Noise from passenger side wheel front, tire wear on inside of tire

[bigdog76]

I need help from the boys here before I take it to get it fixed.

My 1996 O45 is making what seems to be a squeeking sound on the passenger tire wheel front well. That can be heard in the car while driving. I also notice the tire is wearing bad on the inside of the tire. When I press down with my weight on that side of the car the noise is very noticeable.

This is only on the passenger side of the car the driver side no issues.

What could this be coming from any ideals. 230,000 miles on her.

[bigdog76]

One thing to point out I had an alignment done about 3 months back But I dont think that would have set this problem. off.

The tire seams like the toe on it is not straight the tire is tappering out not lined straight up like the rear tires?

Any thoughts?

[bigdog76]

One quick note I also notice the cambridge on the tire is not straight up and down. I not sure that is what it is called cambrige but that is what is causing the tire to wear on the inside for sure .

[Infinitiguy19]

What about some suspension history please?

Struts, Spings, bushings...

[bigdog76]

Replaced the struts 3 years agoBushing I have never done. Springs no

[Infinitiguy19]

OK well springs are unlikely to produce any noise, but will affect ride quality.

How many miles are on the struts and what kind are they?

The bushings when bad could cause noise too, just thats I can't really narrow it down unless you can describe the noise a little better.

I sent you a TSB that might help you.

[goody90q45]

........that is what is causing the tire to wear on the inside for sure .

Worn upper links will wear out the inner sides of the tires. They cost about $100/ea and are easy to replace.

......My 1996 O45 is making what seems to be a squeeking sound on the passenger tire wheel front well.........

My experience is that worn upper links will eventually elongate the holes in the bracket it's mounted to and cause a squeaking noise. When you change links replace the bracket also if it shows signs of wear.

Take a look at your before and after alignment numbers. Is the camber close to the limit or out of spec? Upper links. Is the toe at the limit or out of spec? Tension rods. These are the two biggest wear items along with the struts and sometimes ball joints.

[maxnix]

Replaced the struts 3 years agoBushing I have never done. Springs no

Only 3? so the fourth is way down the road in wear relative to the other 3? How bizarre for that one axle!

Never any bushings, upperlinks, not even tension rod bushings in how may miles?

Unfortunately these cars are not self reparing and need tobe maintained.

You know where the source of this knowldge is, so read!

And please read your trunk.....someday........

[goody90q45]

Brian- Your dislexia is acting up again. He replaced all the struts 3 years ago, not 3 struts years ago.

[maxnix]

Brian- Your dislexia is acting up again. He replaced all the struts 3 years ago, not 3 struts years ago.

Must be the cambridge then!

No new gaiters on the shocks?

Those Infinity cars were always weird! Must be why we don't see very many of them on the road!

[bigdog76]

I have had the car since it had 140,000 on it and I have not replaced the tension rods bushings upper links. The shocks are tokico Blues they have about 50,000 miles on them.

How hard are the upper links to replace? I dont have a torque wrench or the proper jack to jack up the car so I might have to have this done.

Should I buy the oem parts and then have someone install them.

I have a buddy that would help be I suspect.

Any other ideals that could cause this?Should I replace both sides or just the one side??

[goody90q45]

Upper links are really easy to replace and should definately be done in pairs. There are adjustable aftermarket links available but you may not want those unless you're lowered and looking for negative camber.

Jack up the front, remove the wheel, and 2 long bolts are all that hold the link in. It's an easy DIY by yourself but a second person makes it that much easier. Ditto for the tension rods at about $100/ea. You'll need a front end alignment after replacing each so best to do it all at once if you've got the $$$.

Before you start replacing parts though take a look at the alignment numbers to see what's wearing out.

Don't forget the sway bar bushings ($20). This old f@rt did it by himself on the 90Q last week.

[qship96]

Purchase the pair of upper links{$100 each} and tension rods{$135 or so} from Joe at Scottsdale Infiniti and have them installed- any half decent gas station service guy with a lift can do these- very simple to do.

[mxr662]

Those Infinity cars were always weird! Must be why we don't see very many of them on the road!

There is no y in Infiniti. It causes issues for maxnix

[bigdog76]

Ok I checked it out.

The upper link passenfer side was shot out and the tension rods need replacing.

My buddy and I are going to replace both. I am going to press just the bushing back in on the tension rod that is the only bushing they sell separately.

Now on the lower control arm thoses are pricey at $270 each.I guess they call it a transverse link with ball joint they only sell it complete.I found a bunch of used ones on usedparts.com for like $30 bucks is it worth throwing a used one that is probley better than mine??????

[bigdog76]

I forgot to say I bought two brand new upper links for each side.

Now the lower control arm ball seat is shot out and I my buddy says that is the one that causing the noise of clanking I hear driving or speed bumps and bumpy roads at low speeds.

[maxnix]

Replacing wear itees with worn ones begs the question of how does one get the system to work as designed with worn and new items mixed together.

I would save the money until you can afford to build it back to OEM specification. You probably don't want to repeat this labor soon again, nor do you want to accelerate the wear on the new parts when they are overstressed by the failed parts.

Press the tension rod bushings with the arrows facing forward.
Modified by maxnix at 7:43 PM 5/2/2009

[bigdog76]

Replaced the upper control arms yesterday. They were shot out.

Now here is where it gets funny. I ordered the correct bushings for my car 1996 Q45 for the tension rods. Come to fine out whoever owned my car before replace the driver side with a tension rod that should have been for a 1996 Q45 Active and the part was different. They are larger in diameter and I could replace this one at that time. Good thing the bad one right now was on the passenger side. There are two different tension rods on each side no change on the ride. I now have an extra bushing and I think I want to track down a used tension rod that is the correct size so I can push this bushing into it and throw it on the ride otherwise I return it to Joe at Everything Infiniti and order the Active part no and press that in CRAZY huh I was pissed when this happened because I want to handle it all at once.

Car is riding better I would like to replace the lower control arms since the ball joints on theses are shot out on each side. Overall I am happy with the ride.

One question everyone says to get a alignment after you install theses and I have noticed no pull on the alignment. No since there is no adjustment on the caliper and it is only a toe adjustment how critical is this to have done??