Primera P11 Shocks

[Jayathu]

Hi Guys,

I am thinking of changing the shocks of my P11.. Can hear a kind of creaking sound when I press down on the car hard. Is it advisable to run a month or two more rather than change the shocks ASAP. I drive regularly and do around 800k per month on the wonderful roads of Colombo.. My fear is I might have to replace the whole suspension if the shocks are in need of replacement and continued driving might harm the "delicate" suspension of the P11

My plan is to go to A*W as they would do a professional job out of it. But heard that their parts are expensive.. What sort of a cost am I looking at if I am to replace all four.. Is their any other reliable place to buy and get them installed..

Thanks in advance for your suggestions..

[VWvortex]

this could be the control arms squeeking. its a 3 link arm. check it out first before replacing the shocks.

[Jayathu]

this could be the control arms squeeking. its a 3 link arm. check it out first before replacing the shocks.

Would definitely have to visit the A*W then.. Is this control arm a complicated mechanism..?

[madmax]

Get KYB shocks. KYB is the OEM supplier for all Japanese car makers. Even what you get with a Nissan logo at A*W is essentially made by KYB.

[Jayathu]

Get KYB shocks. KYB is the OEM supplier for all Japanese car makers. Even what you get with a Nissan logo at A*W is essentially made by KYB.

Any idea about the cost.... should be around 50k I guess.. and also a good place to fix them.. Is A*W the best bet??

[VWvortex]

Would definitely have to visit the A*W then.. Is this control arm a complicated mechanism..?

If you want to pay a few $$$ extra on the parts yes... try Pione** motors in panchikawaththe... Not very complicated but they are notorious with making these squeaking noises...

[Jayathu]

If you want to pay a few $$$ extra on the parts yes... try Pione** motors in panchikawaththe... Not very complicated but they are notorious with making these squeaking noises...

Thanks VWvortex.. Panchikawatta whereabouts exactly, may I ask..

[VWvortex]

Thanks VWvortex.. Panchikawatta whereabouts exactly, may I ask..

There are two shops on either side of the road..both are towards the grandpass end of panchi..about 50-100meters before the round-about

[Jayathu]

There are two shops on either side of the road..both are towards the grandpass end of panchi..about 50-100meters before the round-about

Thanks.. Hope they could diagnose what the actual problem is.. If it comes to buying KYB shocks heard that TAAS is also a good place.. or would it be better to let Pio***r handle it.. How is your experience with Pio***r?

[VVTi]

Thanks.. Hope they could diagnose what the actual problem is.. If it comes to buying KYB shocks heard that TAAS is also a good place.. or would it be better to let Pio***r handle it.. How is your experience with Pio***r?

I replaced mine (1997 P11) about 10 months ago. A to Z replacement. Bought all the parts from pion33r. Cost 75K just for the front. But parts are available. No big deal. But make sure you check all the replacements as no point in changing few parts as they are all inter-connected.

I Put KYB for the front shocks. No problems still and I drive it a lot.

[Jayathu]

I replaced mine (1997 P11) about 10 months ago. A to Z replacement. Bought all the parts from pion33r. Cost 75K just for the front. But parts are available. No big deal. But make sure you check all the replacements as no point in changing few parts as they are all inter-connected.

I Put KYB for the front shocks. No problems still and I drive it a lot.

Did you happen to replace the whole suspension system?? Mine just gives some creeks when pushed down hard and sometimes when I park on an uneven ground and get my "weight" out of the car.. There is nothing wrong with the ride and no noises when driving.. Anyway feel like getting a thorough check done before purchasing any parts.. Would surely go for Pioneer if I have to purchase any.. Bit tight in the budget these days and a full suspension overhaul does not sound that appetizing.

[VVTi]

Did you happen to replace the whole suspension system?? Mine just gives some creeks when pushed down hard and sometimes when I park on an uneven ground and get my "weight" out of the car.. There is nothing wrong with the ride and no noises when driving.. Anyway feel like getting a thorough check done before purchasing any parts.. Would surely go for Pioneer if I have to purchase any.. Bit tight in the budget these days and a full suspension overhaul does not sound that appetizing.

mine started with the creaks...then they became 'thuds' and then the real fun began..

I ran with the creaks for a few months. But the road conditions really makes it go bad fast.

mine was all messed up when I bought her. From the ball joints to the bushes. The biggest cost after the actual shocks will be the top Swing arms, if they are messed up you need to replace. Both were around 13k at Pionr.

