What Happened?

[Guest 88pathfindergene]

Hello, my name is Gene, and I found your site on the web and you seem to be just the place Im looking for. I've recently purchased an '88 pathfinder se with 3"bl 3"sl on 33X12.50 , my first real chance to use this awesome rig, and I've messed something up in the front suspension. Heres what happened: I was using my new monster to pull a friends truck out of the woods, ('65 chevy lwb w/4 flat tires) pulling from the rear of my pathfinder, had my front end hopping, 2"-3" off the ground. When it was all over and time to go something was not as it should be, quick look found that my fornt end was all out of wack, driversside lower control arm was sitting lower than the passengers side lca both front tires were toed in excessively. I adjusted the torsion bars to balance things out enough to get home, but there is still some serious issues. When the truck is sitting the tires are pretty straight, but when I start driving the front end lifts up and the tires toe in again. Anybody got any ideas, or will just getting the front end lined fix the problem, or could it be something else? Everything looks in order, nothings bent or broken, I'm just out of ideas. This is my second pathfinder, my first was an '87 xe stock didn't give me any trouble, til it jumped time and trashed the heads, still got it for parts though. I really like the site, get my front end fixed I'll send in some pics, thanks.

[Simon]

Chances are, with 33's, if you've still got a stock centerlink, it's trashed. They're a known weak point on our trucks, and especially if you run lifted, and oversized tires.

 

Check out www.lpperformance.com for a replacement.....they make top quality stuff.

[94extreme]

yeah, the DL maybe your problem. also check the TREs. since your truck dropped some you may want to re-inspect the torsion bars and related hardware.. all kind of weak on pathfinders.

[Guest 88pathfindergene]

Cool, thanks for the ideas. I"ll check on those areas , like I said I've got an '87 sitting here maybe I can pull some stuff off of it to get me rollin again for the time being. Thanks for the heads up on lpperformace.com I"ll have to check that out. Thanks again.

[Kn0xville]

also check your tension rods, almost sounds like you might have broke one.

[jj big shoe]

^That's what I was thinking.^

[Precise1]

All of the above... You have to get under and start checking. Due to the weak stock front ends on these (expecially with 33" tires) you need to ease up on the aggressiveness. Front end hop has twisted many a front end...

Let us know what you find.

 

B

[mws]

^That's what I was thinking.^

Me too... My first thought was a hard part of the suspension let go, letting the steering knuckle move back under acceleration. Upper or lower control arms or their bushings being number one suspects. Maybe a severely damaged ball joint could be a suspect as well.

 

Since the "tie rod" assembly (center link and TRE's) is in front of the knuckles, having the knuckle move back will effectivel shorten the "tie rod", pulling the wheels into a toe in condition.

 

Definitely a "no more drive until diagnosed" issue in my book.

[mws]

And of course, posting pictures of the various suspension components will let us use our combined experience to help you diagnose!

[Guest 88pathfindergene]

Thanks for all the great ideas, I"ll be tearing it appart this weekend. I'm still thinking its in the Tbars or related hardware. The more I think about it the pass. side did most of the dropping, and before I started fooling with the T bars the front end was all kind of screwy. But like I said the more I think about it I pretty sure its the pass. side. When I straightened it out to bring it home I adjusted the T bars, the drivers was fine, the pass. gave alot of protest( ratchet with 2' cheater bar on the end and still struggling to turn it, squeeking the whole time). Had some time yesterday, and when out to try to adjust them out alittle better, (I dont like my truck just sittin) couldnt turn pass T bar adjustment at all in any direction, this any indication of the problem being in the T bar or related hardware?I've checked on bout everything else that everybodys metioned, but nothing seems to be out of place(bent twisted broken). Im about half way sure about the pass. Tbar assembly, got my '87 just sittin here, cant hurt to look/change em anyway. Thanks for the ideas still open for more, I'll let ya know what I come up with.

