60mph+ shudder/wobble on steering wheel (2001 pathfinder)

[Leonard4]

I just replaced my rotors about 5 months ago, had bad wobble when I'd brake while doing freeway speeds. So I installed new rotors, new pads, new inner and outer wheel bearings and seal, everything was perfect. Then after talking with my father, who helped do the install a few weeks ago, he mentioned he didn't torque down the wheel lock nut. So I managed to find the lock nut socket online and tore everything down and torqued it down to ~60ft/lbs which was inbetween what the service manual called for (52 - 70ft/lbs if I recall).

Now I'm experiencing some wheel shudder/wobble at freeway speeds, car is fine under 60, but anything over and i get really bad shuddering. Is it possible that the outer wheel bearings are shot from not having them torqued/set into place? Only other thing I can think of would be bad U-joints but was hoping someone else has had a similar problem and could help out. Car has ~127k miles, never had any other major problems.

Thanks!

[Towncivilian]

The problem is most likely caused by worn rear trailing arm bushings. Replace them all and your problem will disappear.

[Leonard4]

Interesting, I hadn't thought about it being a rear end issue since it feels like its coming from the front/steering. Aside from the wobble/shuddering from the front end it trails straight if I let go of the steering wheel at lower speeds. Was hoping for something easier than 8 bushings to replace and press out / in.

[fzrr]

I'll be interested to know what the fix is for you in the end. I have a similar issue with my Pathy at the moment.

[Leonard4]

Haven't had a chance to do any work yet, but under a pretty much full load of camping gear I noticed that it doesn't shudder at all at the speeds it did before. Makes me think that since the back end was under load the control arms couldn't "wobble" or shudder. Going to be expensive to replace all of those! Will try to look at them this weekend and post back if they're trashed or not.

[videoguyjh]

Had a similar issue with QX4 a couple years ago...the steering wheel would shake pretty violently at high speeds. A simple tire balancing did the trick!

[Carlsbad]

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

If I read what you wrote correctly, you torqued the front bearing lock ring to 60 ft lbs and left it torqued.

You are supposed to torque it to 60-70 ft lbs to seat the bearings. Then you untorque it and retorque to 15 in-lbs (1.25 ft lb).

My guess is driving it with the excessive torque trashed the bearings and could have trashed the axle. That is what is causing your shudder, loose front wheel bearings. This is how cars that you see along the side of the road lose front wheels, the axle fails from overheating due to a failed wheel bearing.

I would pull it apart and check it again before driving it further than around town (shouldn't heat up the axle much driving around town).

--Jerry

[Leonard4]

I made sure I torqued the wheel lock nut to 62lbs then backed the nut out and re-torqued the nut to 13lbs. Read a few horror stories of people not loosening and re-torquing the lock nut down.