spiceyfish

seems like every time you give me a perfectly good explanation of how to do this, i find more questions to ask. how do i realign the axle with a ratchet strap? i assume i'm going to bind the axle to something?

Awesome! dude, thanks so much. you've been extremely helpful! one last question: I can only find a how-to section on replacing all four control arms, upper and lower. am i just not looking hard enough? or can I use this tutorial and just leave out a couple steps? if so, which ones? EDIT: i dont know why that link isn't working - http://www.wallpaperama.com/forums/nissan-...inks-t6856.html

rust belt? i've never heard that term, so probably not. I live about 10 miles inland, so i'm pretty safe from the salty sea air (if thats what you're referring to). It sounds like the most expensive tool i'm going to need is an impact wrench so I suppose it would be cheaper to do it myself unless I need to buy replacement control arms (in which case it will end up costing about the same amount, it seems?). Everybody seems to have different ideas about whether its better to replace the entire control arm or just the bushings. Whats your take on it?

Yeah, the mechanic i went to comes really highly recommended though. So i'm thinking the next stop is going to be the dealer. ugh, EXPENSIVE!!!

Haha, I don't know. The mechanic I went to has a pretty good reputation around here, so I assumed anybody he referred me to would be legit. I'm sure as hell not going back to either of them, for anything.

Thats what I had read (everywhere). I shared my findings/suspicions about the rear control arms with the mechanic and then the tire guy, and they both had the same reaction: "you know there aren't any control arms in the rear, right?" I guess taking it to the dealer (or sears?) is going to be my best option. I don't have the tools or the knowledge to do this kind of work myself.

Thanks for the feedback everybody! I pretty much figured the guy was trying to scam me and as soon as I've got some cash i'm going to get on it. Whats the damage going to be on new control arms? I am flat broke because i just had to replace the alternator and pay the new registration, so i'm going to have to save up...

I have a 1997 Pathy (130,000 miles) which has (over the last ~5,000 miles) developed the, apparently, infamous and all-too common death wobble. After reading through the forums here and quite a few other articles, it became seemingly obvious what the issue is: I'm probably driving around on worn out control arm bushings. I went to the local mechanic today and told him what I think the issue is. He said the bushings were likely the issue but I would need an alignment after the work was done (which I guess he was unable to do) and that I might as well go to this tire place down the street that also does this kind of work. I'm thinking, OK I guess that makes sense, and head down the street. There, I am told that the shaking doesn't have anything to do with the control arms but that I might need to replace the rear shocks and buy a shiny new $600 set of tires because my currents tires have been "cupped" or "cut" (I couldn't understand a &^%*ing word he was saying). Now, I'm thinking: Gee, big surprise. The sketchy dude working at this tire place is recommending that I buy tires... I would have checked out another place but it was about 5:30 and everybody else was closed. It seems like I just need to stick to my guns and get the control arms worked on by somebody. However, considering that the only work I've done, myself, on this car has been the oil changes and replacing the alternator (last week): I'm also thinking that it would't hurt to solicit a few opinions from you cyber-savvy, pathy enthused, gear heads. What's going on here?! I mean; I imagine that new rubber would probably help, but I somehow doubt that it's going to solve the problem.