murano suspension bottoms out

[johninfiniti]

just purchased a 04 murano sl , has any body had issue's with the rear suspension bottoming out when you have rear passengers and you go over a bump or the road dips on the highway???

[Q45tech]

Normally Nissan shock absorbers last about 4 years or 60k whichever occurs first.

[kerrton]

I find that hard to believe, if this is true than I'm dissapointed. No suspension components should fail that quickly under normal use, or is this the new standard for all car company's? In my past experience with many older vehicles, the shocks would routinely last beyond 10 years. Anybody else think this is pretty poor?

[nafddur]

I find that hard to believe, if this is true than I'm dissapointed. No suspension components should fail that quickly under normal use, or is this the new standard for all car company's? In my past experience with many older vehicles, the shocks would routinely last beyond 10 years. Anybody else think this is pretty poor?

It's just not true in my experience with Nissans over the past 20+ years. I went 14 years and over 195K miles before replacing the original struts on my 95 Maxima. And my 85 Maxima had over 160K miles on the original struts (and was 10 years old) when I traded it in on my current (the 95) Max.

[Q45tech]

Everyone standards are different as is their sensitivity to PERFECTION.Very few owners bother to remove shocks and use a shock dyno to test to see if they meet oem orginal published design stiffness.

http://www.shockdyno.com/http://www.cir ... ow....html

"Even shocks that are only half as good as new can significantly impact stopping distances. The Cologne Institute for Traffic Safety tested a vehicle with partially worn shocks and then tested the same vehicle with new ones. The used shocks increased the vehicle stopping distance by 21 feet, a 23% increase! (See chart.) Twenty one feet is about 1 1/2 car lengths – more than enough distance to prevent serious injury and property damage.

The same rules apply to cornering. In an emergency situation you need as much contact between the tire and road as possible. Without maximum contact the vehicle might not be able to perform the emergency maneuver necessary to prevent injury and property damage.

The average age of vehicles on the road today is 8 1/2 years and is continuing to increase. Thus, an increasing number of vehicles are going to need shock service.

Unfortunately, customers do not often identify the need for shock replacement because the change has been so gradual that they have accustomed themselves to the degraded ride.

[kerrton]

That's really good info, thanks a lot for sharing with us, it's nice to have input from a Nissan tech specialist on discussion like this, it saves us lamens from speculating too much! My comments about shock lifespan were treating the issue as black and white, either functional or needing replacement, but as you pointed out there are many shades of gray and these components wear out gradually. The question I have is, how do I determine when is a good time to replace these, and how do I evaluate the level of deterioration, or the remaining life span? I guess it's not an exact science?

[johninfiniti]

I took my murano to nissan, they stated that my front struts were leaking and needed to be replaced. On this matter I will be replacing the front struts, because this weekend I took a 400 mile round trip in the Murano and I noticed that even the slightest bump on the road would feel like I went over a big pot hole. But you would only feel this from the front suspension. In regards to the original problem of the rear suspension bottoming out, they stated that my rear shocks were ok. Of course they didn't road test the vehicle with rear passengers in it. At the time that I first expierenced this problem I had my mother in law who ways about 130lbs and my cousin who ways about 160lbs. I think that with this kind of weight in the rear the murano should not be bottoming out when it incounters a small dip in the road. On this 400mile trip this weekend I had no passengers in the rear seats and I did not incounter any rear bottoming out. I guess it can not take much weight in the back. What do you guys think???

[[email protected]]

John,I have the EXACT problem and I am tired of hearing people telling how great the suspension is in the Murano. It might be, but not in my Murano. I had the problem since new and the dealer says he cant FEEL the problem. He said he put passengers in the back seat but I do not believe him. I might try nissan again or change my suspension. My passengers say things like OUCH and OH MY GOD and HOLY SH-T. I did not know what to say to my passengers. I feel like an as- hole spending over $30,000 and having the people in my car look at me like (why did you buy this car?) There was one other person on this site that had our problem too. It feels like the car has no rear shocks at all. The worst rear ride I ever had in over 30 cars! Stay in touch and tell me if you did something to resolve this problem. I know this is a nissan problem but try to get them to admit it.

[johninfiniti]

It just happens that tommorrow I 'm replacing the front struts with brand new OEM stuts. I"m having my mechanic that i trust install them. He will be going over the rear suspension with me while he has the vehicle in the air, hoping we can resolve the problem of the rear bottoming out. I will post my findings as soon as I have them. Soo hang in there we may resolve this mystery.

[johninfiniti]

Apple, before i tell you my results, can you tell me if you purchased your Murano new from dealer or pre owned and if pre owned, how many miles??? And also what year is your Murano???

[guyfromgeorgia]

Any update on how this worked out? Did the new front shocks solve your problem for typical road bumps? Did you end up resolving the bottoming-out issue? I've got a '06 with 21k miles on it, recently bought it used, and I would have liked for the ride to be more comfortable. Its nice, but I want nicer. I'm thinking about investing in new shocks and could use advice.

Thanks,Chris

[Desert Rat]

The shocks aren't what carry the load anyways. The shocks control rebound. It's the spring that is bottoming out. This is a function of a soft, compliant suspension made for a comfortable ride and not hauling a load.

As lame as this sounds, slow down over the bumps.

[kinchy1]

This may aid in the bottoming out , which i have experienced, all that has to be in the vehicle is a few passengers, and it does it , poor design I think!

I have a murano with 165000 kl on it and the rear coil springs need some help I have considered the after market product ....Air bags...any advice on this?

http://www.suspensionconnectio....htmll
Modified by kinchy1 at 10:36 AM 11/27/2009

[acal]

Please tell me your results! Just purchased an 03 Murano - yesterday - have always loved them, so happy I have one now, but going over bumps is shockingly bad !! Already contacted dealership and will have them look into it. But were your results? I'm just under 70,000 miles, hoping it's just the shock absorbers........

[nafddur]

Please tell me your results! Just purchased an 03 Murano - yesterday - have always loved them, so happy I have one now, but going over bumps is shockingly bad !

You have no way of knowing how a Mo already 6 years old and with 70K miles has been driven. Many people drive these cars as though they were trucks, and this might have happened to yours.

Could be the reason why a car with so few miles was back on the market in the first place.

[acal]

So do you think replacing shock absorbers / struts would help?I'm reconsidering purchasing an extended warranty which my bank says I can still get for $1,400.

[bobmortdale]

Hi John,

See my post:

zer...urano

Hope this helps.