The issue with multi link sus (according to my mech) is that if you don't tend to the immediate issue, it has a cascading effect with almost all parts failing soon after. Your creak is coming from the Swing arms,going by my experience.

jack the car up, remove the wheel and check the condition of the swing arm mount. (attached to the top of the wheel well) they have rubber bushing at both ends. spray some WD40 on both ends and replace wheel and check. if it stops the noise that means the mounts and the rubber are moving independent of each other and will need to be replaced.

Edited November 6, 2008 by VVTi

[ash]

Try both;

Cefir* Motors - 0777344803 / 112347681

Pi*neer Motors - 112432169

[Jayathu]

mine started with the creaks...then they became 'thuds' and then the real fun began..

I ran with the creaks for a few months. But the road conditions really makes it go bad fast.

mine was all messed up when I bought her. From the ball joints to the bushes. The biggest cost after the actual shocks will be the top Swing arms, if they are messed up you need to replace. Both were around 13k at Pionr.

The issue with multi link sus (according to my mech) is that if you don't tend to the immediate issue, it has a cascading effect with almost all parts failing soon after. Your creak is coming from the Swing arms,going by my experience.

jack the car up, remove the wheel and check the condition of the swing arm mount. (attached to the top of the wheel well) they have rubber bushing at both ends. spray some WD40 on both ends and replace wheel and check. if it stops the noise that means the mounts and the rubber are moving independent of each other and will need to be replaced.

Oh.. looks like mine is about to enter the same phase as yours.. My car is also 97 P11, so can expect the same behavior.. I will get a full check up done to estimate what needs to be replaced before it occurs that I have to replace the whole suspension... Will try the numbers given by Ash once I estimate what exactly needs to be replaced.. Hopefully, not the whole system..

Would you recommend taking it to A*W just for the check up.. or is there any other good place where I can get an honest review.. I have some inside contacts at A*W and get special treatment whenever I go there and also extra discounts for the parts.. So I have no issues with A*W but procuring parts from Pi****r would still be cheaper I guess..

[VVTi]

Oh.. looks like mine is about to enter the same phase as yours.. My car is also 97 P11, so can expect the same behavior.. I will get a full check up done to estimate what needs to be replaced before it occurs that I have to replace the whole suspension... Will try the numbers given by Ash once I estimate what exactly needs to be replaced.. Hopefully, not the whole system..

Would you recommend taking it to A*W just for the check up.. or is there any other good place where I can get an honest review.. I have some inside contacts at A*W and get special treatment whenever I go there and also extra discounts for the parts.. So I have no issues with A*W but procuring parts from Pi****r would still be cheaper I guess..

take to the agents, get their opinion and get it done somewhere else if really want to.. never taken mine there though... enough and more capable people out there.

[Devinda_Z]

Would you recommend taking it to A*W just for the check up.. or is there any other good place where I can get an honest review.. I have some inside contacts at A*W and get special treatment whenever I go there and also extra discounts for the parts.. So I have no issues with A*W but procuring parts from Pi****r would still be cheaper I guess..

well worth taking it to A*W - can vouch for the fact that their work is most acceptable and the prices i've found , especially in comparission with other agents , to be very reasonable, both in terms of Parts and Labour

[Jayathu]

well worth taking it to A*W - can vouch for the fact that their work is most acceptable and the prices i've found , especially in comparission with other agents , to be very reasonable, both in terms of Parts and Labour

Yeah.. so far my experience has been the same.. anyway I talked to my contact person at A*W and will be taking the car there today.. Hopefully the diagnosis would not be too bad..

[Jayathu]

Hi Guys,

I am thinking of changing the shocks of my P11.. Can hear a kind of creaking sound when I press down on the car hard. Is it advisable to run a month or two more rather than change the shocks ASAP. I drive regularly and do around 800k per month on the wonderful roads of Colombo.. My fear is I might have to replace the whole suspension if the shocks are in need of replacement and continued driving might harm the "delicate" suspension of the P11

My plan is to go to A*W as they would do a professional job out of it. But heard that their parts are expensive.. What sort of a cost am I looking at if I am to replace all four.. Is their any other reliable place to buy and get them installed..

Thanks in advance for your suggestions..

Just returned from A*W.. Did a test drive to identify all noises and performed a full under carriage inspection.. Looks like no major issues.. (thankfully)

The driver's side inner socket needs some touching up.. No need to replace the whole thing, the device that connects the socket to the wheel is bit loose and have to fix that.. The shocks are all in order as well.. so no worries there as well.. Really glad to know that I do not have to go for a major suspension overhaul..