I searched around and I still can't make up my mind on which shock-boots/dust-covers to buy. I also do not know if its worth ordering new bumpers.

KYB: crappy quality, hole is too small to fit shock through. bumper is integrated into the boot. Parts SB104 and SB108. cheap at tirerack and others.
OEM: Best but courtesynissan does not have the rears anymore and the fronts are near sold out, I am not sure where to buy OEM besides courtesy that won't be overpriced.
Generic fit: rancho/energy suspension, etc. these I would probably have to cut to fit and would not necessarily protect the strut as well, however they are much much much cheaper.
MOOG: close to OEM, but hard to find and hard to find cheap.

I am at 70,000 miles on my 1995 Maxima SE and my shock-boots are totally destroyed. I am not sure if my bumpers are in good shape or not. What would you guys recommend?
I am hoping to have the suspension done next weekend so I would have to order today or tomorrow.

 

Took a quick look and there is a reddish orange rubber piece floating in there. I assume that could be the bump stop? it looks to be in pretty bad shape.

in the FSM it is the "Bound Bumper", Type II I think. That little guy just floats there inside the rubber tube.

 

Earlier this year I got all 4 strut bumpers from Dave. B at Southpoint Nissan in Austin, TX.

 

How much did they cost?

 

Total was $88 (parts + S/H)

 

I just installed kyb dust boots and they were not integrated. i believe the parts were 108 and 103. the dust boots themselves were alright and separate from the white foam bumpstops. these are about 1/3" shorter than the stock orange stops which were actually still pretty alright on my car even after 180k. as for the hole being too small, i just cut tiny slits all around the hole (2mm) and then pushed the bumpstop onto the strut shaft just fine. i think i only had to do the fronts, the back fit just fine after some coaxing. I got them for $45 shipped from amazon.

 

As far as I can tell the OEM ones are still available. They have been service filled to use a updated version which looks similar anyways. I changed all 4 of mine at the dealership and they cost $44 each (front or back).

 

Jus to be clear here,

The whole point of the Dust boots is to keep road debris and water of the struts?

I thought there werent any boots that would fit the illuminas. KYB makes them, but they are crap. With the OEM, u have to modify them cuz of the shorter travel with the aftermarket springs. I say buy the OEMS and cut some of the boot off to accomodate the shorter travel, if u have to.

 

I took the KYB boots and threw the bump stops away. Then took the OEM Maxima bump stops/boots (these pieces appear to be integrated) cut the boot away which was shredded anyway, then attached them to the KYB boots.



Hope this helps anyone for future reference. The SB104 which KYB makes for the fronts and the SB108 for the rear don't really fit well at all without significant modification.

 

Years ago I bought the Mustang "compatible" dust boot which fit over the Illuminas...mostly. The top fit perfectly. but the bottom was too wide and allowed water to enter the shock causing squeeking over bumps.