I know some of you have had some trouble with a feeling of looseness in the steering and front suspension. You might have had odd sounds, some clunking over uneven surfaces, etc. I, too, have been experiencing the same problems.

After not really being able to find anything amiss on the car, out of frustration I bit the bullet and had the tie-rod ends replaced. Result? Steering feel is MUCH tighter. Most of the slop that I felt had crept in is now gone. Feels much more solid, and less noise and "clunking" over uneven road surfaces. Feels more like it did the first day I drove it off the dealer lot.

It had gotten to the point where I was so dissatisfied with the feel that I was driving the pathfinder and mz3 everywhere and leaving the I35 parked, but I actually enjoy driving it again now. It's helped that much. I'm sure part of it is a placebo effect, but I know for certain that it is much better than it used to be.

Just a suggestion for those of you with the same issues... It worked for me!

Good to know, have appointment next week to have the clunking looked at. How much was the repair?

I'd have to look at the ticket again. I had some other stuff done as well.

I think, though, before I had them do it, they quoted right around $300 for parts, labor, and re-alignment. Keep in mind that these are dealership rates, so it could probably be done for cheaper elsewhere.

Good fix.

Had this happen to a friend with his 96... after looking at the tie rod ends, I noticed that the driver's side one had come completely apart!! We had to dremel the lower end of the tie rod end out of the control arm.

The actual cost of this can be actually quite low as the tie rod end is only like $15 IIRC.

Yeah, I probably overpaid, but a combination of factors makes it worth the money (for me) to go to the dealer to get it done.

I'm sure with an indy mechanic + more flexibility than I have it could be done for substantially less.

At what kind of mileage should these be replaced?

I'm at 109k if that helps.

Hmm, I guess I'll get that done when I get new struts. Man I can't wait to see how the car feels after getting all the stuff I need to get done. The Panta(what I call my I) is feeling a little aged and I am hearing the clunking coming from the front pass. side. Sux being broke.

ohhkk so its the tie-rods ... i get the similar feel and i always thought it's the bad strut mounts that makes the clunking sound ...

wanna know the symptoms of bad motor mounts ... when the car is cranked up, i feel the entire engine is shaking for those few seconds and then it's calm ...

I still have some clunking over rough road surfaces, which I *do* attribute to strut mounts. Next on the agenda is to replace the front struts and strut mounts (which, due to age, is perfectly acceptable IMO).

But the tie-rod ends cleared/tightened it up so much. Still very worth it.

I've got new axles and new struts and oh man what a difference. I've got wheel bearings sitting on my passenger seat and I just ordred new tie rod ends and ball joints. I wonder how a whole new front end suspension is gonna feel this weekend

That should be very nice.

It's also amazing how much better feel you get after you replace a bad wheel bearing. Been there done that.

Well my right front wheel bearing is obviously theres something wrong with it. If you jack the car up you can move the wheel a good amount. So I drive about 60 miles a day and its SCORING my brand new rotor to hell. I can only imagine what my hawk hps looks like

metaorbit, did you get it done or did you do it yourself ... total cost of the job ?!?!?

See post #3.

This helps a lot. My i30 has been shaking so violently after going through small potholes. My friends and family were even startled!! and now are afraid to sit in my car . .

Anyone know where to buy these parts online?? and if the job is DIY-capable?

Thanks!!!

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Order the parts from one of the wholesalers in the stickies. The job can be done with just wrenches... if you know what you are doing.

I sure wish i could figure out my clunking issue

I've put on new struts/mounts, my tie rod ends look good, no bearing play and the axle nuts are nice and torqued down well. I'm thinking its a motor mount issue but man, its so hard to see down there. I might just bite the bullet and take it into a mechanic to diagnose it for me and then I'll replace it at home.

WTF is tie-rod end? Anyone have a pic of it on a 4th or 5th gen...?

Doesn't matter. I found out another clunking problem with my A33 comming from the front brakes. I'm talking about the caliper PINs. I have all four shot and they clunk like crazy on almost all kinds of patholes... The sound deseapers only when i step on the brake pedal. Does anyone notice same issue? It may be a common problem, because i know 3 guys here with the same issue.... BTW, one of them has a 4th gen, so i suggest everyone to check them out

Here are the PINs - part number 41217 and 41217+A

Hmm...I might look into that when I do my next brake job.

BTW - is that picture correct? Do you have [stock] 2-piston sliding calipers?

We only get single piston sliding calipers here.

Yes, that's the Euro spec front brake system for all Maximas(I30) A33 incl. my car... I was wondering all the time what is the difference between the US and Euro spec front brakes, because just the rears were the same according to part numbers...


Yeah, we have them as well, but at the rear brakes...

Might be the same for the cars in all the world but the US. I always wondered why I would see stock 2 piston calipers in those Yahoo Taiwan auctions.

Yeah that's very strange and i can't understand Nissan's politics, since they make so many different equipments with basically same cars/models all over the world