Weird highway/high speed wobble

[kkamakasi]

The car in question is a MY2001 2WD with around 189,000 miles on the clock.

Whenever the car decelerates (with some throttle input) from around 80mph, the car wobbles; sometimes slightly, other times very violently. It will wobble until the car slows down to about 70mph.

It never does it when accelerating or cruising. It also doesn't show the symptoms if there is NO throttle input while decelerating (just letting off the gas pedal completely). It will ONLY wobble when there is some throttle input while the car is decelerating from around 80-85 mph until the car reaches about 65-70mph.

I thought it was because of blown shocks so I replaced them with new ones from Autozone but it didn't fix the problem.

My next guess is FCABs or some other type of bushings. What do you think?

[kkamakasi]

Okay so after doing a little searching on this site, I've narrowed it down to bushings. Preferably the Rear Control Arm Bushings.

Now the question is, should I replace them with OEM or go aftermarket like polyurethane?

What are my options when it comes to buying either OEM or aftermarket?

I'm guessing I can go to the stealership and pick up the OEM one. Is there a website that sells it for cheaper? What are my options when it comes to aftermarket?

[CanuckQx4]

Polyeurethane 100%

I got mine from 4x4parts.com and it solved my "death sway" I only did the lowers and it was very easy to do myself. Id suggest doing all 4 though if you have the money saved up, once you swap in the polyurethanes they will never fail again as long as you have the truck

[CanuckQx4]

https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/polyure ... 7_349.html

[kkamakasi]

Those seem to be for a Pathfinder and not QX4 specifically. I guess they are interchangeable? Also, by "lowers", you mean the rear lower control arm bushings, correct?

TIA

[miamiheat3332]

Im pretty sure he means the rear lower control arm bushings, and pretty much all parts between a pathfinder and qx4 are interchangeable, other than having different body styles which body panels are not interchangeable.

[fueler]

pathfinder and qx4 are the same thing

i went with the polyurethane, it not only solved the problem but also stiffened up the rear suspension which was nice.

stock ends up being the same price (the control arm costs more but the labor ends up being easier) so its ur choice

[kkamakasi]

I'm in New Orleans and let's just say the roads here are... well it's New Orleans. Even highways are paved like s*** and potholes and cracks and divots EVERYWHERE. Wouldn't OEM bushings be more forgiving for such horrible road conditions?

[kkamakasi]

Polyeurethane 100%

I got mine from 4x4parts.com and it solved my "death sway" I only did the lowers and it was very easy to do myself. Id suggest doing all 4 though if you have the money saved up, once you swap in the polyurethanes they will never fail again as long as you have the truck

I went to the link but couldn't find a product for 2001 Pathfinder..

Do you have a specific link for the RCAB/RTAB I'm looking for for my 01 QX4?

[kkamakasi]

Okay I found the link for my car.

It's listed as trailing arm bushings.

https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfin ... p-713.html

Does anyone have the inner and outer diameter of the bushings? I have a BMW RTAB tool but I'm not sure if the Infiniti bushings are smaller.

[fueler]

I'm in New Orleans and let's just say the roads here are... well it's New Orleans. Even highways are paved like s*** and potholes and cracks and divots EVERYWHERE. Wouldn't OEM bushings be more forgiving for such horrible road conditions?

yes. too forgiving. put OEM bushings in and they will break again just like your original ones did.

[m0nkeyprince]

i agree, i know someone with a 3 series and he didnt want to put polyurethane in cuz it might make the ride harsh, after he did though, he couldnt be happier

[Ammi]

Polyeurethane 100%

I got mine from 4x4parts.com and it solved my "death sway" I only did the lowers and it was very easy to do myself. Id suggest doing all 4 though if you have the money saved up, once you swap in the polyurethanes they will never fail again as long as you have the truck

So is this the only kit you bought and it solved your problem?

https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfin ... p-712.html

[Iceman2989]

Ive got the same problem ("death sway").... Like ammi, Im curious what kit you got and how you got it in, what tools did you need and how long did it take? Im new, to both this forum and to working on cars, so Id love as much detail as possible!!

