Steering Kickback

[bobf645]

I just purchased a 2011 M35x with 28,000 miles. I'm getting a surprising amount of steering kickback at 55mph and above after going over an imperfection or bump in the road. Some bumps at highway speeds also result in what seems to be wheel bounce and shimmy. The tires look good and seem to be in-balance (no shimmy or vibrations on smooth roads at any speed). All steering components are tight. Anyone else have or had this issue?

Thanks,

Bob

[Larz]

Welcome to Nico ! I'm not a mechanic, but the only time I have experienced that with any car, it has been the suspension ( boots, wheel hub, struts, etc). However, a 3yo car with only 11,000 miles should not have suspension issues. Might be worth getting the front end checked though.
There are others in here that have much more knowledge than I. Soon as they see your post, they will have more ideas for you. Also it's Easter weekend, so you might not hear much until Monday.

[bobf645]

Thank you very much for your feedback. I'm hoping someone is able to report that they had the same problem and was able to resolve it....

I've been working on vehicles for almost 50 years, and during that time I rarely had a vehicle covered by a new-car warranty. The M37x is still covered, but in my experience it's best to have the problem and solution identified before visiting a dealer's service department (I have a few stories about past visits to service departments...).

Unless the steering kickback exhibited by my M37x is typical of the fleet I have a good idea where the problem may lie, but I'm curious if others have had the same problem or impression about their vehicle.

Thank you, and have a Happy Easter.

Bob

[lovemycarM35]

Take it too the dealer dude your under warranty

[bobf645]

You're absolutely right... That's my plan for today. Hopefully the Infiniti dealer will surprise me.

[svard75]

I just purchased a 2011 M35x with 28,000 miles. I'm getting a surprising amount of steering kickback at 55mph and above after going over an imperfection or bump in the road. Some bumps at highway speeds also result in what seems to be wheel bounce and shimmy. The tires look good and seem to be in-balance (no shimmy or vibrations on smooth roads at any speed). All steering components are tight. Anyone else have or had this issue?

Thanks,

Bob

It sounds like an alignment is due. Our suspension components are alloy to save weight. This means the torque settings a a bit lower and the materials expand and contract at different levels. It doesn't take much for the alignment to be off. I perform this service once per year.

[bobf645]

Thank you for your advice. it's conceivable that the alignment has been out-of-spec since day-one, but evenly wearing tires and no "pull" at any speed indicate that front and rear alignment is probably OK.

The M37, like just about all Japanese and many American vehicles have front caster, camber and kingpin inclination set by design; front caster, camber and kingpin inclination can't be adjusted and will not change unless the vehicle has been in an accident or unless a suspension component has been damaged or has worn out (e.g. bushings or ball joints). Toe-in is the only front suspension adjustment possible, and toe-in will not change unless something has been damaged or has worn out. if toe-in is out of spec, it was either previously adjusted incorrectly or a component has worn out and must be replaced (e.g. ball joints and inner or outer tie rod ends). Loose nuts and bolts can also result in an alignment problem, but finding loose fasteners or suspension components is not common and they would usually make themselves known through suspension clunks and noise and obvious handling problems

The M37 rear suspension has more available adjustment than the front suspension, but it too is quite secure unless something bends, breaks, or wears out.

That all said, if the dealer wants to check/adjust alignment under warrantee, that will be fine with me.

Thank you,

Bob

Thank you,

Bob

[svard75]

I guess I interpreted your term kickback as the steering wheel kicking side to side. Do you mean the steering wheel moves forward and backward when you hit bumps?

Our suspension does require alignment sans any obvious accident
Front: upper control arm to A arm mount (Camber) and the tie rod to steering knuckle mount (Toe)
#3


Rear: Upper control arm mount (Camber)
#15


If your tire wear is even and you don't have any signs of cuts/tears in the tread pattern then your alignment is fairly within spec.

[bobf645]

Sorry about not being clearer in my description. I used the term steering kickback to describe sharp left/right movements of the steering wheel after going over significant bumps in the road at "highway' speeds, or above 55 MPH or so.

