Ahhhh I spent the last two days working on my car. My mechanic adamantly refuses to take off all the active suspension parts. I can see why now, it is a ***** to remove all the parts. He was nice enough to give me access to one of his lifts and all his tools to work on it myself. Even with every tool known to man at my fingertips I really had a tough time removing all the hoses. I almost tore off one of the brake hoses alongside the driverside thinking it was an ActSus hose.
So far I've taken out all the hoses from the rear of the car, the three main hoses along the driverside, the main valve unit in the passenger fender and the hoses that attach to the strut towers but the the unit in the driverside fender is a real *****. I was so frustrated I decided to skip it for the rest of the day. Next things I did was replace all the swaybar endlinks and bushings. Kelly Infiniti of Danvers ran out of rear endlinks so I went to Autozone and got a pair of Energy Suspension ones for $15.99. I also changed my brake pads with Axxis MM's and replaced a torn CV boot. Drained the powersteering and poured in Redline ATF. Did a radiator flush also.
I'll be ordering engine, transmission + subframe bushings, transmission filter and new tension rods from Joe at Infiniti of Scottsdale (great guy BTW). I've counted 32 cuts on my arms and hands, 4 burns (lamp) and 4 bumps on my head. =( But I know it'll pay off in the end, I've already saved a boatload on maintenace costs.
Active Suspension is a b*tch!
Yes i've removed the cooler and the valves from the driver side fender. The empty space would be great for a transmission cooler, it draws in its own fresh, cool air supply. My transmission cooler is sitting in front of the radiator and obstructing its airflow. A permacool dual cooler would be great, or a Cold Air Intake.
Active Conversion?
ok.. pardon my ignorance, but am I correct in assuming you did the Active to standard suspension conversion?
I am looking to do it as well. (1994 Q45A) I found the list of parts, and now I need to find the shop to do it. My question is, do you have to remove al of the parts, or can you simply put the new struts in and unplug the active parts?
I am looking to do it as well. (1994 Q45A) I found the list of parts, and now I need to find the shop to do it. My question is, do you have to remove al of the parts, or can you simply put the new struts in and unplug the active parts?
Yes, I've just finished my active conversion. You could simply just remove the active suspension struts AND springs and just replace them with the standard struts but Texasoil is looking for entire active suspension systems to recharge. Besides, the entire system is A LOT of extra, useless weight for a Q to be chuggin around.
Another note, you have to disconnect the outlet from you powersteering pump to active suspension pump and loop it back to the p/s or else your p/s pump will have a very, very short life thereafter. The multivalves located in the fenders, for of the front wheels are very, very difficult to remove. I had to use a dremel to cut the hoses. Take a look at it, you'll see what I mean. If you have anymore questions, my email's [email protected]. Good luck on the conversion.
Another note, you have to disconnect the outlet from you powersteering pump to active suspension pump and loop it back to the p/s or else your p/s pump will have a very, very short life thereafter. The multivalves located in the fenders, for of the front wheels are very, very difficult to remove. I had to use a dremel to cut the hoses. Take a look at it, you'll see what I mean. If you have anymore questions, my email's [email protected]. Good luck on the conversion.
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Ex-CA Driver
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2002 12:29 am
- Car: Speeding of course
OK I am planning on owning a 1994 Q45 A. I called Joe and he told me about $800 for the newparts, but labor was going to be a pain. How much are we looking at to keep the active suspension alive if it dies? And furthermore, what are the benefits and drawbacks to having the active suspension? Would or should we at least try to keep our cars as "original" as they were when they were first built?
I'm sure Dennis will comment, but the consensus was that you can easily drop $5000 to rehab active. $800 in parts to convert (est. $1400 labor?) seems like a deal to rid yourself of the liability. Bad active reportedly rides like a coal cart (never had one due to the good advice I've gotten here). Texasoil can recharge your accumulators at a tidy savings (their nitrogen charge diffuses into the hydraulic fluid -- right?). Dennis has said that he knows of very few fully functioning actives. It's a very complicated system (just look in the factory repair book!) to be getting so old. My suggestion is that if your active is working now, consider selling the car at a premium (because it's working) then buy a non-active and lavish your projected savings on it.
As I decided to retire my active car when the engine seized, I have good and recharged accumulators for sale. See my post in buy/sell /trade before you leap.Sopadope, as you are familiar with location of the parts, you could swap all 7 in several hours if a member wanted to have someone else do the work.
fxjackson,
Curious, but what year is your car? If you have the ECU, I willing to buy it off of you. I tried unplugging the ActSus module but nothing has worked. This time, it was as if the engine was running on only two cylinders...
To make matters worse, I just got back home from Upstate NY after CRASHING my van into an embankment during the blizzard...
Boy oh boy....2003 has gotten off on the wrong foot.
Curious, but what year is your car? If you have the ECU, I willing to buy it off of you. I tried unplugging the ActSus module but nothing has worked. This time, it was as if the engine was running on only two cylinders...
To make matters worse, I just got back home from Upstate NY after CRASHING my van into an embankment during the blizzard...
Boy oh boy....2003 has gotten off on the wrong foot.
ECU Compatibility
I plugged the JWT active Federal ECU form my 1991 into my standard Federal 1990. Works like a charm.
So my "spare" is the stock 1990 version. Early- my s/n is 4523. If you think that might work let me know. I thought you tried this combo already.
So my "spare" is the stock 1990 version. Early- my s/n is 4523. If you think that might work let me know. I thought you tried this combo already.