Changiing upper links and tension rods

[Jehangir]

well the time has come. I have been hearing this weird clunking sound when my front passenger side wheel moves up or down. I think it may be the bracket that hold my sway bar. But I'm not too sure. Also, my wife drove the car the other day and told me she heard a groaning sound from the same wheel. I guess with the ol' active riding on flat accumulators for so long has taken its toll on my poor suspension. Eitherway, when I first bought the car the infiniti dealer told me I need tension rods and upperlinks. I am wondering if this is a DIY job, or should I save my knuckles and pay someone else to do it. Also, should I think about changing anyother parts when this job is done to save myself some labor, while doing some preventative maintence.I look forward to reading your responces

[elwesso]

Hey J.....

The upper links could be the easiest job Ive ever done on the Q.. It wont take you more than 15 mins to do both, oncethe wheels are off.. 2 bolts hold them in, and they just pop right out... You can only install them one way... There is a thing on there that tells you how to install them.....

Attached is a picture on what im talking about..

The tension rods are straightforeward as well.. However its a little tougher because everything is so tight in there... Just the 2 nuts on the lower control arm, and the bolt on the back... I had problems getting that back nut on, i think whenever it was done the last time they put it on too tight. Its hard to get at.. Either way its a definite DIY.

You can either get the whole rod or just the bushings. Assuming you have another car, you can take the tension rods out, and take them to a shop who can then press the new bushings in... The bushings are about $30 for both of them.. otherwise you can buy the factory rod from Joe, or you could consider getting an aftermarket one.... Personally, if I were you id get the bushings, take the rods out, and then take it to a shop where they can press them in...

Either way, make an afternoon about it, take your time and learn some new things

[maxnix]

I guess with the ol' active riding on flat accumulators for so long has taken its toll on my poor suspension.

Ridng on flat accumulators is a sure fire way to damage suspension mounts. Don't do it.
Modified by maxnix at 11:14 PM 8/11/2005

[3Q Jay]

Ridng on flat accumulators is a sure fire way to damabe suspension mounts. Don't do it.

and stress out your multivalve unit. after which it will groan like the wookie. second that--get your active working as it should.

[Jehangir]

I had replaced my accumulators 1 week after buying my car. However I am not sure how long it was running on semiflat accumulators before I bought it. Eitherway, I have been taking care of my car the best I know how since I've had it.

[3Q Jay]

I had replaced my accumulators 1 week after buying my car. However I am not sure how long it was running on semiflat accumulators before I bought it. Eitherway, I have been taking care of my car the best I know how since I've had it.

excellent! your Q will thank you and reward you.

[tkd_q45]

Qjay - is your mutivalve "groaning like a wookie"? This is what I fear will be the case if/when I replace my accumulators. May be doing this pretty soon but I'll stab myself in the eye if it's going to make my car make such noises!

[3Q Jay]

Hey Tom, pretty sharp! you remembered that the 'G' is gone...

anyway--for the first 6 weeks after i got it back up, the multivalve was chattering. Keith gave me a workaround--not an as oem new type fix, but one that took care of the groan, albeit with some sacrifice in the system performance. i'm not completely satisfied, and i purchased a used multivalve unit from redmanfx, although time has been tight and now i'm working out some more pressing things, before putting his mv in.

all i can say is i think the system is generally overdesigned and quite reliable. but, once something goes out--the rest will follow.

how is yours doing now??

PS- i'd prefer to not go into the details of the 'fix' out of respect for Keith's efforts--unless he wishes to chime in.

[tkd_q45]

Not so great - found evidence that my diver's side front has been bottoming bad enough to scuff the upper link mount (looks as if tire's been kissing the mount). I've been playing w/ride height adjustment (when I first had it I lowered it but should have just left it where it was) now back to medium/middle setting but still hearing occassional crunching on that side. I simply have not had the money to do right by my a. I fear I have damaged the system - most likely I have a bad acutator. Currently my car feels as if it is occassionaly shifting side to side (front end) on the hwy. So thus the reason why I'm thinking of saving my pennies and going back to non active. It's basically the same exspense of replacing all accumulators. I have a good shop that will install for $75 per corner. I'd hate to spend $1200+ and still have problems.