Quick strut question.

[KoupeDaVille]

I just got new front struts for my '99 Q45, and they push down really easy with hardly any effort and return really slow. Is this right, are they blown?

I installd front struts on my wifes '05 Solara and it took much more effort to push them down.

I searched and couldnt find anything on this.

Thanks.

[Q45tech]

Different designs, but meditate on the problem!

Shocks primary purpose is to SLOW DOWN the release of energy from springs which occurs AFTER they are compressed.

SO in every case the shocks expansion is the stiffer situation. The expansion should be 2-3.5 times the compression depending on whether front or rear are tested.

That is why pushing down on car IS WORTHLESS as all you are testing is springs.

I really laugh inside when I see some shade tree pushing down to test the shocks.

WHEN pulling the body UP is all that counts and three weight lifters cannot move it up in 0.3 seconds to properly test the shocks because the springs are helping fool even that test.

Compress then measure self expansion time is about all one can do without a shock dyno to test real specification vs performance.

Nissan stopped publishing shock parameters after 1996 but you can look at old numbers as a starting range.

Shocks must match springs which must match body weight so everything will stay within +-15% even today.

The math is simple when it comes to springs as all they do is hold the body up and the ratio front to rear must match the weight front to rear within 5%. When you deviate from PROPER [by lowering] weird things start to happen such as pitching at highway speeds. Things can only be perfect at ONE SINGLE HIGHWAY SPEED.............depending on passenger/trunk/gasoline weight.

[KoupeDaVille]

I looked at the struts this morning, and both were still compressed. I had to pull them up by hand. Im pretty sure they are both blown, unless there is some kind of release valve that activates the struts, which I doubt.

[Infinitiguy19]

I don't know how the electronic suspension on the FGY33 and F50 (1997-2001 and 2002-2006 Q45 Respectivly) works but I am sure that its not supposed to be easy to compress.

Do you have the electronic adjustable suspension or just regular struts?

[KoupeDaVille]

Just the regular suspension, non-touring.

[Infinitiguy19]

Then yes your "New" struts are dead.

[KoupeDaVille]

Ive heard nothing but good things from this vendor, so I wont put them on blast. This still blows though.

[blondi]

i just bought a 1990 Q45. had a low miled motor put in. but the car is running loud. the motor is very noisy. any possibilities on what could be the reason. also my heater will heat up if you put your hand by the vent you can feel the heat but it will not blow out. is my heater core bad or could something have gone wrong when the motor got put in

[paranoidjack]

You can't just keep posting this in every thread, for the record.

[grip1968]

who is the vendor, Im looking to buy some very soon..

[KoupeDaVille]

Ok, I just got off the phone with them and the checked three of them in the back, and they all do the same thing so my struts are OK!

Infinitipartsusa.com (Infiniti of Scottsdale) great costumer service

[KoupeDaVille]

blondi, take paranoids suggestion and stop posting in other peoples thread especially if your problem isn't the same.

Make your own thread, you'll probably get better responses.

[qship96]

Ok, I just got off the phone with them and the checked three of them in the back, and they all do the same thing so my struts are OK!

If they dont quickly expand after compressing the piston rod, the rebound damping is shot.....sounds like defective old stock.

[KoupeDaVille]

We'll see what the results are after I install them. They assured me that they were ok and if not they would take care of it. If they are blown they will probably get more calls about it, because they have at least three more in they back with the same issue.

Have you installed Y33 struts, and did they quickly return after you pushed them in?

[Q45tech]

Don't confuse 90-96 shocks with later year Cima struts especially on front.

[maxnix]

I just got new front struts for my '99 Q45....

Surely you realize you can buy just the inserts for less?

[Da Dark Jedi]

Surely you realize you can buy just the inserts for less?

You can ... Where from and are they a vendor here?