Rust Causing Total Steering Failure in Pathfinders

[chrislrob]

Hi, all.

 

Surprised that I didn't find a discussion of this here, but I really need some advice.

 

First, I was a regular lurker here a few years ago, and posted several times, but I can't seem to remember my username. Probably something like "Pathynewbieclueless1". I knew nothing about auto repair then and still don't. Anyway, over the last couple of years my 1997 Nissan Pathfinder has seen less and less use. I don't need it, but can't let it go.

 

Never had any real problems with it and it has served me well and largely without complaint.

 

One day last year I drove it around all day. 2 blocks from my home, I make a turn from a full stop and hear a loud clunking noise. I attempt to pull over and the steering wheel begins to spin in my hands...FREELY.

 

As in, the steering wheel was no longer connected to the wheels... As in, it was spinning like a $#@!% top!

 

Narrow street, cars parked on both sides, coming off a busy main street. That I wasn't hit from behind and managed to not hit any of the other cars was a miracle. That it didn't happen while I was changing lanes on the highway was a blessing.

 

A friend came by and replaced a couple of parts and "fixed" the steering. Made it driveable, but I never felt right about it again.

 

We could see that rust had caused the welds to pop on the sidewall(?) and that the protruding metal had probably sawed into the steering column in some way.

 

And we figured, hey, freak accident and damn my luck and lucky for me it wasn't worse.

 

Recently, I decided to make my truck my weekend getaway vehicle. Was researching getting the steering looked at again when I came across this: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/results.cfm?action_number=PE11004&SearchType=QuickSearch&summary=true

 

I actually saw that as a result of a posting in Topix where others have had the same problem: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/nissan-pathfinder/TKMK025U6EID4BI4T/p2

 

So, as you can see, I'm not the only one. And I'm surprised that more haven't reported it. It is a pretty serious failure. In fact, short of the truck simply blowing up like an ammo depot in a Michael Bay movie, I can't think of a more catastrophic failure.

 

Some of what I have read has led me to believe that either the repairs will cost thousands or that it can never really BE repaired.

 

What do you think? Heard of this? Fixed it before? How much to replace the entire "steering tower"? To fix the sidewall?

 

Thanks.

Edited February 21, 2011 by chrislrob

[adamzan]

Wow, I've never heard of that. Could you post some pictures of where the damage is?

[madhornet]

i have seen a dozen of them busted and fixed i have had 2 of them and am still driving one daily but here in Canada we use salt on the roads so it is common but my question is anyone i have known around here knew when the strut mount busted cause it was clunking or let go quickly or u could just see it through the wheel well

[Precise1]

We could see that rust had caused the welds to pop on the sidewall(?) and that the protruding metal had probably sawed into the steering column in some way.

All I can say here it that if you are driving a vehicle in a condition that critical components are rusting off, I can't fault the vehicle. It sounds like the vehicle need to be inspected more thoroughly or even at all.

 

B

[nunya]

Honestly B, living in a state that has annual safety inspection... you would be amazed the cars I've seen with new saftey stickers and rotted through frames/no brakes/dryrotted tires you can see the air through/etc. Having inspection and having a good/correct inspection are 2 different things. Though I do agree, you can't necearly blame the vechile for the conditions it is put into and lack of checking things that should be on the list of to dos. No offence meant to the OP...

[Precise1]

Agreed, I'm not bashing the OP, just saying...

 

Also, when I mean inspect, I mean do it yourself. You don't have to be a mechanic it see if a strut is falling off, if a frame is missing, etc.

 

B

[chrislrob]

Thanks for the replies.

 

A few things: I don't have any pictures. At the time, we just thought it was just a strange failure. Nothing really to see. I live in Chicago, so lots of salt and lots of rust, eventually.

 

I *should* have known something was wrong. The steering was stiff--now I know that it was probably the popped sidewall rubbing on the steering column. But I hadn't been driving the vehicle regularly and thought it was a power steering issue. Like I said, I'm no gearhead.

 

Finally, while I should have known based on the stiffer steering that something was wrong, The outer body of my vehicle shows very little rust and where it actually does show (rear passenger side) is nowhere near the failure. It's not like parts where falling off of the truck. I didn't know that the inside of the wheel well is a critical component. I don't normally look under a vehicle before I drive it. I don't normally inspect the wheel wells.

 

Maybe I should, but I don't...

 

And maybe I'm sulking in this post because, dangit, maybe I should have spotted this, but I didn't.

 

So now I pay the price.

 

Can someone give me an idea of how much that might be?

[nunya]

 

And maybe I'm sulking in this post because, dangit, maybe I should have spotted this, but I didn't.

 

 

Hinsite normally is 20/20, sometimes you gotta learn the hard way

[morpheus]

I've seen it a few times on R50's.

 

As long as it's repaired before the complete strut comes loose from the body and causes catistrophic failure, it's usually around $800 to fix one side, or $1500 to repair both sides. That's at full pop retail. If you have a friend that can do welding, then I'm sure it can be done for substantially less.

 

After the repairs are complete, a complete alignment should be completed to make sure the front setup is done correctly.

 

Before the vehicle is repaired, it is unsafe to drive, and certainly would not pass any type of safety inspection.