NHTSA Complaint #10188498 — 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER

FOR ALL THOSE REPORTING THE SWAYING ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER, I HAVE A NISSAN TERRANO WHICH LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE PATHFINDER. I EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SWAYING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAVE TRIED EVERY MECHANIC I KNOW, CHANGED MY SHOCKS, AND YOU NAME IT...LATELY, I WOULD HEAR A THUMP IN THE REAR WHEN I PULLED OFF FROM STOP POSITION. THE THUMP ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I RUN OVER A SHORT SPEED BUMP. WHEN I CAME HOME ONE EVENING, I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO CONDUCT A VISUAL INSPECTION TO SEE IF I WILL FIND ANYTHING. LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND OUT THAT THE BUSHINGS OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN OUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE BREAKING UP(THE BUSHINGS) WHICH ALLOWS METAL TO RUB OR HIT ANOTHER METAL AND THAT EXPLAINS THE THUMP THAT I WILL USUALLY HEAR. IN MY OPINION THE WORN OUT BUSHINGS ALSO EXPLAIN THE SWAYING THAT SEEMS TO COME FROM THE REAR BECAUSE JUST FIGURE IT OUT, THE BUSHINGS OF THE ARMS THAT LINK THE REAR AXLE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE ARE WEAK, BUT THIS WILL NOT CAUSE SWAYING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND EVEN IF IT DID IT WILL BE UN-NOTICEABLE. THIS SWAYING AT HIGH SPEEDS IS DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMETIMES IF IT IS COMING FROM THE REAR OR FRONT. MY ADVISE IS TO CHANGE ESPECIALLY THE BUSHINGS OF THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THERE SHOULD BE FOUR OF THEM, TWO LONG ONES AND TWO SHORT ONES. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME AFTER ALL THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD! ALSO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THOSE CONTROL ARMS ARE BENT. FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A QUICK EMAIL. *TR