Post by
bobweaver »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/bobweaver-u293296.html
Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:17 am
I have a 2011 Altima 2.5 SL with ~145K miles on it that I drove off the lot new in May of 2011. I have taken good care of this vehicle, and have used predominantly dealership service departments for all maintenance needs as they are typically price competitive for what I have needed to do to the car thus far. Over the last 6-9 months, I have noticed that my suspension seems to be making more noise over bumps and holes in the road, but is far from the sound of a totally shot suspension bottoming out. The car seems to nosedive more under (heavy) braking, and the front end rises when I get on the gas. Body lean also seems to be increased, and I sense that I am bouncing a little more after larger bumps. I visually inspected the struts up front and the shocks in the rear for any signs of wear, and all four corners are visually clean with no signs of damage or leakage. I have tried the bounce test on all four corners as well, but I am unable to generate an excessive bounce other than maybe one.
My question to this community is if a suspension replacement based on the above description would be somewhat premature? Obviously this is a large investment, but I am cognizant of the negative effects that worn struts can have on braking distances, which is the primary cause of my concern since I do most of my driving on the interstates of Atlanta. I would use new Nissan Value Advantage loaded strut kits for the front and shock absorbers in the rear, installed by a trusted local shop that has been serving my area and my family well for 20+ years. Any thoughts on the Value Advantage line? Both boxes of the parts say made in China. The rear OE shocks are only ~$60 more per pair which I would be fine with paying if it meant better ride quality and longer term functionality.