97 QX4-Front end/wheel shake at speed and bumps

[brent6017]

Hey guys, my 97 QX4 is having an issue. Before, at highway speed, the steering wheel would sometimes shake a little, and I thought this was because my rotors need turned (the brakes need done, just haven't gotten to it yet). But now, it has gotten worse. Sometimes when I go over uneven pavement, the suspension becomes unsettled and the steering wheel shakes badly, and now it happens worse at highway speed as well. I thought maybe I had a bad strut, but now am starting to think a tie rod end or something is bad. How do you diagnose this? Is it hard to change a suspension piece like that? I still might change the struts just since they need done anyway, but I don't think that is all that is the problem. What do you think?

[fueler]

It could possibly be an unbalanced tire.... does it vibrate violently above 60 mph?

[screwinitupagain]

Yeah bro that sounds like you're unbalanced. Any local little oil-change or tire station can do that for ya.

[KoukiS14]

Yeah bro that sounds like you're unbalanced. Any local little oil-change or tire station can do that for ya.

Welcome to NICO!

My family lives in your area...... that's important, because... well, I dunno.

Anyway, welcome.

[pathfinder_se_black]

go to the local tire shop and get them re-balanced, sometimes they are lazy and dont want to mess with it.

[brent6017]

Yeah, I pulled the wheels off the front and got underneath and looked at everything. All the tie rod ends look ok and feel ok, and everything else seems nice and tight. I know it needs new struts, so I will be doing that soon for sure but I don't think that is the cause of this problem. I will have to get the tires balanced here quickly, as this just drives me nuts. Thanks for the help.

[fueler]

Also - what kind of tires is the QX4 on?? I had some 31" M/T tires (Nankang, Mudstar made in Taiwan) and (i guess) they had some internal belt separation, they caused by whole front end and steering wheel to vibrate violently, wheel balancing did not help. Slapping some BFG all terrains on, solved all my problems.

[Acey]

Check your rear control arm bushings. Sounds like the sway of death to me.

[useasis]

My '96 Pathfinder exhibited symptoms mentioned far into this forum. My car would like sway like a boat in rough/wavy water & darn near go out of control until I slowed down. This occured during bumps, uneven pavement (especially) & at speed. The CURE is the lower control arms on the rear axle. These are the long ones about 18" & one on each side. The '96 & '97 Nissan Pathfinder & the QX4 shared this problem with the bushings wearing out. Best to buy the control arms, comes with bushings pressed in & cost right around $100 each. Simple repair, two bolts on each arm. Good luck! This CURED mine! There are pix on posts farther in the Forum.Big Al

[pelcatad]

Brent I have a 97 QX4 too and this same problem has developed on mine. I have new Michelins balanced, and installed new struts. I have had three people look at the front end but no one can find a problem. Did you ever find out what was causing this on your QX4?
You can email me direct at [email protected].

[Iceman2989]

http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/T5LSTPR50NPCO9CTL/p2

This site proved what was wrong for me, sounds like youve got the same problem. check it out