Where's the rub?

[TheJapJag]

There are two basic kinds of car people.Consumers and Preservers.

I am a Consumer of a 1996 J-30 144K.It deserves better than me. I've been consuming this car for over three years, and I do love it. The only thing I do right is that I allow it to warm up before putting in gear, and all trips are well over 10 miles all highway.

I have two dumb questions that the mods might want to add to the Newbie/Dummies section:

1) I wouldn't mind better gas mileage. I think I get 22 HWY.Cheapest/easiset solution? Plugs? May I have a link to get the right ones?

2) Links to paint charts for all years of J-30s?

Now for the advanced question:"WHERE IS THE RUB?"

When my car is suddenly thrust verticly (such as hitting a speedbump at say 10 MPH) or going through a dip in the road, or driving up/down a curb ramp, I hear and feel a "rub" from the front end.

Something is moving and rubbing.It is not a clunk. There is no hard "bang" that you get when you hit a massive pothole. It's a groan. Something is rubbing when there is sudden vertical travel. Most noticable on dips.

The tonality of the sound is very similar to a heavy wooden chair being dragged over a wooden surface, though brief, maybe a half second.

Another clue:After a hard break, I will sometimes just barely hear it as the front end "lifts" back to normal position, (though much quieter and lower in pitch because it's moving slower on the rise). So it really seems to be a vertical" issue.

RECENT SUSPENSION PARTS:It started happening a month prior to inspection was due.The Inspection station replaced both Radius Arms, and two rubber bushings (that were seated under what looked like a central Tie Rod-- Forgive my naivete on the proper names of the parts). The parts were a bit tired.

Surprisingly, all the parts and labor were under $450-- not bad at all.They kinda like me there. Maybe that was the reason it was cheap.

The new parts tightened it up a bit, but this rub is still happening.They could not see the problem, so they gave it an inspectin sticker. (

SHOCKS:Mind you, I am a consumer, so the shocks are original. At 144,000 miles, shocks are supposed to be tired. The vertical hold of the shocks is clearly not as new, but I never bounce more than once, so I find it acceptable. (Actually the shocks are pretty amazing performance @ 144K.)

WHERE IS THIS RUB?I really don't think it's coming from the shocks. The garage guys didn't think so either. They were also not certain that the new parts would correct the rub issue. And they were right. It did not.

HOW DOES IT FEEL?I do feel like there is a little extra vertical travel in this car above and beyond what the old age of the shocks would cause. This is not based on any hard evidence. It is just a speculation based upon my sense of "feel".Those are all of the clues I can provide.

Anyone else have any ideas or experience on this "rub", (or just care to chastise my lack of care and knowledge of this mighty nice car?)

gratcie

Modified by TheJapJag at 5:43 PM 4/27/2007
Modified by TheJapJag at 7:54 AM 4/30/2007

[gr8scott72]

1) I wouldn't mind better gas mileage. I think I get 22 HWY.Cheapest/easiset solution? Plugs? May I have a link to get the right ones?

Your car was only rated at 18 city and 23 highway so if you're getting 22 then you're doing better than most J owners. If you want much better than that, you'll need to consume a different, lighter car. (Hybrid comes to mind. )

2) Links to paint charts for all years of J-30s?

This is a sticky at the top of the forum.

Now for the advanced question:"WHERE IS THE RUB?"

When my car is suddenly thrust verticly (such as hitting a speedbump at say 10 MPH) or going through a dip in the road, or driving up/down a curb ramp, I hear and feel a "rub" from the front end.RECENT SUSPENSION PARTS:It started happening a month prior to inspection was due.The Inspection station replaced both Radius Arms, and two rubber bushings (that were seated under what looked like a central Tie Rod-- Forgive my naivete on the proper names of the parts). The parts were a bit tired.

Sounds like the bushing on your tension bars are going or gone. I don't know if that what you are describing as what was replaced but it is coming from the tension bar bushings.

[Gerardjg]

2) Links to paint charts for all years of J-30s?

1996 Infiniti J30 Color Description Color Code

Beige Pebble Metallic Clearcoat CG2 Brown Pearl Clearcoat CP2 Forest Green Pearl Clearcoat DP0 Ivory Quartz Tri-Coat Pearl KH1 Black Obsidian Clearcoat KH3 Silver Crystal Metallic Clearcoat KL0 Dark Red Purple Metallic Clearcoat LP2

Your color code is under the hood on the drivers side firewall

Now for the advanced question:"WHERE IS THE RUB?"

Is your lower engine cover fully secured and not deformed in any way.

[TheJapJag]

@ gr8scott72, I think that my tension bar bushings were replaced. But I'm not quite sure. I'll have to find some kind of diagram to more precisely indicate what rubber parts they replaced.

@ Gerardjg,Interesing angle. I will inspect it.

Thank you both for the suggestions.