Newbie Here. Need some help.

[jmbstudios]

Hi,
My wife has a 2006 M45. We bought it used in 2008. It has 48,000 miles on it right now. She won a full auto detail from the local Chevy dealer and took it in the other day for a detail. When she got it back they listed some stuff that needed replaced. One of the items was shocks and struts. Im not sure if this was a diagnosis by them or the fact that my wife said it was riding a little rough.

I called the local Nissan dealer and they also said if its riding rough replace the shocks and struts. I am a bit confused. I thought if the shocks went bad the car would have a bounce to it. This car is not bouncing like the shocks are bad. You can feel every little bump and potholes are bad. Almost like the front end feels like its a bit loose. Every bump is accentuated. Tires are about 2-3 years old. I live in the desert, its hot, and we go through tires a bit faster than others.

I called the Infiniti dealer in San Diego and they said get another opinion. At 48000 miles the shocks and struts should be fine. Unless the the car is bouncing after the bumps and the struts are leaking, it doesn't sound like they need to be replaced.

Since I am 3 hours away from any Infiniti dealer and the local Nissan dealership doesn't seem to be all that bright I searched for this forum to seek advice from the experts and people that own this model. The San Diego dealer wants $2300 to replace the struts and shocks. The local dealer wants $1500. WOW, I had no idea.

I respectfully ask you, what other information would you need to get me closer to finding out what I need? Or what advice can you give on how to proceed?

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[Larz]

Welcome jmb!
As far as I am aware, and I'm by NO means a tech-qualified person on this site, but ... I have read on this site that struts last about 70k miles or even more. My M has 76k miles and still rides like the new loaners I get from the dealer. I bought mine used so it's possible they were replaced prior to my purchase. The way you desribe how the car handles potholes and the hash reaction it has to rough roads usually does mean struts or shocks (or at least something in the front end has gone titz-up).
I think you should have it looked at by a mechanic closer to your home - not to have repairs done, but just to get another opinion. Even if you have to pay for an hour of labor, at least you'll leave with more info than you have now.
Other peeps in here who do lots of their own repairs will eventually respond and they should have some ideas and good advise for you.

[merlinq2]

My car has 125,000 kilometers -77K miles (close to the end of the service life of the suspension) on it, it is in now for new front and rear suspension. My tell tale signs are, drifting from side to side, cupping tire wear front tires, harsh reaction to pot holes - feels like the front end is loose and jerky.

The ride has never been supple, the car has always felt like a cross over between a sport sedan and luxury cruiser.

Based on what you said - it is the struts.

I bought all of the parts on line from (http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/default.asp) and they cost me 600 shipped to an address in Tonawanda New york. They are being installed today at a local suspension and muffler shop - total cost for install is 400.

So I would order the parts on line, see if you can find a local muffler and brake shop and ask them if they would be willing to install your parts. So may and som may not.

Good luck

[SmoovC]

Welcome to the club, jmb! As the nature of the beast, struts and shocks start wearing (just like brakes) from the day they are new. Many factors influence how quickly they wear; driving style, road conditions, etc. As others have mentioned, drifting, uneven tire wear, harsh reactions, and a general "unsettled" feel of the vehicle all indicate that the struts and shocks may need replacement.

Typically on my vehicles, I will replace shocks and struts at 60,000 miles as part of my OCD vehicle maintenance program.

As merling mentioned, you can buy the parts online from Infiniti. Another option is what I did on my previously owned 2006 M45: go with an aftermarket option. I chose KYB at that time. Both struts and both shocks were under $400 delivered. Having used KYB components before, I was confident in their quality, and they did not disappoint on the M45.

[atlM35]

I had to change the front set on my 2006 M35 at 130k miles.
When I went over a speed bump, the front would drop due to no dampening.

[jmbstudios]

Yes. The front end feels like it is loose and jerky.


I will look online to get some parts. The local dealer wants $250/ strut and $250/ shock. $1000+ just for parts. And said it would take 5 hours to put them in.

