When we bought this car (Mar 2007) it was pulling to the right, but was a fairly smooth ride considering the car had been sitting for two years and needed new tires. We put Falken Ziev 512's on, balanced, etc., (air pressure 32 lbs per recommendation). Great ride, still pulled right. Took it to have it aligned and was told that it needed a new left control arm. Ordered and had it put on and car aligned. Immediately after alignment I noticed a shimmy in the steering wheel at speeds between 50 & about 62 mph. Pull to right seems a bit more exaggerated now as well. Any ideas? I did see the thread regarding vibration after an accident, didn't seem to apply to my issue. Also saw a post regarding pull and Falken tires, but for me the pull was there before the Falkens. Help, please?
94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right
Re: 94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right (J30girl)
Are you able to put the front end in the air, with the front wheels suspended in the air?
If so, then do that, and wiggle the front tires side to side quickly. You're not really looking to turn the wheels from right to left, just see if there is any movement of the wheels side to side to indicate that something is loose.
Are there any noises associated with the vehicle's suspension? Something like a strut clunk when going over bumps?
If so, then I'd look hard at the inner and outer tie rods to see if there is any play in them at all. That will also cause a pull, as well as noise. The inners can cause noise, the outers not so much.
Also, when the lower control arm was replaced, I would be curious if the tech that did it tightened up the control arm with the suspension hanging down, instead of tightening it up with the suspension under compression (on the ground). I doubt that he did, as it's a PITA.
Did you get a sheet with the alignment specs on it? Knowing what the current readings are would help a lot as well. You might have a caster issue that he didn't address.
If so, then do that, and wiggle the front tires side to side quickly. You're not really looking to turn the wheels from right to left, just see if there is any movement of the wheels side to side to indicate that something is loose.
Are there any noises associated with the vehicle's suspension? Something like a strut clunk when going over bumps?
If so, then I'd look hard at the inner and outer tie rods to see if there is any play in them at all. That will also cause a pull, as well as noise. The inners can cause noise, the outers not so much.
Also, when the lower control arm was replaced, I would be curious if the tech that did it tightened up the control arm with the suspension hanging down, instead of tightening it up with the suspension under compression (on the ground). I doubt that he did, as it's a PITA.
Did you get a sheet with the alignment specs on it? Knowing what the current readings are would help a lot as well. You might have a caster issue that he didn't address.
Re: 94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right (Cyclemut)
We will certainly try the wiggling of the tires.
No there is no sound associated with the shimmy. I will ask the tech how he tightened the control arm and I will also get the alignment specs and post them asap.
Thanks so much!
No there is no sound associated with the shimmy. I will ask the tech how he tightened the control arm and I will also get the alignment specs and post them asap.
Thanks so much!
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maxnix
- Posts: 22627
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:11 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Re: 94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right (J30girl)
Welcome J30girl
Post your alignment numbers.
Post your alignment numbers.
Re: 94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right (J30girl)
Could your front hubs need replacing? Maybe the right one is going out causing the bearings to grab slightly which is making your car steer to the right. Just a guess.
Re: (Cyclemut)
Okay, my husband did the front tires wiggle test last night:
Right front tire wiggled a bit side to side. Not much, but definitely noticeable. No movement up and down (vertically).
Left front tire - no wiggling side to side nor up and down.
What does this tell us?
Right front tire wiggled a bit side to side. Not much, but definitely noticeable. No movement up and down (vertically).
Left front tire - no wiggling side to side nor up and down.
What does this tell us?
Re: 94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right (maxnix)
Thanks for the welcome! My husband is calling the alignment place and getting the specs today. I will post them as soon as I get them.
Re: (J30girl)
I would replace the hub as it should be tight on both sides. Infinitipartsusa.com shows you can replace the bearings or the entire hub. I don't know which would be easier.
http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=1
http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=1
Actually, if there is no movement up and down, then the hub is good. If the hub was wasted, then the up and down would have been verified.
The tie rod(s) would be bad at that point. When the vehicle is going down the road, the natural tendency for the tire is go outwards, depending on a couple of things, but to go outwards most of the time. If the tie rod(s) is(are) bad, then the tire will point outward on the right side, causing a pull to the right (since the tire is pointed in that direction, and the left side is toe'd inwards due to specs).
So, in short, I'd take the car back to the alignment shop and have them check all of your tie rods as well. If they find the right side bad (which your husband just verified), then have them replace the parts (you'll have to pay for the labor and the parts of course) and have them comp you the alignment that you'll have to do after the replacement of the parts. They should have caught the other worn parts during the inspection. Especially since they "caught" the bad lower control arm.
Basically, you got a little hosed, but the tech that did the alignment should have caught that the vehicle still pulled when he test drove the vehicle afterwards. Which leads me to believe that he did not test drive it.
A good alignment shop might even cut you a break on the labor to have the new parts installed due to the tech's lack of properly checking it over and repairing the vehicle.