[TrailChaser]

Compare the idler arm from the 87 to the 88 if everthing else these guys said looks good. With all the hopping you were talking about you may have bent that sucker.

Anytime your front end starts hopping or skipping STOP. With our weak IFS something will give sooner than later, and even if it doesn't give right away you're putting LOTS of wear and tear on a lot of different parts. Think of it this way. If your frontend is hopping that is making the front drive system and steering system do way more work and take way more punishment than it was ever designed for. You are making the truck go from maximum traction to zero traction over and over real fast. Just about every nissan, toy, jeep, ect. I've seen break front end parts did it while hopping while sitting still because they just need a few more inches to get over the obstacle or up the hill.

 

I really suggest you getting the TK1 modded Centerlink and idler arm brace from somewhere. I have the L&P centerlink for mine and I haven't had any problems so far. I'm pretty brutal on my pathy when I hit the trails.(Check out some of my recent pics.)

 

These guys have great products for great prices. You may be a little shocked by the price, but remember that it'll save you money and headaches in the future. Those guys aren't making a killing selling those CL's either. I friend of mine bought the bearing and stuff to do the mod himself and it ended up costing him about the same $$$ as they charge shipped.

 

Even if you don't go offroad alot. You really need that upgraded CL and IA brace since you're running those 33's. Plus it'll make you truck feel better thru the steering. Almost as good a R&P.

 

PS: Did you end up pulling your buddy out?

[Guest 88pathfindergene]

Yeah I got that POS (oh I mean chevy) out of the woods alright. The thing was I couldnt feel or see the front end hopping ,I had my head stuck out the window watching everything, Id feel the front end rise up (like the suspension stretching out) see the tire loose traction, as did the rears and let off, roll back just alittle, to not wear on my clutch on the pulloff and start pulling again. Thats why I said it seems really wierd bcause there was no real violent jumping or hopping, it wasnt till after i relized something was wrong that the guy that was suppose to be watching said anything about the front coming of the gruond at all. Inside the truck it wasnt harsh at all just typical rear down front up that gose with pulling from the back.Im gonna have to get both my pathys up in the air side by side and compare the whole front end to be sure, but nothing looks out of place(bent twisted broken). the way it is now when its sitting still the tires r pretty straight but when I start driving \ /, I believe I originally said toe in and I think thats toe out. thats another reason Im thinking the pass. side Tbar, and the fact that I cant seem to get it to adjust seem to me good reason to think problem area. Thanks for the insight, Im still very open for ideas, gotta wait to get my stands and stuff back from my brother, so Im kinda stuck in limbo til sat. anyway.

[88pathoffroad]

It was probably already hosed, just not enough to notice till you got on it. I've bent both tie rod sets at the same time just going up a rutted dirt hill. Talk about toe-in... heh

[Guest 88pathfindergene]

Alright, an update. So I pulled the Tbars off of my '87 and put them on my '88 on sat. Major imporvement!!!! The alignment was still all out of wack, but the truck was stable, and stayed that way when I started driving. The pass. Tbar seemed to be fine aside from the bolt in the anchor arm being stripped, but the drivers was bent pretty badly. Hopefully this will fix my problems, the guy at the alignment shop couldnt get to it till today so I dropped it off this morning, we'll see if I was right when I pick it up. Thanks again everyone for all the ideas on possible causes, if this aint it I'll let ya'll know.

[89_trailboss]

I friend of mine bought the bearing and stuff to do the mod himself and it ended up costing him about the same $$$ as they charge shipped.

where did you friend buy that stuff??? I bough all my bearings and grade 8 bolts for under 30 bux. spent an afternoon and measured, measured, and measured, cut my CL up and welded it all on there. WAY better then my shot CL and MUCH niver off road.

 

if you dont have the tools or know how to do it your self, I suddjest going with LP. they are GREAT guys and are always willing to help you out.

[TrailChaser]

I think he got the bearings from JC Whitney. Then he had to pay a machine shop to press'em in. Welding them on was free.