I will find a CSE and see if they will put them in.

[merlinq2]

I noticed you have a RWD model, you can save money by going with kyb (like SmoovC suggested) I have an X and there are no after market parts for the from struts due to the awd configuration.

there is nothing worse than a car that feels off, I would check your tire wear first (google search for images for cupped tires) then compare your front tires to the images. This is good first step.

My struts were 245 for the right Front and 168 for the left front, don't know why they were different prices.

http://discountinfinitiparts.com/parts/ ... &maxRow=10

[mexillis]

Loose and jerky could be a hub bearing. You can check that by lifting it up and then try moving your wheel back and forth as if trying to push and pull side to side. If it has play then you need to fix it ASAP. Check both sides

[antzrus]

For me the ride got even harsher-but it is a luxury "sport" sedan. All around shocks/struts were replaced on my M for about $1500 at my local Les Schwab tire center. I had about 50k miles on the odo.

"Typically on my vehicles, I will replace shocks and struts at 60,000 miles as part of my OCD vehicle maintenance program."--- SmoovC You too, huh?-love it..!!

[merlinq2]

Over the weekend I had my new suspension installed and I had the factory springs re installed. The harsh ride and unsettled front end is completely gone, The car is driving straight (except for minor tramlining) the harsh reaction to pot holes is gone. Car rides like it brand new and feels planted, firm and smooth. One thing that I was surprised about if how quiet the ride is now- no booming from the car- I think is has to do with the suspension being old and that harshness was producing noise through the cabin.
I would recommend a complete re and re if you have more than 70K miles on your car. Total cost for parts - 500, install 386 (installed a new y pipe too). Y pipe was 140 delivered to my cross dock in Tonawanda. Next step, new tires, new front discs and new pads all the way around.
Have a great day

[SmoovC]

For me the ride got even harsher-but it is a luxury "sport" sedan. All around shocks/struts were replaced on my M for about $1500 at my local Les Schwab tire center. I had about 50k miles on the odo.

"Typically on my vehicles, I will replace shocks and struts at 60,000 miles as part of my OCD vehicle maintenance program."--- SmoovC You too, huh?-love it..!!

You know how we do, antz......

[jmbstudios]

What is re and re?

Thx

[SmoovC]

What is re and re?

Thx

Um... I am going to go out on a limb here and take a wild @ss guess.... a typo?!

[merlinq2]

remove and replace RE & RE

[atlM35]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KYB-GR-2-STRUTS ... 72&vxp=mtr

[jmbstudios]

So the struts in that auction will do well for my M45?
If so that's about the best price I have seen on front struts so far.

By the way I googled tire cupping and I have a single axle enclosed cargo trailer with both tires cupping.

The wife's care looks like it might a little also.

[SmoovC]

So the struts in that auction will do well for my M45?
If so that's about the best price I have seen on front struts so far.

By the way I googled tire cupping and I have a single axle enclosed cargo trailer with both tires cupping.

The wife's care looks like it might a little also.

They will do phenominal on your M45; I had them on my previous M45.

[jmbstudios]

OK. So I am finally ready to get the struts and shocks changed out. Luckily my brother in law works at a dealership and get hook me up with labor. He said it would be best for me to buy the parts.
I looked at the ebay link and the price was a lot better than the dealer or other places.
I am going to order them this week.
I also found these on Amazon. The price looks awesome. What do you experts think?

If you scroll down the page a bit you will see the package price for all three purchased together. Looks great.

http://www.amazon.com/KYB-341442-Excel- ... uto_text_y

[SmoovC]

Don't forget to get a PAIR of the rears, so FOUR components all together. It looks as though they only have one rear shock in stock...

In summation:

Quantity 1: 341441 Right Front Strut

Quantity 1: 341442 Left Front Strut

Quantity 2: 349053 Rear Shock

[jmbstudios]

Yeah, I want to send off a question about that. They show a pair of rear shocks but say only one left. So I will make sure its a single. And I can buy the other elsewhere. But the price is pretty dang good.