Need some advice:
Mechanic replaced one of the front axle shafts on my 2000 Maxima. About $150 to replace with re-built unit. Now the steering feel is not good. The other was replaced before, with no impact to steering feel.


Best way to describe the steering wheel feel:
-sloppy
-occaisional steering wheel pull left or pull right. Feels like I hit a small to medium sized pot-hole, but I didn't.

First question: what is the axle shaft? I looked in my Haynes book and there is no component labeled axle shaft. It's not the tie-rod, not the stabalizer bar. Mechanic insists its called the "axle-shaft". I was not at the shop to ask him to point to it.

Second question: What could have gone wrong to cause the steering issue? Alignment required? Mechanic says to "give a few days to break in". Not so sure about that.

Thanks.

 

B.S.

Your car should have driven exactly the same after the axle replacement. Nothing regarding the steering would change. I would return it to him and have him check for loose components related to the axle install.

 

The axle shafts run from your transmission to your front hubs. They are what transmits power from your transmission to your drive wheels.

Did they tighten the axle nut correctly? Did they damage a tie rod end removing it? Did they do an alignment when they were done? You have ot disconnect the steering knuckle and the tie rod end to replace your axle shafts, either of which can and will affect your alignment.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

I don't think taking it back and asking him to check for loose components will help because this is the second time he's done this shaft in the last week. The first time, a bad shaft was installed (had same steering issue + a noise while turning hard. I assumed that replacing the bad shaft would solve the nose AND steering issue, but it only resolved the noise issue). So I'm saying that he did this job twice and both times had same steering results.

They did NOT do an alignment check. From mtrai760's comments, it sounds like this should have been checked after the work was done.

I'll have to get under and take a look at the axle nut and tie rod end to rule those out. I do understand that they can be hard to get off, so some amount of hammering may have been involved...

Thanks again!

 

sounds like a cheap, slick mechanic who might of found away around the noise..maybe bent it a certain way, and called it a new part the 3rd time around heh

id tell him to replace it. and id also watch him do it!