97 QX4 Bottoming Out - New Shocks/Springs?

[cramartin]

I have a 1997 Infiniti QX4 with 107,000 miles. I need new shocks for the vehicle, which we have had for about 2 months, and I would like your suggestions.

This car will never go off-road but rather is a family hauler around town, for long trips and occasionally to the snow for skiing. The current ride is pretty bad: the right front shock is leaking and has lost most of its control. The rear shocks are relatively new (replaced by the former owner), but the rear end of the car bottoms out even over modest bumps. My understanding is that this model was poorly suspended from the start when Nissan converted it from a Pathfinder. The suspension overall is just too soft. (Don't know if later years got this worked out.)

Should we replace shocks and springs or just shocks?

Which springs and shocks do you recommend? I am considering Old Man Emu (OME)...any experience with them? Any experience with KYB?

Thanks!

[Chuck Tribolet]

Check the rear bump stops. Dunno where they are on a '97, but on my '01 theywere inside the springs. Mine were mostly gone. They are a relatively easyreplacement: Loosen wheel, jack, remove wheel, loosen a bolt, pry the springapart (I used an Oak 1x2) and get the old stop out, reverse the process.

I was having trouble with bottoming before I did this at about 150K miles.

[Infinidiot]

I have a 1997 Infiniti QX4. the rear end of the car bottoms out even over modest bumps. Should we replace shocks and springs or just shocks?

There is a service bulletin on the rear springs not being stiff enough. If you were to mention it to the dealer when the vehicle was under warranty, the dealer would have changed them with some better springs. Since that was not an option for me, I installed the inflatable bags you stuff inside the rear coil springs. Changing the bump stops will do you NO GOOD and possible make it worse since they may be taller. The bags work ok however you must be careful not to put too much air in them or else the rear will look lifted. The bags have taken care of my saggy rear problem.

You should replace the front struts since on is leaking.

John

[Chuck Tribolet]

Changing out the bump stops solved my bottoming problem. The bump stopsaren't hard, they are a rubber cylinder that collapses. The bottoming happensover a longer distance so you don't feel it.