1994 base Q45 front suspension

[mludy]

everywhere I have looked or called or whatever seems to link back to manufactorer only.......I guess it is active front suspension..... $430/ through dealerDo any of you know where i might get these for less(less than $300 perferalbly)

ps I bought my q about three weeks ago, and absolutly love my new sleeper......... ran into my first problem(coolant leak)

If anyone can help with this I would appriciate it a lot

[Infinitiguy19]

You may have active suspension, post or email me your VIN so I can tell you or just go outside and look at your trunk to see if it says Q45 a.

By coolant leak I assume you mean under the plenum?

Welcome to NICO.

[mludy]

it is not a Q45a, just a base model......... window sticker said that it has active front, and from what i understand the 45a had rear active as well....... I called nissan and they used my vin to find that I needed the super expensive front shocks which flat out surprised me when they told me the cost, but seeing that the car is 15 years old i was more surprised to see a lack of aftermarket shocks......... I really dont want to pay THAT much if i dont have to, how hard is it to do the work myself

[Infinitiguy19]

There is no such Infiniti with only a Active front suspension. And it sounds like the Nissan Dealer (Which they shouldn't even be able to look up parts for your car) is telling you that you need a front Active suspension actuator (Shock).

Infiniti dealers ONLY service Infiniti vehicles and vise versa (Versa LOL) for Nissan.

Just check the trunk or look in the center console for a dial that will say N H, Or look at the instrument cluster and see if it says ACT-SUS and Height. Sounds like you have an active Q or possibly a converted one (A Q45 that once had active suspension but no longer does).

Good Luck.

And I hate to break it to you but this is a EXPENSIVE car to own, but reading the previous posts and everything else you can find will go a long way towards making the Q cheaper to own.

Just look at me, 1 year ago I thought a spark plug was only used to start the engine never mind to keep it running. And now I know the service manual forwards and backwards, I know how to use Nissan FAST, I have all the TSB's on 90-96 Q's and I think I know as much as some of the other guys on here.

[TellarHK]

I'll chime in here and suggest that the place you want to call is Infiniti of Scottsdale, as they're apparently a "friend" of the board, and have been used by a majority of the people here. If you look at recent posts from the last couple months, you'll see that I was one who came here hoping to find alternatives to IoS, but wound up going with them anyhow and being quite surprised by the price I paid for rear shocks.

From my understanding, front shocks on 94 models can be a little tougher to afford than the rear, but so long as your car isn't a "Q45a" then you won't have the active suspension.

My local (100 miles away) Infiniti dealer wanted $350 each for rear shocks for my '94 Q, while Infiniti of Scottsdale sold them to me at a really reasonable cost, and I was able to replace both rear shocks for under $250 in parts and shipping. The shocks you'll want are called Tokico Blues.

Call IoS, give them your VIN and ask what they can do for you. I'm pretty certain that you won't get a better deal anyplace else, and you'll really love the difference in your car's ride. Replacing my Q's rear shocks made the whole car just feel that much better.

You can find Infiniti of Scottsdale at http://www.everythinginfiniti.com

(Hey, Joe, how many referrals does it take to get a free Infinti logo ballcap? I kid, I kid.)

[lino]

Like Paul said, if you have a switch like this than you have an Active car:



*Correction

You're right Rex. Sorry about that .




Modified by lino at 4:33 PM 6/30/2009

[Rex]

Like Paul said, if you have a switch like this than you have an Active car:

If his is a 1994 (like he posted), then his switch will be a little different and slightly forward of there.

If you have a 94, there would be a similar knob in between the heated seats switches.

[mludy]

for the last time i do not have a Q45a, I know the differance between the base and the a.............. I might have mis represented what I have thought, thinking that it was active but talking out of my butt............. the front suspension of my Q will adjust to the current speed(stiffen/lossen steering) thus making the front shocks 430/ from what I have found there are NO aftermarket parts to replace these, but if there are that you guys know of or know of anyone with used ones in decent shape could you let me know

[Q45tech]

There is no such thing as a used shock in decent shape since from the first mounting day the shock begins to lose the Nitrogen pressure.Now an old never mounted shock is probably a different animal since today's Tokico shocks seem to last as long [4 years +-] as they did in 1994 or 1998 or 2002 or 2006.

I seriously doubt that any shocks have been manufactured in the past 8-10 years.................we are all working on old inventory.

Members should be sure they have a full spare set on hand as they may get impossible to buy at any price.

[Rex]

Sorry, I was just adding clarity to any other members that might stumble across this thread.

As for "options", Tokico makes both a blue and black.

[qship96]

My current Tokico Blues have been on my Q for 6.5 years and 124,000 miles and still feel fine with no "floating" or signs of needing to be replaced.....unlike the factory originals that felt completely shot and soft when replaced at 105,000 miles

how long will they last?????? Stock springs and cute little 15" factory wheels are much easier on shocks than big heavy wheels and super stiff lowering springs I guess

[TellarHK]

the front suspension of my Q will adjust to the current speed(stiffen/lossen steering)

Okay, what it sounds like you're describing has nothing to do with the car's suspension. What that is, is "speed sensitive steering" which is a feature of the car that simply adjusts how much wheel turn you need at certain speeds, in order to move your wheels.

You just need to buy a set of Tokico Blue front shocks, which will run you a few hundred dollars for the pair. Keep your eyes on the "matching boot" thread, and once people see if the bumpers on those look good enough to Q45Tech or some of the other regulars, you might be able to save a bit of money opposed to what others have paid.

Trust me, I went through all sorts of hell looking to see if there were ANY other reasonable alternatives to the Tokico shocks. Buy the Tokico shocks and pay a local shop to put them in if you can't do it yourself. A good, smaller shop might only charge a hundred or two to install them both as it's a fairly quick job for a shop with the right equipment.

