Derek Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) Gents, I am a long time pathfinder fan! I have had 2 1995 SE's with suspension and body lifts and I love them. recently I trading my 95 pathy for a 2003 Qx4. I bought it with higher mileage (80k) but It runs and drives silk. I am very familar with the mechanicals but I am stuck on a vibration issue I can't seem to resolve. At a dead stop, then starting off hard I have a vibration threw what feels like the drivetrain at 3500-4000 RPM (peak torque). It is smooth if I starting off easy, and when I hammer it on the highway. While moving there is no vibration at all, even if I hammer it, ONLY from a stop getting hard on the gas (my normal take off). I had it on the lift and sullivan tire just put 4 new tires on, flushed the tranny with full synthetic, and I changed the rear diff fluid. Its still there. I also checked the U-joints and they are tight as well? I brought it to infiniti and they told me the trailing arm bushings were gone, last night I went under the truck to check and everything seemed very tight on all links? ? Any ideas? There is a little play on the lower control arms, does the truck have to be lifted to check this? I don't see how an 2003 could need bushings already? Edited October 8, 2007 by Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pezzy Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 They are known to go, although it does seem rather soon... One thing that will fix the vibration, don't take off in such a hurry! You'll save gas too! Welcome to NPORA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted October 6, 2007 Author Share Posted October 6, 2007 They are known to go, although it does seem rather soon... One thing that will fix the vibration, don't take off in such a hurry! You'll save gas too! Welcome to NPORA! Thanks! and yes I have a heavy foot, I think I'm very used to my 155hp 95 pathfinder. Do you think this vibration could come from those bushings being warn? you would think I would feel the rear end move around but I don't? Its a weird issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 Thanks! and yes I have a heavy foot, I think I'm very used to my 155hp 95 pathfinder. Do you think this vibration could come from those bushings being warn? you would think I would feel the rear end move around but I don't? Its a weird issue. Gents, I see there are no replys? Has anybody ever had this problem?? My good friend has one and he just told me he was having the same problem (02 Qx4), then I went down to test drive my buddys 03 Pathfinder and found the same thing!! I shook everything under the truck and nothing felt loose, there was alittle play in the bushings but nothing that would cause this type of vibration? Its only when you start off hard at 3500-4500 rpm you get a shake or vibration in the whole drivetrain? No loose U joints, could it be the transfer case? Anybody with a 01-04 pathfinder please let me know what you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5523Pathfinder Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 It is very possible that those bushings are worn. I have replaced many of them, and I work at a Infiniti dealer. I replaced al lot of them on pathfinders when I worked at nissan. If you unload the suspension, you should be able to see the bushings torn or begining to. Usually, as I have noticed, the upper ones go first. I can make the rear end to all sorts of crazy stuff too. By the way, my name is Derek also, glad you found the site. Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 It is very possible that those bushings are worn. I have replaced many of them, and I work at a Infiniti dealer. I replaced al lot of them on pathfinders when I worked at nissan. If you unload the suspension, you should be able to see the bushings torn or begining to. Usually, as I have noticed, the upper ones go first. I can make the rear end to all sorts of crazy stuff too. By the way, my name is Derek also, glad you found the site. Welcome! Derek, Thank you its nice to hear from a somebody that works at infiniti. I'm replacing the bushings with the AC poly bushings and I'll let you know if that fixes the problems. All the other vehicles I drove had similar play in the links and all had that vibration I'm talking about, so maybe that is the issue. Have you noticed this vibration before on a QX? Thank you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5523Pathfinder Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 It is very hard to say if I had experienced your exact problem. As a tech, the only way to check the vehicle properly is to drive it. It is well know that those bushings have issues. Like I said, they can make the rear end to some pretty wierd things. If you are looking at a different cause, could be wheel balance or driveline balance. I would inspect any moving parts on the vehicle including engine and trans mounts. Make sure no brackets are loose for anything. Double check the exhaust and make sure you haven lost a mount. Make sure there is no mud on the inside of your wheels from a recent off road trip or whatever. Usually I take them out for a test drive and get up to about 45 mph and turn your wheel from side to side, and it feels like the rear of the truck wants to slide right out from under you. Creepy! If you replaced all the bushings and the problem still exists, get as much info as you can about what the vehicle is doing. What speed? Was it cold, rainy, windy or whatever. More info equals better responses possibly from someone who has had the same problem. That, and maybe we can help point you in the right direction. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPath88 Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Welcome to the NPORA Forums! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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