Feels like driving on snow or Ice???

[stovall]

Hi all,
My name is Brian & I am new to the forum. I purchased my 1997 Pathfinder last year around the end of October & the family & I really love it. She has close to 200,000 miles on her, but she has been very well kept. The engine compartment is almost as clean as it was when it came off the assembly line. I have started having a problem with -what feels like the rear end is slipping from side to side on the road. In the driver's seat it almost feels like (for you bikers out there" a "tank slapper" starting. It seems to be worse when I have the kids in the back seat, or a load of groceries in the very back of the vehicle. Most of the time when it starts I simply ease off of the gas & it corrects itself. I have never just let it keep doing it for fear of really tearing something up, or causing an accident, but sometimes it gets pretty rough. If I didn't know better I would say that the rear drive axles are coming out of their housing & then retracting back in. I do have a mixed set or tires on her right now, but it was doing it before I had a blowout. The tires are all the same size mind you, but the tread patterns are slightly different. I have been working on cars since I was 8 yrs old, but this is a new one on me!!! Anyone have some advice as to where to look? Is this something that Nissan has had problems with in the past?

Thanks for any advice!!!
Brian in GA

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO, Brian!

That swaying is caused by worn rear trailing arm bushings. In fact, there is a technical service bulletin about this - see RA97-002 - PATHFINDER VEHICLE PULL AND FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION EXCESSIVE PLAY. You can either replace the entire trailing arms themselves, or remove them and have a shop press in new bushings.

[Camelfilter]

If you decide to replace the entire arms, you might want to get them from Rock Auto. The lowers are 45$ ea and have the bushings installed.

Compare-Courtesy Nissan lists them ~83$ea (not sure if bushings are installed or not).

...I have a lower set from Rock Auto sitting in my Dinning room, pending time to get to do them...

Adding: I bought spare nuts & bolts from a large area Nissan dealer (~20$ for the lower set). I will likely have to cut mine off. If you live in a non-road salt State you might have luck re-using them.

[Towncivilian]

If you order anything from RockAuto, be sure to use a 5% discount code.

Also note that the FSM specifies the nuts holding in the trailing arms to be replaced if removed (not the bolts, though). If you would like OEM part numbers, provide your VIN.

[stovall]

Thank you soooo much!!! My wife was already talking about getting rid of the Pathfinder, but I knew it had to be something that would be an easy fix!!! I love this little car, & plan to drive it till it drops! One other question though, can you buy just the bushings & press them in yourself? I am a machinist by trade & could make any special driver that might be needed. I am on layoff right now & need to watch my wallet as much as possible!

Thanks again
Brian

[Towncivilian]

Can't imagine why you couldn't. There are aftermarket bushings (see RockAuto) as well as polyurethane bushings, and of course OEM parts are still an option.