2001 QX4 Violent Steering Wheel Shaking

[kkamakasi]

Year: 2001
Make/Model: Infiniti QX4 2WD
Mileage: ~198,000 miles

So I've been experiencing violent steering wheel shakes right aroung 65 - 70 mph for the past few years. I thought it was either a wheel balancing or an alignment issue. But I jacked the front off the ground today and noticed something weird.

When I grab the wheel at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and shake it, there is movement but none of the suspension components move. Rather, I saw the brake rotor move with the wheel! Both sides are doing this. When I grab the wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and shake it, there is also the same movement but it's not as much as when I grab the wheel at the other position.

My first guess is the wheel bearings are shot and there is some play.

Am I right in assuming it's the wheel bearings?

[ProudNissanFreak]

Could be wheel bearings or in my case (with another vehicle, same problem) it was the rotors themselves.

[kkamakasi]

How was it the rotors (in your case) when the wheel AND the rotors shake at the same time when you grab the wheel at 12-6 and shake it and both the wheel and the rotors move?

Or are you just referring to the steering wheel shaking at certain speeds?

[ARKQX33V6]

12-6 vibration, could be: lower ball joint, upper strut tower.
With front raised use a 5' pry bar and lift the wheel assembly while feeling the top of the strut tower for movement within the hood, hood up of course
9-3 vibration could be tie rods outer.

Rotor and wheel assembly will indicate nothing. Check calipers, brake pads in and out of car

Check CV joints, all suspension links with bounce of car, leverage with tools, even pipe wrench or large water pump pliers.

While driving check for thuds, bumps, clicks, toe in, camber, pulls to steering wheel. Check torque on no load steering wheel, creeks and noises lock to lock

Check tires and shocks for wear, scuff, shocks are noisy when weak.

[coledog188]

I just replaced my inner and outer bearings and rotors, previously I had replaced my struts, shocks, and sway bar links...No vibrations now, no grinding, everything is smooth and sounds great!

I had a big shimmy in my QX4 and my old Pathfinder before I replaced t he struts in both...Might want to check those first.

[Buzzman]

When I grab the wheel at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and shake it, there is movement but none of the suspension components move. Rather, I saw the brake rotor move with the wheel! Both sides are doing this. When I grab the wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and shake it, there is also the same movement but it's not as much as when I grab the wheel at the other position.

My first guess is the wheel bearings are shot and there is some play.

From past experience, looks like wheel bearings would be a good place to start.
The rotors and bearings are integral, if I remember right.
Quick troubleshooting idea: Adjust/tighten the bearings until the play is gone, then back off the nut a quarter turn. Then take it for a drive to see if the vibration is gone.
You may still have to replace them, but it's a start.