Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Looks like I may have a bad rear shock on my 2014 sport with 30K miles. The car is all stock with the 19 inch wheels. When I hit any medium to large bumps with my left rear tire I get a clunking noise when it bottoms out. Sounds sort of metal on metal. I inspected the suspension including removal and inspection of the rear shock. I could not find anything obviously wrong.

I suspect the shock is causing my problem. Anyone else experience something similar, can give me some advise?

Also if any one has changed the rear shocks on their SV sport with 19 inch wheels which shocks did you use? My concern is that the Courtesy OEM parts manual states different shocks for the 18 inch and 19 inch wheels. But the Monroe 5659 OESpectrum that I am looking at do not appear to differentiate between sport and non sport Maxima's. Do I have to get ones that are specifically for the sport 19" model?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Bificus99

Oem spectrums are better than the OEM sv shocks. They appeared to be 50+ percent larger in circumference. You also have the KYB GR2 shocks they specify sport and non sport ed.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, so you think the 5659 OEspectrums would work just fine regardless if the car is 18 inch non sport or 19" sport?

Richard66

Kind of early for shock replacement. The SV Sport should have a different shock than the rest of the models because of the stiffer suspension setup, hence the different OEM part numbers. I looked at different shock sites and they list for the Maxima and a lot of the shocks say not for sport package. There is a lot of posts on this site about suspension clunking sounds, check out your rear sway bar end link bushings.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, I agree it's early, sway bar end link bushings look fine. I have searched but have not been able to find anything that really helps me pinpoint the problem.

I don't want to change the suspension characteristics of the vehicle. I would think others with the sport model 19 inch wheels have gone through rear shock replacement. Wonder what they used.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

I think others have used the Monroe shocks. When I go on Monroe's website it does not differentiate between sport and non-sport models.

Unless someone informs otherwise I would probably go with the KYB 349075 Shock Absorber that is specific to sport model Maximas. I will have to make sure it's a shock issue first. With only 30K the suspension all looks like new I don 't see anything wrong. And no I do not have anything bouncing around in the trunk.

TableRocker

Yes, generally speaking it is way too early for a shock absorber to fail...so you definitely have to sort out the issue for sure.

The old 'bounce test' is still an accurate way to test shocks, by the way. You will know within a couple of seconds if you indeed have a bad shock.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks. The noise appears to be coming from the area of the trunk where the top of the shock mounts. I removed the shock and inspected it and it did not show any defects. My plan is since the rear shocks left and right are interchangeable and easy to install I will just move the one that is possibly making the noise to the other side and see if the noise moves.

Bificus99

The Monroes are beefier than stock, I wish I took pix to show the difference. These oem rear struts are way under spec. I blew a rear strut at 50k miles. Oil all over the outside of the strut.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks. If my problem ends up being the shock I'd like to go with the Monroes but am concerned that it may not be suitable for the sport model. I would imagine someone with a sport has been through this situation. I'm wondering what they used as a replacement.

TableRocker

Rock Auto shows two different KYB shocks; one for Sport models and one for non-Sport.

I've always had really good luck with KYB shocks and struts on all the British cars I've had over the years.

KYB 349075 are for the Sport model...if you're interested.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Yes saw that. Wonder if the original OEM shocks were made by KYB.

Bificus99

Sachs

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks. It appears that Sachs only specifies part# 315253 number for the 7th gen rear shocks. Sport or non sport. I will check but I believe that was the part number I saw on my shocks. My guess is that these are used on both the 18" non sport and 19" sport models.

If Sachs does not differentiate between sport and non sport than I can probably go with the Monroe shocks. I can't be the first person with a 7th gen dealing with this issue.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

FWIW. According to Rock Auto / Monroe the Monroe 5659 shock appears to be a suitable replacement for both the 18" wheel Nissan spec E62109N10C and the 19" wheel E62109N60C
I will go with the Monroes.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....90994&jsn=1681

TableRocker

Sounds like a good plan. Let us know how it turns out. Monroe makes a quality product at a reasonable price.

Bificus99

I have the full set on my non sport and I love the way they're tuned over the oem shocks and struts. Definitely more capable than the oem parts and not punishing.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Update. The reason that I had noise is because one of the bushings at the top of the shock was installed upside down at the factory (Thanks Nissan). After 4 years the shock finally worked itself loose.

Since I already had the new Monroe 5659 I figured I would replace the shocks anyways. Unfortunately the 5659's do not fit the Maxima Sport model. Although the cartridge portion of the shocks are the same size the Monroe's have a longer piston rod and do not compress to the same degree as the OEM (E62109N60C). This caused the 5659's to bottom out over any significant bumps. Prior to purchasing the shocks I checked with Monroe to confirm that they fit the sport model and they told me they did. That information was wrong and they are now having their engineer looking into the issue.

I put my original OEM shocks back on the vehicle with the bushing installed properly. They work great with no noise.

Bificus99

Wow, that sucks. Glad it was a shock not a strut. I hope they figure it out for you.

Nopike

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, yes what a pain. My car works fine now with the OEM shocks, I can probably use them for another 30K miles if I want. so no big deal. I'm just glad to finally have a quiet, rattle free ride.

So far Monroe has been pretty good about responding to the issue. I'm curious what they will come up with.