have sprints so my car is really low

 

pretty much the same thing, just a different part of the car that's dragging.

 

Front lower ball-joint bushings. Replace the whole thing, it's cheap if you got a big pry bar & rubber mallot. Put it on a lift and see if you can wobble your tire back and forth without turning the wheel.