Is bottoming out a problem with a lowered Maxima?

[Shayyadin]

Hi everyone,

I'm just getting started at this. I always thought lowriders looked awesome, so I was thinking about it for my Maxima.

But then I got to thinking, I live in the Northeast (Massachusetts and Vermont). In Boston, there are potholes. In Vermont, there are "frost heaves" (giant satanic crater potholes).

So would lowering a '98 Maxima here result in me ruining my undercarriage? Should I be afraid?

Also: can the camber be adjusted sufficiently to compensate for a significant drop (2.5 inches, let's say)?

Take care,
Shayyadin

P.S.: Mods waiting to be installed: Cold air intake, cat-back exhaust (damned Mass. emmissions laws), Stillen skirt, red/clear tails, rear wing... perhaps springs?

[MaximumBrian]

I'm lowered over 3" and I occassionally bottom out but rarely. When I had Eibachs 1.5" drop I NEVER bottomed out.

[Josh]

I was also thinking of lowering my maxima. I was wondering what shocks I should go with. I heard the Tokico's go bad quickly and turn your nice smooth ride into a bumpy mess. I was wondering if anyone has Tokico's installed on their max and how the ride is?

[MaximumBrian]

I got tokicos on my ride. I've had eibachs and ST's in here, and then I cut my STs =)

Well they haven't made my ride a mess and they have 30K miles on them. After about 10K miles they just got soft. They're not as firm as I wish and although they don't fail the bumper test, now with the cut STs they do bounce under severe conditions, but all in all not too bad, much better than stock.

[Shayyadin]

My other worry is this: unpaved roads. I didn't even think of this until now. Can you take a lowered car on an unpaved road?

Because there are a lot of nice ski areas around which are unpaved all the way up, and it would be a shame to put them out of reach.

I don't mind a bumpy trip up the mountain. It's the "physically possible w/o destroying automobile" thing that I'm asking about.

David

[buss95max]

i have sprints 2'' drop...with konis..and i havent bottomed out at all..i drive thru nasty la streets everyday too....b4 the konis on stock struts..and with my H&rs ~1.5'' drop ..i bottomed out plenty of times..

ive put a good 6ks on the konis..and they are still like new.

so far so good..

[Lordrandall]

Well you have to get rid of your 4x4 ride, so springs are a must....

If you go lower than 1.5" you will probably have to get some camber bolts to get back into spec.

[mtrai760]

I drive a lot in the mountains too, snowboarding and all, with a lot of unpaved roads. I was worried that droping my car would cause problems, but you just have to be more careful while driving and remain aware that your car isn't as high as it used to be. I couldn't take the 4x4 look anymore, so I put some H&R's on, which provided a nice drop without going too low for most obstacles. If you want the slammed look though, your gonna pay to play. Eibachs and H&R= about 1 1/2 drop. Sprint and Intrax= about 2 in. drop. Good luck.

[Shayyadin]

The report...

After I dropped Sihaya (my Maxima) w/ Eibach springs, I took her to various "obstacle courses" around Massachusetts to see what happens.

Note: The car also has a stillen aero kit. (OH MAN does it look fine!)

Unpaved road: bump... bump... bump... but no problems.

Enormous speed bump: took it real slow... but no problems.

Entering an inclined driveway from a flat road: almost invariably, the bottom of the front aero spoiler scrapes.

Relatively low curb: MotherFUCKER! (need I say more?)

Aside from the fact that I always park funny these days, I think I like it. Feels good. Looks good. Hopefully, those stock shocks'll last me a year or so cuz I'm outa cash.

Shayyadin

[X2BOARD]

I don't drive a maxima (anymore), but as far as bottoming out is concerned :

1) If your car is beyond a 1.5" drop, you have a possible bottoming out problem on some of the less friendly roads.

2) Stock shocks with lowering springs or coilovers WILL ALWAYS try to bottom out because their bound/re-bound and stock spring rate/height were designed to work together.

3) When you change the spring height, you unnaturally compress the shock constantly, you will have less bound travel (prone to bottoming out) especially on stock shocks on a luxury car like a maxima.

4) Make sure that whoever installs your springs (if using stock shocks) cuts your bump stops in half and PUTS THEM BACK ON !

5) Get aftermarket shocks, tockicos are great, but firm, konis, the same. KYB's, not as firm, good. You want good shocks, Tokico Illuminas, they cost more, but are highly adjustable. And yes, even at it's softest setting...your ride will be more harsh. :smoka: