I have done it both ways. Usually, I can't fit the metal sleeve that comes with the kit, over whatever it would need to fit over. One time I made my own sleeve from suitable material, another time I was able to make the sleeve work, and a couple of times I didn't use the sleeve at all. I've also had to take the rubber parts to a bench grinder and reduce the OD more than once -- makes an unforgettable smell.
With suitable thick flat washers and enough torque, the rubber bits will deform enough to give a reasonable fit, enough so it doesn't clunk any more. It's not the most professional of repairs, but it's a lot easier (and cheaper) than replacing the struts, and can buy you a couple of years. Not you, Kassim, of course: you drive down potholed dirt roads and ford raging creeks, for you these will only last months
I didn't know that the Maxima's bushing had parallel faces. Use what works best. I didn't mean to imply that I had used these universal bushings for repair of a Maxima's suspension.
kassim503 wrote:If I change out the struts the rear end wont drop to the flooor when i step on the gas right? Sometimes you can get it to hit the bump stops
Not necessarily. The rear squats like that on IRS cars because of the directional torsion to the rear wheels. The rear differential, which is fixed in position turns the driveshafts but because the wheels don't react as quickly the the suspension squats down instead. OTOH your rear springs could be shot too.
glenlloyd wrote:\ OTOH your rear springs could be shot too.
sa
Not could be, it is shot. I know it for a fact that they have hit the end of their service life and then some. Only reason why I havnt opted for new springs is that they are expensive.
Also while going around looking for answers, I foudn that the datsun 280z springs are the same in the maxima. No wonder why they collaspe so easy
kassim503 wrote:Also while going around looking for answers, I foudn that the datsun 280z springs are the same in the maxima. No wonder why they collaspe so easy
I wonder about the 300zx springs...could they be a better candidate?
japanese IRS nissan tend to have light springs and high gas charge in the shocks.this gives nice ride but it sqats.have a good lock at spec sheets as the coil dia is very standard.
australian 910 bluebird only use live rear axle similar to the 4 link wagon but with the coil over shock that you have on the sedan.the live rear axle by design lifts the rear on takeoff.the original australian shocks had little if any gas charge.
With my R30,R31 skyline,it uses the same suspension layout as the maxima,I purchased a set of R30 sedan monroes GTgas[AUST] with King springs from a wrecker,$40..these are to suit the heavier R30 hatchback or the sedan R31.when i fitted them to the 4 door hardtop R31 it is 100-200 KG heavier.i used the live rear axle shock and modified the lower bush.
from the bush to the spring seat on live axle and heavier models is 1 inch longer to get the same ride hieght lost through the extra wieght.the aust spring seat is not wielded to the shock so you add spacers on top of the shock.
WCJR31 Skyline.3.0 manual.wagon
R31 SKYLINE/Passage GT/PINTARA
LPG Ford Falcon 99-06 93 Disco
Local Shire Southern Zone Mechanic.
davehoos wrote:the aust spring seat is not wielded to the shock so you add spacers on top of the shock.
That gave me an idea. Last year I replaced the shot KYBs on my car with Monroes. The bottom spring seat on the Monroes is also not welded to the shock, unlike the KYBs. You just set the seat on the shock, then the spring, etc. on top of that when assembling. You can adjust its rotational orientation so the end of the spring sits correctly in the seat's depression.
If one needs to compensate for sagging springs (temporarily?) until parts or funds become available, one might be able to add washers or additional spacers between the shock/lower spring seat to gain some lift. Need to make sure it would not bind the rod in its movement in and out of the shock, and that the spring seat should still remain stable. Probably would also lose some compression travel or might otherwise cause binding so experiment at your own risk.
davehoos wrote:the aust spring seat is not wielded to the shock so you add spacers on top of the shock.
That gave me an idea. Last year I replaced the shot KYBs on my car with Monroes. The bottom spring seat on the Monroes is also not welded to the shock, unlike the KYBs. You just set the seat on the shock, then the spring, etc. on top of that when assembling. You can adjust its rotational orientation so the end of the spring sits correctly in the seat's depression.
If one needs to compensate for sagging springs (temporarily?) until parts or funds become available, one might be able to add washers or additional spacers between the shock/lower spring seat to gain some lift. Need to make sure it would not bind the rod in its movement in and out of the shock, and that the spring seat should still remain stable. Probably would also lose some compression travel or might otherwise cause binding so experiment at your own risk.
That works, but to a certain extent, if sombody put washers in there to raise the susupension itll help but if sombody stuffs too many washers in there, under full compression the spring would stop the suspension from traveling up, not the bump stop. Thats a no good. Otherwise itll work great, but you cant put too many in so the spring actually stops the suspension under full compression.
the spring seat and bump stop are the one item.
adding washers alters both at the same amount.Very few of my cars have a bump stop as they are made from a foam product that decomposes.some cars I used a shock rubber.if the car is crashing on the bumpstop i think serious about new coils.
910 bluebird rear coil specs.[guideline as they use a range of individual setting.wire DIA 13 mm ,outside dia 100 mm,free length 335mm,
spring constant 29-49 N/mm.
R31 initial release,uprated at a later date due to rear end draging and drive line noise.
wire dia 10.5-11.7,dia 100mm free length 380.5mm,contant 18-33.3N/mm
234mm at 275 KG.
WCJR31 Skyline.3.0 manual.wagon
R31 SKYLINE/Passage GT/PINTARA
LPG Ford Falcon 99-06 93 Disco
Local Shire Southern Zone Mechanic.
Aren't those bushings between the shocks and the trailing arms tapered?
Maybe that's on the 300zx but I could swear they are.
Also.............the pickup point on a 280zx rear arm is 1 inch different than the one on the maxima.........cannot remember if it's higher or lower but that might help somebody out.
HowlerMonkey wrote:
Also.............the pickup point on a 280zx rear arm is 1 inch different than the one on the maxima.........cannot remember if it's higher or lower but that might help somebody out.
Itll be higher, so if you used it the rear end will be in the stratosphere
Which might be good so itll compensate for the super worn out springs
You cvan have the rear end in the air like how people set up their novas in the 70's, remember? Cool!
