Hello,
I am working on a 1989 maxima and the lower control arm bushings rip out every 30 days or so and wear the tires to the cords pronto! I have replaced them 4 times in the last 5 months and my customer is wearing me out. The ride height is ok and I installed new front struts, there is no oil leaking on them or any reason for them to rip apart. Has anyone else ever had a problem like this? I have used the replacements from Nissan and NAPA and it makes no difference. Is there polyurathane aftermarket control arm bushings that might be tougher? btw the customer owned the car for the last 10 years and until we replaced the first bushings, they never had any trouble with them. help
Sincerely,
Mark Wilson
Service Dept.
Wilson's Autotech
765-362-7000
mark@towandrepair.com

 

hows the alignment to begin with ?

 

Yeesh.. not good.

when you're installing the control arms, do you wait to tighten the large nut until the car is on the ground at proper ride height?
If you tighten them with the control arms completely extended (as if still on the lift), the 15 degrees of twist in that bushing can rip it to shreds quickly.

I've replaced probably a dozen sets of these bushings with no ill effects yet.

Also, when the bushings are replaced, how's the alignment afterwards? if it's got a bad toe problem, it can obviously put more stress on the rest of the suspension and cause the bushings to wear faster.

 

The alignment is dead on when it leaves each time, I have used 3 different alignment shops. Of course the toe is way out when the bushings rip out. its just a weird deal.

Yes we wait to tighten it on the ground at the proper ride height. The alignment is reset each time it leaves. the longest time it has lasted is 6 weeks and 400 miles!
I have replaced hundreds of bushings in all makes and models and never did the same car more than twice. I got on here and posted to see if it might be a problem inherent to the 1989 maxima.
thanks for everyones help

 

nah.. as far as I know I've never had a problem. I swapped the bushings on mine about a year ago, and have done a dozen or so other 89-94 Maximas since then with none of them telling me about any problems.

Wish I could help more, but it's got me stumped.

the only poly bushings that I know of are sold in australia, and they're NOT cheap. about $100 per control arm. do a search on this forum for "bushings" and you should come up with something. it's been in the last 4-5 days or so since it was posted.
good luck!