On my maxima (2000) I have installed Tokico illiuminas with Tein springs (whichever the ones that lower the car just a bit are) and had an alignment done by a very reputable shop done. I have new control arm bushings but have not touched them yet.

I got this car about 6 months ago and since day 1 (118,000mi) it has been very numb and seems like it wants to "wander" when hitting bumps or undulations in the road. The steering wheel can wander back and forth a bit without changing course.

I suspect front control arm bushings or subframe bushings, anyone else have any thoughts before I investigate further?

Thanks

 

The steering seems to be the issue rather than your suspension which most of which you said you replaced. Have you done a visual inspection under the car to see if your driveshaft boot is torn? If it gets torn and dirt and such gets in there then it will destroy it. There are boots on either sides of the driveshaft that cover the shaft from getting dirt and road debris in there. Wiggle them around and see if there is a tear. If it was torn and you caught it early you just replace both boots, this doesn't seem to be the case. If its not that then it will probably be a suspension issue up front that will be cheaper than replacing the driveshaft which would be nice.

 

Are you referring to the boots on the CV axles? I should check those but having been under there several times I don't remember seeing tears, however I wasn't specifically looking for that either.

 

Maybe an alignment is needed?

 

It's already been aligned by the best guy in town. It was the same before and after. I just need to climb under there and figure out what's "sloppy" feeling. I figure the control arms are a good spot to start.

 

My car has also been "wandering" on the road for the past several months. Every dip or groove in the road pulls the car in another direction. I've had it aligned twice and that didn't solve anything. The other day I noticed my LCA bushings are pretty worn and degraded and was told that may be the cause. I've ordered ES bushings so hopefully that will solve the problem.

 

What kind of wheels/tires are you guys running?

Lower car and/or especially wider tires WILL make the car 'track' to grooves in the road.

That being said, if wheels/tires are ruled out, then my guess would be worn inner/outer tie rod ends or ball joints, not so much control arm bushings.

 

I'm running Z track rims with Conti DWS. Tires are fairly new (<5k miles), and so are the inner/outer tie rods and the ball joints look ok as well. However, I do get a lot of rattling noises in the front end over bumps.

 

I think I checked the inner/outer tie-rods but I can't remember anymore. I will check them again. They do seem like the most likely culprit.

Stock maxima wheels with stock size tires

Steelies with blizzaks

My car did this before it was lowered as well, so even though that may contribute it's not the entire problem.

Thanks for your input.

 

Mine used to do that until I put new suspension and did a alignment, but after a while started and did another alignment and they said it will keep happening cause I need new LCA, I have the ES bushings but haven't installed yet but in January getting it done...

 

Must be your sheisty installer

 

sheisty installer u say...hmmm hadn't thought about that j/k man.

In all honesty, my LCA bushings are really torn up and are probably contributing to the noises and crappy ride in some way or the other. At the very least, i'll know what's going on after the switch to ES bushings.

 

I have the same problem, but mine was caused by hitting something hard on the highway doing 80mph, been a year and a half and now that I'm lowered it seems to bother the crap out of me. Going to do my inner/outer rods and control arms, car only has 76K miles and never changed any of those part. Hopefully it solves the problem. And to the OP, did you ever solve your problem???

 

It's really improved after the new LCA bushing installation. It does it a bit still, but not as bad. I may need to get it aligned again after doing that. It's "good enough" for now at least. The ball joints were tight as were the tie rod ends.

It could be something in the rear suspension causing this too.

 

These symptoms relate to two specific causes: LCA and/or ball joints.
If you replaced the LCA's, then do the ball joints.....the end. No alignment will resolve either issue. And if a shop aligned the car having either or both issue, they are crooks, incompetent, or both. I'll let you choose which of the options is worse.