4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

Lets get down to the gritty on this front end vibration stuff

Old Sep 2, 2009 | 10:50 AM
  #1  
deezo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,285
From: FV, NC
Lets get down to the gritty on this front end vibration stuff

So what else do you look at when you've balanced out most common parts of the front end suspension?

Back when I was living in MA, Zack and some other Org locals helped me put in new drive shafts because my CV boots were busted. Everything was still butter smooth. After a few days of driving, I noticed that when I would shift from forward to reverse and back, I would get a clunk as if the diff had some play in it. I still didn't have any vibration so I lived with that.

Now, I think my issue my have to do with the transmission (auto) and drive shafts. Not the the shafts are bent in any way but the shop I use for heavy duty work put the car up on the lift (with the suspension geometry at the correct ride hide) and the axles where shaking like mad, especially when turning the steering wheel. I wish I could have seen where the movement was coming from. This all started when I hit a pothole with my car loaded down when I arrived to NC back in 2006. The right side of the car hit the pothole and everything still seemed fine. I got up to go to my new work location the next morning and I had this heavy vibration on acceleration and while cruising. It seemed to subside over the last couple of years as the motor mounts deteriorated and over the last few months, the car felt smooth again. I replaced my motor and transmission mount and the vibration is back and just as it was when I hit the pothole 3 years ago. The vibration is terrible when turning right and accelerating at the same time. Under heavy straight line acceleration it does vibrate but not as bad as it does when I'm accelerating out of a right turn.

Here's what I think:
- The play in my tranny due to the axles backing out a bit could be causing this. I never had play in the tranny before swapping them out and never had heavy vibration under acceleration, no matter which way the wheels were turned.
- Something in the transmission must have broken loose but there is no grinding whatsoever.
- Could be an issue with the Torque converter?

If I'm at speed, **** to N and hit the gas, the vibration is steady but not seemed to be caused by the engine itself.

There are some great minds here. Guys, help me figure this out.

Last edited by deezo; Sep 2, 2009 at 10:52 AM.
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 11:22 AM
  #2  
pmohr's Avatar
No more Maximas...
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,329
From: Oak Ridge, TN
First thing I would do is replace the axles, especially if they're lifetime warranty. A bad axle can cause all sorts of odd symptoms, including vibrations only at specific speeds or when turning, braking, etc.
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 11:27 AM
  #3  
96nismoSE's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 842
From: MN
have you checked for a bent rim as well? a slightly bent rim could cause vibration on acceleration. since you mentioned you slammed into the pot hole, its a possibility.
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 07:29 PM
  #4  
deezo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,285
From: FV, NC
Originally Posted by pmohr
First thing I would do is replace the axles, especially if they're lifetime warranty. A bad axle can cause all sorts of odd symptoms, including vibrations only at specific speeds or when turning, braking, etc.
I guess I've been avoiding swapping them out but you may be right. The axles are the only parts I haven't swapped out since this issue started.

96Nismo, the wheels are balancing fine and aren't bent.
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 08:16 PM
  #5  
ADHDmax's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 107
From: plymouth CT
I'm having the same problem but my struts and springs are shot so I'm just replacing everything while I'm under there I think u should just change out the axles that's what I'm doing just my thought
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 11:34 PM
  #6  
allensteiner88's Avatar
Newbie - Just Registered
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1
both pmohr and 96nismoSE are right plus a flat spot on the tire or a bad balance. think of the obvious first.
good bye
Old Sep 3, 2009 | 05:57 AM
  #7  
deezo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,285
From: FV, NC
Originally Posted by allensteiner88
both pmohr and 96nismoSE are right plus a flat spot on the tire or a bad balance. think of the obvious first.
good bye
Wow, think of the obvious huh? In my original post, I stated that everything else has been done. My tires are new and I haven't flat spotted them. I drove to Brooklyn and back a few weeks ago and the tires were smooth as butter. The only thing was that my motor mounts got worse after driving on some of the worse streets in Brooklyn so everything bushing-wise has been replace. Tires have been rebalanced. Everything is tight in the suspension.

Note: Trying to get post count up makes people say anything.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
boomerbrian
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
4
Nov 8, 2015 05:10 PM
JoshG
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
21
Sep 4, 2015 09:04 PM
official_style
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
9
Aug 29, 2015 10:10 AM
cash94
5th Generation Classifieds (2000-2003)
0
Aug 27, 2015 08:09 AM
Samedi
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
1
Aug 12, 2015 01:54 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:03 PM.