My QX4 feels really rough when driving..

[QX4dahuneys]

Hey guys,

New to the forum here. I've been experiencing with my 01 QX4 really rough when driving. I've had rotation and balancing done on my tires and also alignment and it feels really rough when driving. If I hit a small crack on the road, I mean my truck feels the roughness. I've had shocks and struts replaced about 2 years ago, not sure if it's time yet. Could someone advice me of what could be the issue? I drove my friends Pathfinder, same year as my truck and his truck feels very smooth. One thing though that I noticed about his Pathfinder, his steering wheel tended to be very straight and concentrated. My steering wheel for some reason feels very loose and sometimes I could feel that something is not right between my steering wheel and further in. Anyone please help.

[rhd itr]

sounds like the allignment to me. hmmif you said you already got an allignment done then im not sure whatelse it could be

[QX4dahuneys]

I remember a couple of years ago I was driving in DC and I hit a crack on the road and all of sudden I felt a snap on the steering wheel, ever since that day I've had this issue. Any other suggestions?

[rhd itr]

hmm maybe the axles. does it make any wierd sounds?

[rhd itr]

does it make any wierd noises?

[QX4dahuneys]

Nope none at all. I was thinking of doing an internal computer check, not sure if I should or not. Let me know..

[exvin]

You should take it in and get it checked, from what you are are describing, in my opinion it could be your axles or links.

I wonder if it could be also your control arm? Does your power steering work properly?

[timmack]

possible ball joint(s) or tie rod end(s)

[bmlawless]

I am thinking along the same line as others, but I am thinking that the original rubber bushings are all shot. How many miles are on your rig?

[Buzzman]

I remember a couple of years ago I was driving in DC and I hit a crack on the road and all of sudden I felt a snap on the steering wheel, ever since that day I've had this issue. Any other suggestions?

Sounds an awful lot like one or both of your stabilizer links are broken.This is the only thing I've ever had to replace on the suspension on my 02 Pathy by the way, and I've done them twice. Most recent was last month.Easy fix by the way.

[rhd itr]

i agree with buzzman on this one.it does sound like the stabalizer links

[WINNIPEGS_MOST_WANTED]

Just broke and fixed one of the links on mine.

It was making a popping/cluttering noise over bumps.

[QX4dahuneys]

Wow.. I'm amazed on all the responses, thank you for that. My truck currently has 117,XXX miles on it. I've never had any parts replaced on it besides the shocks and struts, maybe it's time that I check on it. What's a good place I can go to have his checked? I'm definiely not visiting the dealer, they'll probably charge me over 3k on the spot with labor. Last time I went into the dealer, I asked for a/c compressor be replaced and they were charging me over 1K to fix and replace......ridiculouos!! I understand they use "genuine parts" but they sure love sucking your wallet out.. Also could tires be an issue as well. I also noticed a big change when I bought tires last winter, I bought Uniroyals which I think they suck big time. I use to love my 1st set of tires which were Michelin LTX M/S.. Love those tires, expensive too... Let me know....

[timmack]

best advice for a local mechanic is word of mouth. ask around to some friends, neighbors and coworkers and get some input.

[timmack]

p.s. good luck trying to diagnose it yourself, ive had an intermittent vibration since i got mine almost 2 years ago. got new pads/rotors, wheel bearings, ball joints, steering rack, inner and outer tie rod ends, had tires rotated and balanced multiple times, and it hasnt gotten much better. the new rack fixed some of the issue. i got a set of sway bar end links that i have to throw on when i get the time, if that doesnt fix it im gonna do new struts and shocks, then bushings. it sucks replacing all this crap but by time its all done the whole front end will have basically been replaced so i shouldnt have issues for a long time.

[QX4dahuneys]

That would suck big time!! I sure don't want to go through the hassle of replacing a bunch of parts. I just want the issue to be pointed out and be done with. I'd really hate to replace everything on my front end and especially with our money issues going on. uggh..

[timmack]

yea man it sucks. and bad thing is its not me just going and replacing stuff, its been in to 3 different shops 4 different times now to get this fixed and every time i hear "heres the problem!" bull****. its getting old. good luck with it, it can get frustrating but there are alot of good mechanics that can find that kind of stuff pretty easily. part of my issue i think is that there are/were multiple issues. every time something gets replaced it gets a little better but never back to normal.

[bmlawless]

Last time I went into the dealer, I asked for a/c compressor be replaced and they were charging me over 1K to fix and replace......ridiculouos!!

That's actually not a bad price. I've paid $850 and $1200 to replace A/C in a couple of vehicles, and neither was at a dealership. The A/C on our 1991 Corsica (171k miles) quit and my trusted mechanic of 15 years told me it would be $800 "to start" so we sold it for $600.

[QX4dahuneys]

I went to a great mechanic to get the a/c comp. replaced, luckily he was a friend of my father so I got a great deal from him....paid $473.00 for labor. My mechanic got the parts from Infiniti and charged me the price I mentioned. I asked him "what about the parts", he was like "don't worry I'll take care of it". I was like "shoot, that's fine with me" in the end I was very happy.

[Buzzman]

Wow.. I'm amazed on all the responses, thank you for that. My truck currently has 117,XXX miles on it. I've never had any parts replaced on it besides the shocks and struts, maybe it's time that I check on it.

I think you may have answered your own question here.If it's an '01 with that many miles, I'll guarantee you that the stabilizer links are worn out. I'd replace them without even troubleshooting.(Mine is an '02 with 190,000 Kms on it, and I've just changed them for the second time).Up here I paid under $100.00 Cdn for the parts from the dealer, and replaced them myself in my driveway. It's an easy fix. If you have to take it to a mechanic, he should be able to do it in under an hour.It will be worth the money.

[QX4dahuneys]

Hey Guys thanks for all the responses, btw...what brands do you all recommend for the stabilizer links? Bushings? and axles? I'm thinking of replacing these items. Let me know.

[timmack]

ive always tried to stick with MOOG for chassis parts, havent had a bad one yet. axles im not sure.

[pathfinder9035]

check your ball joints for looseness and stabilizer links...does it clunk sometime? also check your wheel bearings for lack of grease and wear. i know i need to do all that! my pathfinder doesnt ride the same as it used to anymore...thats becaues i take it offraod and i pretend liek i am in the baja races and go through the trail real fast...ruins alot of suspension components.

[QX4dahuneys]

Thanks for all the responses. Well I had my mechanic take a look at my vehicle and for what I understood it is the stabilizer links and also the bushings (is that what there called?). I'm not a car wiz so I don't know much. He stated their not expensive to replace and wouldn't charge me labor, just the parts. Sweet!! I'll let you know the outcome of it.

[timmack]

did he say what bushings? the bushings from the stabilizer links or some others?

[QX4dahuneys]

All I heard was bushings...

[timmack]

make sure he doesnt try to charge you for the bushings for the stabilizer links, they come with them pre-installed. look at the pic that buzzman posted, this is exactly what mine looked like too. i paid $31 U.S.D. a piece for mine.

[QX4dahuneys]

I will notate this....thanks timmack!! You guys are very helpful here.

[fueler]

All I heard was bushings...

barbara boosh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr81WEd7A4U

[pathfinder_se_black]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kvnbgcwZus