My 01 QX4 Shakes Violently! Pleas help!

[Empty V]

Hey everyone, I've been having some serious issues with my 01 QX4. When driving anywhere between 55mph and 80mph my car starts to violently shake left and right. It's not shaking through the steering wheel it's shaking through the body. I replaced the shocks and struts and it help a little but didn't fix it. I also had the tires rebalanced twice and that wasn't it either. Any ideas? Someone is looking at it now and I'm waiting to hear the diagnosis but I'd like to see if anyone knows what this might be before I pay someone to work on it.

Thanks for the help!

Billy

[Lars]

The 96 - 98 Pathfinders had issues with the rear bushings that made them sway side to side around that speed. Supposedly this was corrected sometime in '98 but I've heard of others with the "upgraded bushings" that have had the same problem.

[Empty V]

The 96 - 98 Pathfinders had issues with the rear bushings that made them sway side to side around that speed. Supposedly this was corrected sometime in '98 but I've heard of others with the "upgraded bushings" that have had the same problem.

Well I just got the call and they told me it is the bushings and it will be about $450 for 4 bushings, 2 hours labor and an alignment. After some NICO searching this sounds about right. What a bummer! Hopefully this will fix my problem, if not then I'm not sure what to do from here.

Thanks for the post, it does offer some reassurance.

Billy

[Lars]

No problem! Sounds about right on the $$. Although I've heard of people paying more, and some paying a bit less... I fear that I may have to have the bushings on my Pathy done within a year or so. It doesn't shake violently, but I can feel a bit of lateral movement in the suspension.

[W O T]

Bushings DONT cause voilent chaking through the body like that, they were and become old and sometimes stiffen up, but the way you are describing it theres no way in hell its the bushings

[fueler]

yeah bushings would cause slow side to side swaying.... a fast vibration is related to wheels / brakes / driveline

[Empty V]

Maybe I described it incorrectly. It is like a side to side swaying. It's not a vibration, you could also say it's rocking side to side, it's not a sharp staccato movement at all. After the mechanic relaxed, because it scared the crap out of him, he compared it to being on a boat with the swells hitting you from the side. He had a 2nd mechanic drive it just to double check. He also took the car apart in order to inspect the bushings and said they need to be replaced. The cars has 160K on it and has never had any major services performed. He guaranteed me that the bushings are the problem and it will be like night and day after they're replaced and the alignment is done. For some reason I believe him. His shop has been around for about 20 years and he "seems" to be a really honest guy. Obviously I'm fairly convinced that this is the problem, if you guys still think that this is not it I'd love to hear more opinions.

Billy

yeah bushings would cause slow side to side swaying.... a fast vibration is related to wheels / brakes / driveline

[fueler]

read this http://www.4x4parts.com/ubbthr...16933

[Lars]

Great link! Thanks Fueler!!

read this http://www.4x4parts.com/ubbthr...16933

[Empty V]

Thanks Fueler, that definitely confirms what this new to me mechanic is saying. I'm getting it fixed today and will report back.

Billy

read this http://www.4x4parts.com/ubbthr...16933

[pathfinder_top_gear5]

i have the the exact problem. I have to go see what the problem is too

[Empty V]

Well, I just got my QX4 back and it drives like new! The mechanic that worked on my car had to install a camber kit on the passenger side(already knew it was off) which I hope will really help my tires wear more evenly. This thing drives straight as an arrow and no more violent swaying left and right. No longer will I be embarrassed to take strangers on the freeway!

Billy

[joestrummer77]

Well, I'll tell you my story........

Bought my 2002 QX-4 in Dec 2005. Needed new rear tires, fine, done.

Rotated about 8 months later, and the shop told me all 4 were balanced. Drove on Interstate from shop and HOLY CR*P. I thought this thing was re-entering the atmosphere. The whole dash was listing about an inch, or so my eyes told me. Wrong. A rear, yes rear wheel was not balanced properly.

Took it back to shop. Again balanced the rears. Again on the Interstate, not as bad, but not to spec. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN PIS*ED.....fixed right finally.

Double check the rear balance before you do anything....I feel some mechanics when rotating neglect to balance rears. I'm telling you that front is easy to figure fast, but most people don't consider what an out-of-balance rear can do. My QX almost imploded!

Good luck,

Nick

[Empty V]

That's what I thought it was at first so I actually had all 4 of my tires rebalanced twice, obviously that wasn't it. Thanks for sharing your story, glad to hear that your QX4 is not inside out.

Billy

Well, I'll tell you my story........

Bought my 2002 QX-4 in Dec 2005. Needed new rear tires, fine, done.

Rotated about 8 months later, and the shop told me all 4 were balanced. Drove on Interstate from shop and HOLY CR*P. I thought this thing was re-entering the atmosphere. The whole dash was listing about an inch, or so my eyes told me. Wrong. A rear, yes rear wheel was not balanced properly.

Took it back to shop. Again balanced the rears. Again on the Interstate, not as bad, but not to spec. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN PIS*ED.....fixed right finally.

Double check the rear balance before you do anything....I feel some mechanics when rotating neglect to balance rears. I'm telling you that front is easy to figure fast, but most people don't consider what an out-of-balance rear can do. My QX almost imploded!

Good luck,

Nick

[Issac]

You know i am taking mine in for rotate and balance and i was thinking about the fairly big rocks that get stuck in the snow tires.

At that diameter, getting the rocks out of the wheel might actually make a difference.

Funny, but a little weight on the outside is much larger on inside. I bet they don't go picking rocks out at most places.

[joestrummer77]

Holy Cr*p - never thought of that! Nice thinking. I imagine the newer the tires/tread the more chance...

Nick

[Issac]

Well I didn't either for a long time. The snow tires go- tick tick tick , often from a rock that gets in the groove.

Some are quite big. At that distance from the hub, it would take much less weight. I think it is a compounding force too and not linear. So i will be in the parking lot with a screwdriver waiting my turn for balance.

[Issac]

Nissan has the arms for $89 out the door here. Comes with bushings and I checked the price of alternative bushing replacement and it does not make sense to do that way. unless you want poly. It might ride rougher with poly.4 bolts is pretty easy. Well if they come off, which is why i bought the bolts also.Seems all have this sooner or later. The 2002 has this problem so Nissan didn't get a handle on it.