rear end sway/twist when Power is applyed and let out

[darknessprevails]

i did a quick search to look for a previous thread Found one somewhat like it not sure it the problem was fixed with that resolution or not or if it even was the same problem. so forgive me if its a complete repeat

anyhow the rear end of the pathfinder begins to sway/ hunker down to the driver side rear when you apply gas (well say while on the interstate because thats it worst time) while the front still stays on track its so bad to the point if you drove the car and didnt know of the problem you might end up in another lane. then once agin when you unapply power it returns our sways back to the other side.

you can constantly repeat this action by taping the gas on and off to make the rear of my pathfind (shake its butt) while driveing.

So after getting this i took a look under the car at all the sway bar links shock mounts and all rubber joints mounts and bolts to make sure the diff cratle wasnt broken..everything looks good only noticble thing i can find is by pushing the car front to back the dif seems to twist rather much. but could of course be normal for this truck..i am buying new shock and some bushings tonight gonna toss them on tommrow.but if there is any other help our idea you could offer it would be great!

i ll get everyone some pics of the pathy up soon : )

[fueler]

common problem. Worn rear trailing arm bushings. Although you dont know if its the rear upper or rear lower... the diff should not twist. See if you can try and pinpoint which bushing is causing the free play in your axle. Ive heard that the rear lower is the most common. Thats also the same bushings that gave out on mine, giving me the same symptoms you described. I replaced them with polyurethane bushings off http://www.4x4parts.com and it ended up being cheaper AND stronger than stock. Drives straight as an arrow now, and feels very solid and precise on the turns. You can always replace the arms themselves with factory ones, the bushings are already pressed in which makes the job 100x easier but the parts cost a lot more ($200 per each arm) and you will probably have the same problem in 100k miles

[Lars]

Hey Fueler, did you do the bushings yourself or have them done? I bought the poly bushings but am debating whether or not to do the job myself. If you did it yourself, how hard was it?

I also obtained a set of lower arms from a junk yard, but the mounting tabs for the brake lines are slightly different, one tab vs two. The yard swears they came off a 1998 Pathy. Anyone know if there are different lower arms? My pathy is a 1998 2wd 5spd... thinking they may have come of a 4x4?

[darknessprevails]

thx for the help ya i ve become to rule this out myself i replaces the shocks tonight which were blown i was suprised to find this being such good care that has been takeing to this fully street only pathfinder. i think its gonna end up being the driver side lower bushing odering tommrow asap

i am not sure if there is a write on up this here yet but i think i might be willing to just do it seems to be a very comman problem i am suprised this hasnt become or was a recal at some point. there not even a thing about it on the national highway safty page.