Active Suspension or just Suspension woes

[rover3l]

By way of background regulars to the forum know I have changed out my strut accumulators with recharged ones with an amazing change in ride quality. However, these last few weeks the ride seems to become very clunky and sort of loose feeling. I will try to describe in more detail so hopefully can advise where to start.

1. Firstly the suspension travel seems good as evidenced using the good old bounce test. Note there was little travel before the accumulators were replaced.

2. Over bumps in the road, large cracks in the pavement etc, the suspension is very noisy (sort of like a thumping, slight crashing sound)

3. The rear if anything seems the worst but the front suspension is also noisy

4. In the last week I am noticing that even on a smooth road the car seems to be slightly rocking from side to side and generally feels unsettled

5. The active fluid level is normal, I did have slight strut leaks after fitting the accumulators but this has now slowed down after adding Marvel Mystery oil as recommended by Keith Bowers (Texasoil). He knows his stuff.

6. There is a slight hiss from the rear suspension drivers side after turning a corner and then it continues for a few seconds when I am on a straight. I plan to bleed the fluid to get rid of any air when the Buffalo temperatures get a bit more bearable for outdoor work.

7. I have not replaced any rubber, upper links etc since I have owned the car (now 78,000) and I do not know the history of any prior suspension work.

8. So far since owning the car I have put about $2,500 into it with all the usual major service items and tires. I am quite willing to continue investing as I plan on keeping it for the long run and I am fully committed to keeping it "Active".

My questions are what is likely causing the suspension noises and suspension feeling symptoms and what is the most logical order for me to continue my investment in improving the car?

Thanks in anticipation of answers and sorry for the long post

[elwesso]

It kinda sounds like how my car was pre-shock replacemet.. Maybe the active shocks need replacemt too...?

The noise is most likely due to the upper links and other rubber parts.. 9/10 times replacing these things will cure it!!

[Rex]

Would you associate any of the down grade in "ride quality" with the change to constant lower temps?

Is there an "operating temp" for the Active suspension?

<no answers, more questions>

[rover3l]

yes the deterioration in ride is coincident with the drop in temperature. Maybe any wear has accelerated with the colder temperatures due to the rubber losing some of its flexibilty. Regarding the effect of temperature on the active system or fluid I hadn't thought of this. I wonder how much testing Infiniti did on this point during the design of the system

[elwesso]

FWIW, my ride has really decreased in the winter time (minus one weekend it got in the garage)..... My car sits outside all of its life, so Im sure those little rubber pieces are like a rock, along with the tires being hard..... I honestly would do much with it until spring unless it continues to get worse......

[maxnix]

I honestly would do much with it until spring unless it continues to get worse......

I think this is a very wise startegy unless you want to optimize for arctic blasts. Even if you did, I would still establish a normal temperature baseline for suspension behavior.

[QShip]

Were are all nine (9) accumulators charged?

[rover3l]

No only the four strut accumulators. I chose this as the initial option as all the advice I received suggested that this would get me to a ride close to a standard Q. I figured the other 5 could wait until later. I realize this is not optimal but based on the noises I tend to think I have more of a general wear issue.

Does your Q have all 9 accumulators in working condition and if so how would you rate the ride. For example when you ride over a pot hole does it crash or is it quiet

[QShip]

No only the four strut accumulators. I chose this as the initial option as all the advice I received suggested that this would get me to a ride close to a standard Q. I figured the other 5 could wait until later. I realize this is not optimal but based on the noises I tend to think I have more of a general wear issue.

Does your Q have all 9 accumulators in working condition and if so how would you rate the ride. For example when you ride over a pot hole does it crash or is it quiet

I had my converted to a standard suspension.

[rover3l]

Are there any "Active" owners out there that would care to comment?

[Q45tech]

The gas acummulators on the shocks are just for the minor road bumps [1"] . The other 5 are there to drive enough fluid for those 3-4" holes and bumps.

As I remember crashing in pot holes was your current problem.

Since you are already half way there why not change the others...........assuming the fluid leaks are under control and the system shows no codes.

Really depends on how much YOU want to keep the active.

[rover3l]

Yes I definately want to keep it as an Active as I just think this is a great feature. Even now I am benefiting from no dive or squat and the roll control aspect of the system. This alone makes it a great handling car.

I changed the strut accumulators ($1000 for the 4) and found the task very simple. I guess I am a little more concerned about doing the other 5 as they seem a bit more involved. I probably will consider doing this when the weather gets warmer up here and I also want to look at replacing most of the rubber as you keep reminding members is so important