With regard to alignment, the following verbiage is out of the 2011 M37 shop manual (the verbiage is the same for both the 2 and AWD version of the M37):

< PERIODIC MAINTENANCE > [AWD]
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Inspection INFOID:0000000006058169
DESCRIPTION
CAUTION:
• Camber, caster, kingpin inclination angles cannot be adjusted.
• If camber, caster, or kingpin inclination angle is outside the standard, check front suspension parts
for wear and damage. Replace suspect parts if a malfunction is detected.
• Kingpin inclination angle is reference value, no inspection is required.
• Measure wheel alignment under unladen conditions.
NOTE:
“Unladen conditions” means that fuel, engine coolant, and lubricant are full. Spare tire, jack, hand tools and
mats are in designated positions.
PRELIMINARY CHECK
Check the following:
• Tires for improper air pressure and wear.
• Road wheels for runout. Refer to WT-68, "Inspection".
• Wheel bearing axial end play. Refer to FAX-15, "Inspection".
• Transverse link or upper link ball joint axial end play. Refer to FSU-35, "Inspection" or FSU-36, "Inspection".
• shock absorber operation.
• Each mounting part of axle and suspension for looseness and deformation.
• Each of suspension member, shock absorber, upper link and transverse link for cracks, deformation and
other damage.
• Vehicle height (posture).
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• A four-wheel thrust alignment should be performed.
- This type of alignment is recommended for any NISSAN/INFINITI vehicle.
- The four-wheel “thrust” process helps ensure that the vehicle is properly aligned and the steering wheel is
centered.
- The alignment rack itself should be capable of accepting any NISSAN/INFINITI vehicle.
- The rack should be checked to ensure that it is level.
• Make sure the machine is properly calibrated.
- Your alignment equipment should be regularly calibrated in order to give correct information.
- Check with the manufacturer of your specific equipment for their recommended Service/Calibration Schedule.
ALIGNMENT PROCESS
IMPORTANT:
Use only the alignment specifications listed in this Service Manual.
• When displaying the alignment settings, many alignment machines use “indicators”: (Green/red, plus or
minus, Go/No Go). Never use these indicators.
- The alignment specifications programmed into your machine that operate these indicators may not be correct.
- This may result in an ERROR.
• Some newer alignment machines are equipped with an optional “Rolling Compensation” method to “compensate”
the sensors (alignment targets or head units). Never use this “Rolling Compensation” method.
- Use the “Jacking Compensation Method”. After installing the alignment targets or head units, raise the vehicle
and rotate the wheels 1/2 turn both ways.
- See Instructions in the alignment machine you're using for more information on this.

[svard75]

Sorry about not being clearer in my description. I used the term steering kickback to describe sharp left/right movements of the steering wheel after going over significant bumps in the road at "highway' speeds, or above 55 MPH or so.

With regard to alignment, the following verbiage is out of the 2011 M37 shop manual (the verbiage is the same for both the 2 and AWD version of the M37):

