Here's my sad story: My 92 maxima w/ 160k miles on it has been pulling to the right for quite a while (no accidents, etc). I put into the shop for an alignment, still pulling, so brought it back - I though the guy said he "greased the strut bearings" - at any rate, it drove perfectly for at least 6 months, then right back to pulling to the right - just enough to be annoying, if you know what I mean!! Well, last week I replaced the strut bearings w/ new ones - got the car aligned, and still getting the same problem. After replacing the bearings I realized there was NO WAY to grease them w/out pulling the struts, so...

Does anybody have ANY idea what could be causing this?? Is there ANYTHING in the steering linkage or suspension that could be greased that might alleviate this problem??

I'm at wits end - went back to the same shop and asked them what they had done or could do, and they had no idea beyond squirting WD-40 into the top of the strut - obviously NOT the problem!!! Any ideas appreciated!!!

THX, Mike

 

Well, first of all i would stop bringin my car to that shop if i were you. The purpose and duty of the strut bearing isnt necessarily a factor for alignment issues in a car with your suspension, but it could possibly effect the alingment settings on the car if it were out of wack enough. But since you said that you replaced them, that shouldnt be the cause. With that in mind my opinion would be that your just feeling the effects of road crown. the way that the road is shaped on a half circle kind of design to get water off the road to the side. this could be what your feelin when you drive. Take it to a good a lignment shop cause the alignment should be set on the car to compensate for road crown. Good luck

 

If you're having problems with road crown, then the likely culprits are worn tie rod ends, ball joints, upper strut MOUNTS (not bearings), and control arm bushings..
on a car with 160k miles, I would venture to say that all of those need replaced. If they're not completely worn out, they've served a full life and wouldn't hurt to be replaced.

expect to pay about..... hmmm $300 for all of the parts, and labor will be about that much again if you pay a shop to do it. I'm sure there's a few people in the area that will be willing to help you out for much less than that if you need some help.

ball joints, about $40 (need 2)
upper mounts, about $45 (need 2)
tie rod ends, about $30 (need 2)
control arm bushings, about $35/set from energy suspension. $60/set from Nissan.

 

I sell the necessary parts.

 

Had simular problem-radial tire pull. Try rotating tire rear to front.

 

-----Good call Cgortari. Yeah could be tire conicity. forgot about that----

 

Must be road crown - I tried driving on the opposite side of the road (Sober!) in a residential area, and car pulled left. Anyway, there is a TSB on this that is quite informative:

http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB92-005.pdf

 

Have you checked for dragging brakes? Jack up the front and rear and make sure the wheels all turn with only a little drag. I had a stuck caliper that exhibited this type of pulling behavior.

 

If it's pulling the other way, then you have problems with worn suspension components..

if it's just barely pulling then it's normal- the car is following gravity.. but if it's pulling enough that you constantly have to keep a hand on the wheel, then you have problems.

 

I don't mean to state the obvious, but have you checked the tire pressure in all four tires? Make sure they're all at 32 psi and see if it helps.

 

Is it possible that the rack and pinion steering is off.

 

correct pressure is actually 29psi IIRC