Here's how my problem started way back in june 2002(only after 3months of getting my new car), I hit a centerblock in the middle of the road i tried to miss it but didnt. I had to get a new tire and had it mounted and balanced, The dealer assured me no other damage was wrong , Then i started noticing a vibration in the steering wheel , so after i got time off from work i took the car in which was in Jan 2003 and got alignment done which they again told me was greatly needed and it was my problem, SO only a week later the vibrations came back and before i left the dealer they said there was a degree or measurement(not sure) that my front wheel didnt have so it would still have a vibration, I would hope the car has a measurement to make the car drive like i first bought which hadn't been a year yet. And now i have another problem when i put my brakes on the steering wheel shakes and i feel it in the brake pedal, I know im a girl and girls dont know much but im thinking its the rotors but it only has 17,000 miles on it, Along with the steering wheel shaking,Could it be more than alignment and rotors? Could my rim be bend from hitting the center block >? SOrry for the longest post ever LOl but i need help , I also would like to know if this rotor problem is under warrenty? I dont want to get pushed aruond at this dealership since im a young nice looking lady , guys at these places assume im stupid,

 

Try and get your wheels balanced again... and the steering wheel shake could be because of warped rotors...

 

Hey Bella. You can bend rims doing less than that (in my experience), but it also sounds like your rotors are warped. Does the steering wheel shake pretty bad when slowing from freeway speeds? If so, then it's your rotors + maybe a bent rim. If the steering wheel shakes pretty bad at all speeds (more so at 45-65 MPH), the rotors could still be the cause. I'd get the wheel/wheels in question checked out ASAP, just to be sure as well.

 

Are the rotors covered under warrenty?

 

You can try and see if they will cover them under the bumper to bumper 36K warranty, but they are usually not being covered from what I hear past 12K miles. I hate to say it, but use your feminine wiles on the service guy In my humble opinion, they should be covered for the 3yr/36K mile warranty, but service advisors/managers tend to disagree.

 

Thanks, the steering wheel shakes to the point where i hate to drive my car , When the dealer changed my tire i had asked if the rim was bent and he said everything was fine, Now about this degree on the alignment im confused is there such a thing or was he just telling me he couldnt find the degree or what??

 

What about if you have that service plan you pay extra for?

 

Bella, even though it might cost you a bit of money, take the car and get the wheels balanced and front end aligned somewhere other than the dealer. It needs to be a place of good repute. It costs more this way, but if they do it right (and even if they don't, they have to do it until you are satisfied) and the car still shakes badly, then your rotors are the most likely cause. Plus, the tire/wheel shop might be able to check and see if the rim is bent...

 

Well, I don't have any knowledge on the service plan issue as I do my own work for the majority of the stuff on my cars/trucks. You'll need to know the exact specifics of the plan and know exactly what it covers as well. That's as much as I can help you on the service issue plan...sorry!

 

I was hoping the rotors were covered under warranty because i was just laid off and can't really afford to have all this fixed, I just had the all wheel alignment, Could the rotors cause it to be realigned? and do you know how much rotors may cost? do i need new brake pads as well ? and Is it safe to drive on them or am i causing more damage? Last Question LOL Is there anything i can do temporary until i can get the problem fixed right?

 

Ahhh, I forgot you mentioned that before in a previous post (about the loss of employment). Sorry to hear that ! The rotors aren't cheap, I'll tell you that. It "may" be cheaper to just buy the OEM rotors, and you shouldn't have to change the pads so long as they are evenly worn and not massively torn up. Resurfacing will probably not help (which "could" be an option to replacement when they are not warped). I say go for the warranty approach and use all means morally necessary to get the work done for as little (preferably no moeny out of pocket) as possible.

 

Bella, check out this guys thread as well.

Rotor Thread

I have suspicions of my own that the pads could also be part of the problem (the stock rotors still suck, though regardless). I might replace the pads and keep the rotors and see what happens on my '03 GLE.

 

I want to thank you on all your help, Hopefully the service manager won't try and how can i say it nicely umm screw me over. Is it ok to drive on the rotors like this or is it causing more damage ? What is a ballpark figure of rotors for a 2k2 maxima ? Also where can i get some oem rotors?

 

It will be a nuisance and it will cause damage (with more damage over more time). The pads will definitely wear differently (as I noticed in 2 of my prior cars) and most likely prematurely, but I think it really depends on the car. I don't have enough miles to really notice anything out of the norm on my Maxima (yet). OEM are the standard issue Nissan rotors that came with the car, and can be found at dealerships and internet sites (parts sites). Depending on the cost, you could actually replace the OEM ones with better aftermarket ones. If it's under warranty, then get the stock OEM ones. I haven't yet found out how much they cost, but I highly suggest checking with DAVEB (the parts guy, not Dave B) here on this board. I would also ask him or copy the above posts to him in a PM or email and see what he has to say (since he is a Nissan parts guy ) Aftermarket rotors...well, I'm not even sure who makes them currently for the '02-'03 Maximas. I know of brake upgrade kits, but they are not what you're looking for. I would "imagine" that the OEM rotors are $65-80 each, but there again, I do not know for certain.