< PERIODIC MAINTENANCE > [AWD]
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Inspection INFOID:0000000006058169
DESCRIPTION
CAUTION:
• Camber, caster, kingpin inclination angles cannot be adjusted.
• If camber, caster, or kingpin inclination angle is outside the standard, check front suspension parts
for wear and damage. Replace suspect parts if a malfunction is detected.
• Kingpin inclination angle is reference value, no inspection is required.
• Measure wheel alignment under unladen conditions.
NOTE:
“Unladen conditions” means that fuel, engine coolant, and lubricant are full. Spare tire, jack, hand tools and
mats are in designated positions.
PRELIMINARY CHECK
Check the following:
• Tires for improper air pressure and wear.
• Road wheels for runout. Refer to WT-68, "Inspection".
• Wheel bearing axial end play. Refer to FAX-15, "Inspection".
• Transverse link or upper link ball joint axial end play. Refer to FSU-35, "Inspection" or FSU-36, "Inspection".
• shock absorber operation.
• Each mounting part of axle and suspension for looseness and deformation.
• Each of suspension member, shock absorber, upper link and transverse link for cracks, deformation and
other damage.
• Vehicle height (posture).
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• A four-wheel thrust alignment should be performed.
- This type of alignment is recommended for any NISSAN/INFINITI vehicle.
- The four-wheel “thrust” process helps ensure that the vehicle is properly aligned and the steering wheel is
centered.
- The alignment rack itself should be capable of accepting any NISSAN/INFINITI vehicle.
- The rack should be checked to ensure that it is level.
• Make sure the machine is properly calibrated.
- Your alignment equipment should be regularly calibrated in order to give correct information.
- Check with the manufacturer of your specific equipment for their recommended Service/Calibration Schedule.
ALIGNMENT PROCESS
IMPORTANT:
Use only the alignment specifications listed in this Service Manual.
• When displaying the alignment settings, many alignment machines use “indicators”: (Green/red, plus or
minus, Go/No Go). Never use these indicators.
- The alignment specifications programmed into your machine that operate these indicators may not be correct.
- This may result in an ERROR.
• Some newer alignment machines are equipped with an optional “Rolling Compensation” method to “compensate”
the sensors (alignment targets or head units). Never use this “Rolling Compensation” method.
- Use the “Jacking Compensation Method”. After installing the alignment targets or head units, raise the vehicle
and rotate the wheels 1/2 turn both ways.
- See Instructions in the alignment machine you're using for more information on this.

Ah yes the infamous tramlining do-you-have-a-tramlining-steering-issue ... 12545.html

Perhaps the tires are unevenly worn between each other and/or cupping causing the pull at speed? Most of the comments under that thread seem to indicate new tires eliminate the issue. If that's the case then it's uneven tire wear that is causing this. What causes uneven tire wear bad suspension geometry that is either due to no alignment or worn parts.

It's worth the read

[MOWellsinVA]

I'm having the same problem. However, my car is a 2007 with 98,000 miles on it. I suspect that I need new bushings. The shocks were replaced less than four months ago. Starting to get the occasional creaking sound, but mainly it's the harshness when going over road defects and the jerking of the steering wheel from side to side. Steering also feels bit vague, even with new alignment it feels just a little "off". Sway bar bushings were replaced under extended warranty a year and a half ago due to loud creaking.

[bobf645]

I brought my vehicle to Manhasset Infiniti last week. To my surprise they found worn lower control arm bushings and replaced both control arms under warranty. Vehicle response to cross winds and road imperfections is MUCH better. While the vehicle was at the dealer I had the opportunity to drive an almost new Infiniti Q50. M, G and Q50/70 (without "steer-by-wire) vehicles have virtually identical front suspensions (different "tuning"); the Q50's steering kickback was a lot less than what I had been experiencing with my M37x, but surprisingly more than on my 2003 Maxima with 200,000 miles. I suppose that's just the difference between vehicle designs....

I was very pleasantly surprised with my interaction with Manhasset Infiniti. They listed to my observations and found and fixed the problem very efficiently and quickly. I haven't been to a dealer's service department for a while; the last time was a visit to a Nissan dealer and that visit ended with the service manager throwing my keys at me. Of course, that was after being presented with "diagnosis" and I asked if I was dealing with incompetence, dishonesty, or both. Turned out to be both....

[MOWellsinVA]

It is shocking that you would have so much premature wear on your lower control arm bushings with such low mileage, but it's what I suspected would turn out to be the problem, based upon your description of the issues you were having. I have no doubt that refreshing the front end bushings on my car would help with my, similar, issues. I'm tempted to use polyurethane replacement bushings for longer life.

[bobf645]

I'm very surprised too. I just purchased the vehicle so I don't know how it was driven, but that's one of the risks in buying a used car. Beyond the bushing issue the vehicle is in excellent condition and has a otherwise unremarkable service history. The service writer at Infiniti said that they have seen the bushing problem before, but only time will tell how the vehicle holds up. Fortunately, I've always had very good luck with used vehicles from Japanese manufacturers, and hopefully my experience will be the same with the M37x.