Sigh. So 2 weeks ago I took my wife's car in for an oil change, and she was complaining about some squealing from the front right wheel. Didn't mention it to Firestone, but they said they noticed the front wheel bearings and left control arm needed to be replaced, and that it was not safe to drive as it was. I was flying out for a business trip in two days, so instead of "shopping around" I let them do it - to the pricey tune of $980. Didn't want to have any issues arise as I was gone (even though it probably would have been fine).

When we picked it up, I noticed A LOT of front end vibration, coming from the front right end. Namely from 25mph+ (gets worse with speed); my leg shakes while on the accelerator, the steering wheel shakes, etc. I promptly took it back 5 minutes later and they claimed they received a defective bearing, and put a new one in. Same vibrations. I rescheduled my flight 3 times, and finally ended up taking the last flight out Sunday night.

My wife took it back and they said they rebalanced the wheels, but the same problem persists. Any ideas as to what it could be? I went back and they tried saying my rims are bent and rotated my tires, but I *STILL* have a front end vibration and the car handled perfect before I had them do work. I'm going to a mechanic that was recommended to me later today, and possibly the dealer, but it'd be great if I could get some thoughts as to what could have "gone wrong."

BTW- this is for a '02 Maxima SE w/60k miles. No accidents.

The symptoms are:
-vibration in front right end
-steering feels off when I turn to the right. hard to explain, but the suspension feels stiff in the front right.
-noticing a pull to the left, they (firestone) were supposed to align but I guess they didn't.
-balancing has been done

 

If your alignment is off after they alligned it, then your tie rod ends could be worn out.
The vibration could be from your bent rim.

 

This sounds odd, but it might be your tires. I went through this nerve-racking issue on a BMW. After some suspension work, the car developed a vibration in a similar fashion. After a couple of alignment/balance jobs, I proceeded to practically replace the whole front end suspension. A tire change solved the problem.

After researching the issue, I learned that some radial tires tend to have the steel belts warp in a way that creates a permanent imbalance. Apparently, some Dunlop model tires are notorious for this (which is the ones I was using).

However, before you run off and buy new tires, double-check the work. Could be something as simple as an improperly seated rotor, improper alignment, etc. As suggested earlier, it could be that another suspension component is worn out, and once you corrected one problem, it creates a "domino effect."

A shop such as Firestone should be able to diagnose that rather quickly. However, I would not trust them and I'd get a second opinon from another shop. They might not be inclined to give you the most honest answers, especially if they ended up replacing something that wasn't necessary and never addressed the root of the problem.

 

I went through a nightmare with my wife's dodge magnum chasing a vibration after new tires. Discount tire rebalanced 3x and guess what? It was WAYYY off. I had a good local shop balance them and the vibration was gone.

 

Maxima's are well known for our front end vibrations.

it could be any of these:
1. Usually when a hub goes bad it is because of a worn CV joint, and the vibration from the CV joint is no longer counterbalanced from the worn Hub. Check both axles for "ticking/binding/grinding" when the suspension IS under pressure.
2. bad/worn tie rods.
3. warped rotors w/ a frozen caliper piston.
4. improper install of Hub(already been covered apparently)
5. defective tire(sounds like it may not be this from your description)
6. passenger motor mount
7. lower ball joint.
8. You mentioned that the suspension feels stiffer on the right...if your strut will not soften the suspension you WILL feel vibrations through the steering wheel and probably on the floorboards.

 

throw on your spare tire and see if the vibration goes away at 25...if it does...then they need to recalibrate their tire balance machine!

 

many they should actually put it together correctly, or i dont know.. tighten all the bolts......

 

where do you live that they are not able to slove your problem. what firestone are you taking it to?

 

Another very small thing I have encounterd at work when doing a wheel bearing. After time rust ridges build behind the brake rotor and make a male and female marting surface if the rotor is removed after a long then say put back on at a 90° rotated postion the rust ridges will be all misaligned and cause severe vibration more and more as you speed up kinda a freak.thing but wouldnt hurt to check

 

GREAT POINT!! Very logically true...good !

 

Sorry guys, been MIA. Still having the same problem, but as always have been ridiculously busy.

This is the Firestone by Menlo Park mall. Manager's have been cool, but I've given them quite a few opportunities to fix the car and they keep returning it to me saying it's been fixed and it's not. Like anyone, I'm frustrated after spending $1k on my car, which when I dropped it off handled fine and now I've got all these issues.

 

I actually would NOT be surprised. At one point when I asked them the status (had to cancel three flights out waiting for them to fix the car, and at this point was booked on the last flight out that day) I was told the tech was having difficulty getting some holes to match up, but were able to do it two minutes later.