[mludy]

so why is infiniti telling me front ones will be 430/ and back are 250/ if there is no major difference in the front?

[TellarHK]

I have no idea, because you don't tell us what Infiniti shop you're calling. You're not telling us if that's a per-shock price, or if it includes installation, etcetera. You are making it very difficult for anyone to try and help you.

[Infinitiguy19]

so why is infiniti telling me front ones will be 430/ and back are 250/ if there is no major difference in the front?

I first thought you were talking about shock rates (Possibly I confuesed it with spring rates)

But now I see that your talking about the prices for the front and rear end.

Like its been said before try IOS (Infiniti Of Scottsdale).

[maxnix]

so why is infiniti telling me front ones will be 430/ and back are 250/ if there is no major difference in the front?

I doubt Infiniti is telling you anything as they will not sell you any parts.

An Infiniti dealer can sell you a car or any part at whatever price it can get you to pay.

You need to read the prevous posts here before you run into a financial wall.

Maybe the whole front end including ball joints needs replacement? You are not telling and we can't guess.

[mludy]

I didnt take it to a dealer.... I know it needs new shocks in the front and rear.... I understand the tokio blues will work in the rear, but will they work in the fron of a base model q45.......... to make the short story long for puropose of explination......... I called my nissan dealer here in town, they told me I have to call infiniti and gave me the number they use.... I called told them i need shocks for front and rear, they asked for vin, I gave them vin, they said fronts are 430 each and rears are 250 each...... I was just wondering if there are any fronts that I can get that are less than dealer(even the ones that are like 370 on various sites)

Side note- changed my oil for the first time today, is anyone else on here anoyed at how hard it is to do?

[Infinitiguy19]

That's why Joe at Infiniti of Scottsdale is a sponsor here. he had OEM parts for at least 25% off, So call him. But the price they told you is highway robbery.

And as for the oil change was the filter pulled from the top or bottom that made it so hard?

[mludy]

I just couldnt get to it without taking the air filter assembly completly out, well not able to get there with enough torc anyway...... and whoever changed it before i bought it put it on WAY too tight

[maxnix]

I just couldnt get to it without taking the air filter assembly completly out, well not able to get there with enough torc anyway...... and whoever changed it before i bought it put it on WAY too tight

You need to RTOM, RTFSM and the previous posts here.

A lot of the information being offered to you here is going right over your head.

The oil filter is always changed from below!

Read and learn before you damage your car and your wallet permanently!

[mludy]

actually I had such a problem with it I had a friend look at it(who is a mech.) he ended up going at it from the top, there just isnt any room from the bottom so we couldnt put enough torc on it to get it off...... I know what I am doing in terms of changing my oil, it was on too tight......

[maxnix]

The truth is neither you nor your "mechanic friend" have a clue about changing the oil and filter on a VH45DE. My guess you and your "friends" will do enough damage in a short period of time that the car will be scrapped very soon.

[goody90q45]

.....$430/ through dealer.....Do any of you know where i might get these for less(less than $300 perferalbly)....

Welcome to NICO Matthew. I read this thread and I'm not sure that your original question got answered.

You've been quoted the dealership price for OEM struts which are Tokiko BLACKS. One of our sponsors, Infiniti of Scottsdale (IOS), stocks Tokiko BLUES for us and sells them for about $80/ea. They're different P/N's front and rear and it's best to call and talk to a real person. Look in Elwesso or Maxnix signature for the phone number. They also sell a kit that contains struts and boots for a good price. Remember to ask for replacement bushings for each strut. Other Infiniti dealers know nothing about "the blues" and will only quote you the OEM strut prices. Occasionally you'll see a strut set on ebay for about the same price. Go with IOS.

.....My guess you and your "friends" will do enough damage in a short period of time that the car will be scrapped very soon.

Don't mind Brian. You'll be fine. He's actually a big pussycat once you get through his rite of initiation. He's being a little harsher than normal and I suspect he's mad because he's out of fireworks and it's not even dark yet.

Have a happy 4th of July.

[qship96]

[mludy]

Thank you for your insite goody94q45, honestly I could care less about criticism on websites as it is usually little boys who have to over compensate(I have heard implants do wonders) Also thank you for being straight forward with the answer for my question. And one more thing, I have never had a car that didnt last a LONG time given how old they were and how much wear there is. I am born into a mech. family, so have a nack for picking things up, but I am also currently in school so it is hard for me to take time to find things. Here locally I have always been able to get parts a one of three places, and for this car I cant so I was just seeing what my options were with the shocks here once again thankyou goody94q45

[maxnix]

In spite of the suck-ups, neither you nor your friend still have no idea how to change the oil on a VH45DE. Plain established fact.

Just imagine what else you don't know. It's not about anyone's family trade pedigree, it is about actual knowledge. Those that hold steadfastly to misconceptions cannot learn. Each of us had to lose some to become better owners.

I find it a better service to the members to tell the truth rather than to encourage them to check their fuel level with a match. You decide which one you can handle and which one serves you the best.

[TellarHK]

I feel similarly, but try not to be a d!ck about it.

[mludy]

are these the correct part numbers for a 1994 standard Q45 shocks front/rear

TOHU 2890a/ TOHU2892

Also is 290 after shipping a good price or better at ios

[Infinitiguy19]

These are the Tokico blue struts here, for all 4: http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...=3221.

This is the OEM struts part numbers:

Front: 56110-61U25-

Rear: 56210-68U26-

Type those prices in here for the price of each: http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...id=55.

You will be shocked.

I also have Nissan FAST which is the program the dealerships use to look up parts for you, let me know if your interested.

[mludy]

paul the 290 is for all four shipped, and yes they are the blue

are the numbers right for a 11/93 production date or do i need to find others?