The tie rod(s) would be bad at that point. When the vehicle is going down the road, the natural tendency for the tire is go outwards, depending on a couple of things, but to go outwards most of the time. If the tie rod(s) is(are) bad, then the tire will point outward on the right side, causing a pull to the right (since the tire is pointed in that direction, and the left side is toe'd inwards due to specs).
So, in short, I'd take the car back to the alignment shop and have them check all of your tie rods as well. If they find the right side bad (which your husband just verified), then have them replace the parts (you'll have to pay for the labor and the parts of course) and have them comp you the alignment that you'll have to do after the replacement of the parts. They should have caught the other worn parts during the inspection. Especially since they "caught" the bad lower control arm.
Basically, you got a little hosed, but the tech that did the alignment should have caught that the vehicle still pulled when he test drove the vehicle afterwards. Which leads me to believe that he did not test drive it.
A good alignment shop might even cut you a break on the labor to have the new parts installed due to the tech's lack of properly checking it over and repairing the vehicle.
Re: (Cyclemut)
Very interesting, thank you. One clarification: The shop that did the alignment didn't catch the control arm. Another guy did and we ordered the control arm from everythinginfiniti.com. When it came in, my husband took it and the car to the alignment place and they put on the control arm and "aligned" the car. When we picked up the car the tech said to my husband that the car pulled to the right, but that he didn't know why.
My husband just went by the alignment shop this afternoon and asked for the specs. He was told that there aren't any specs as the alignment was done manually and not on a computer. (Great, just great).
To try and head off any additional "hosings" could you tell me how difficult and therefore "labor intensive" replacing the tie rod should be? I'm going to check with everythinginfiniti and also another sight that was referred to on here for pricing of the part.
Thanks for all of the help with this. We would be lost without it.
My husband just went by the alignment shop this afternoon and asked for the specs. He was told that there aren't any specs as the alignment was done manually and not on a computer. (Great, just great).
To try and head off any additional "hosings" could you tell me how difficult and therefore "labor intensive" replacing the tie rod should be? I'm going to check with everythinginfiniti and also another sight that was referred to on here for pricing of the part.
Thanks for all of the help with this. We would be lost without it.
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maxnix
- Posts: 22627
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:11 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Re: (J30girl)
Find a Hunter shop. No alignment is done these days without a computer.
Go to http://www.tirerack.com and look for an installer in your area and read the reviews. You can narrow it down very quickly.
Go to http://www.tirerack.com and look for an installer in your area and read the reviews. You can narrow it down very quickly.
Re: (Cyclemut)
Another question: How do we know (or do we have to trust Mr. Alignment) which tie rod has to be replaced? I'm looking at everythinginfiniti and see an inner and an outer. Do we replace both just because or what? Please forgive the ignorance. This just isn't my thing. I have a feeling it will be in the near future though.
Re: 94 J30 New Shimmy & pull to the right (maxnix)
I don't know if you saw my post a bit earlier this afternoon. If not, I just wanted you to know that when my husband asked for the alignment specs he was told that "there aren't any". The alignment was done manually instead of with/on computer. Just our luck.
Re: (maxnix)
Perfecto! Thanks! I wish the rest of my day could go this smoothly. I got a call this morning from an investigator with the police dept in Mesquite TX saying that my identity has been stolen. It's been downhill from there. I'm caught on the bureaucratic bicycle and can't seem to get off.
Re: (J30girl)
Wow! Sounds like you're having a rough time.
If you go to a reputable shop, they'll be straight with you and tell you which tie rod is bad. If you're at all shaky on it, replace the inner and outter, for peace of mind.
Doing an alignment manually is left for solid front axle guys only. Tape measure and a test drive is all those things need (but only for toe-in and setting a straight steering wheel, camber and caster isn't messed with unless a full alignment is requested on those rigs [read Powerstroke Fords, Cummins Dodges, Jeeps, etc.])
But for any IFS equipped vehicle, then it's a computer alignment all the way, no matter what.
Your guy just took your money. No alignment was performed. If there was, then a copy would have been in your history with the copy of your last repair order. Change shops and get the word out to your friends that the shop took you for a ride.
Good luck with the identity theft. That's a rough road, and perhaps the car pulling a little right isn't such a big deal right now.
If you go to a reputable shop, they'll be straight with you and tell you which tie rod is bad. If you're at all shaky on it, replace the inner and outter, for peace of mind.
Doing an alignment manually is left for solid front axle guys only. Tape measure and a test drive is all those things need (but only for toe-in and setting a straight steering wheel, camber and caster isn't messed with unless a full alignment is requested on those rigs [read Powerstroke Fords, Cummins Dodges, Jeeps, etc.])
But for any IFS equipped vehicle, then it's a computer alignment all the way, no matter what.
Your guy just took your money. No alignment was performed. If there was, then a copy would have been in your history with the copy of your last repair order. Change shops and get the word out to your friends that the shop took you for a ride.
Good luck with the identity theft. That's a rough road, and perhaps the car pulling a little right isn't such a big deal right now.