napkin-thief

ok my car is really suffering in the handling department. i actually scared myself the other night when i changed lanes a bit too sharply and the whole car wobbled like a boat.

i know i need struts 3 of 4 of mine are shot. and springs would be a good time to swap in lowering ones. there is a weird pop from the right front tire once in a while when turning all the way left. so tie rods and/or ball joints. my axles are both already broken boots..

i want to get it all fixed before winter, or im gonna have to get a new car because if it wobbles like that once in snow, im gonna die...

i looked across ebay...i found springs 2" front and rear drop, for 45 no name brands ***, and a set of 4 gabriel struts for only 175.. that gives me new struts all around and a 2" drop for just 225 bucks...is it me or too good to be true? anyone have experience with this?

my axle boots are torn, can i repack them or just get new or rebuilt ones? they dont click or make any axle noises yet, advice?

also my front sway bar is supposed to have 2 rubber braces holding to the chasis, one of them is missing the bracket? cant be too safe...

really considering just trading this car in as a downpayment towards an a4 lease, but i do all repairs myself and if itll cost me less than say 400 bucks or so to redo the suspension, id rather hold the 200sx....

jere

Don't buy those ebay springs. They will kill your struts if you do replace them. KYB AGX might be a good replacement for you instead and give you some room to grow. You don't want to lower your car 2 inches period it will not be good for handling. Search around on the board and take your time do your research and don't cheap out.

That pop could be your missing mount for your sway bar. You could find a part out in the classifieds and get another one cheap.

If the boots are ripped and you don't know for how long, you are better off replacing them altogether. It just takes little dirt in there to kill them. Make sure you do your home work on them and get a good replacement and not something from a ford repackaged for a Nissan.

natethebrown

First replace your struts before you do anything else. That may be enough for you without going all the way and replacing tie-rods, ball joints, and control arm bushings. There is a good chance that popping is from your strut anyways.

94sentraxe

^This. Cheap ebay springs are dangerous almost killed me numerous times. If you don't want to drop big money on the KYB AGXs the GR2s are another option they are cheaper but pretty much just stock replacements. While you have all this apart its good to replace the strut bearing too its like $15 and could also be a source of popping if its worn out. (ask me how i know lol). X2 on new boots and the missing sway bar piece i think I've seen several in the classifieds here lately for like $5-$12 shipped or like mentioned just get one from a part out.

_M7_

there are a lot of post round here about Ground Control plates and coilovers...also koni suspension ...etc etc
just chek em man