Thank you!

[kkamakasi]

Ive got the same problem ("death sway").... Like ammi, Im curious what kit you got and how you got it in, what tools did you need and how long did it take? Im new, to both this forum and to working on cars, so Id love as much detail as possible!!

Thank you!

Like I posted in the other thread, I removed the rear lower trailing arms (both driverside and passengerside) and brought it into a chassis shop and had them press out the old bushings and press in the new bushings.

I bought the solid-piece bushings from 4x4parts.com (https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfin ... p-713.html)

I COULD have bought the two-piece design bushings but they were backordered at the time.(https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/trailin ... -4998.html)
It is much easier to install the two-piece design bushings. If you compare the two, it should be evident why.

I know the one-piece design and the two-piece design bushings are different colors and different prices..
TRUST me, they are the correct parts for the rear trailing arms. (the link AMMI provided above is for the FRONT suspension)


As for the removal/install work that I did...

It was a pain in the @ss to get the nuts and bolts (colored "blue" in the picture below) off of the trailing arms (colored "orange"). Those bastards were on there really really tight. I'm sure 200,000 miles didn't help either.

I literally sat there with an electric impact driver and hit it 30 sec and it didn't even budge. If you have an air compressor with a badasss impact driver, you might be able to get it off but I had to resort to some stupid methods to break loose those bolts.

I used a cheater bar and a smaller floor jack to break loose the bolts/nuts.

[Iceman2989]

Wow, this is exactly what I needed to see, thank you! So you just replaced those four bushings and it took care of your sway correct?

[kkamakasi]

Exactly.

[Iceman2989]

If I were to attempt this myself, and had the right tools, about how long do you think it'd take from start to finish?

[Iceman2989]

Also, are Sway Bar Bushings the same thing as Control/Trailing Arm Bushings?

[Ron Burgundy]

Nope.

Sway Bar Bushings (Green) For Sway Bar (Red).
Control/Trailing Arm Bushings (Blue) For Control/Trailing Arms (Orange).



The only thing that doesn't make sense is the 4x4parts.com listing:
• One kit per control arm needed
• 4 kits required to replace all rear arm bushings

...there's only two control arms. Why would you need 4 kits?

*EDIT: Oh wait... upper links.

Same bushings for both lowers and upppers?

Which one is causing the death sway? Best to replace them all?

[Iceman2989]

Thanks for the clarification. Im pretty sure its the lower bushings that are the ones that if replaced will help the most. But, while youre at it, might as well replace both right? I ordered mine today so should be here by the end of the week. That'll be a fun weekend project~

[alexf20c]

you'll be in for one helluva battle, trying to get those old bushings out, and the new ones in!

[Iceman2989]

Wow, SUCH a difference!! Replaced the lower bushings and no more wobble! SO Happy! Thank you all for your help!

[JonathanPrem]

I've got to replace. How hard was the job and is it easy to remove the old busing?

[kkamakasi]

Removing the nuts and bolts off the lower trailing arms was hard.

Removing the old bushings from the lower trailing arms was hard.

Putting in the new bushings into the lower trailing arms was hard.

Other than that, piece o' cake.

[wiseguy55]

Sorry for reviving this year old thread. I got this problem also. How do you know if it's the front lower control arm bushings (front suspension) or the rear lower bushings (rear suspension)? I want to order the correct parts.

Looks like the most common culprit might be the rear suspension trailing arm bushings. I'll order those and tackle the replacement this weekend.

Thanks.

[MDicnMan]

Is the lower link wobble a shake or a kind of sway? I would expect more of an out of balance wheel type wobble from the stabilizer link. Mine has more of a broad sway that, in the winter, makes me feel like it is sliding. I can also make it happen by jerking the wheel back and forth. I can make it a bit better by engaging the 4WD. Is this a different problem?

[atraudes]

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