Hit a pothole while accelerating, now steering shakes on highway
02-28-2008, 06:18 PM
#1
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Hit a pothole while accelerating, now steering shakes on highway
I hit a HUGE pothole a couple of days ago (I'd call that a trench), while fully accelerating and I heard a HUGE bang, damn...
Car was perfectly fine, but today I got on the highway and realized that the steering wheel was "shaking" at highway speeds, and it just felt like the car was slightly shaking. Nothing huge, but it did not feel right.
What is it probably? How much to fix? Going to the dealership tomorrow so they can look into that....
Car was perfectly fine, but today I got on the highway and realized that the steering wheel was "shaking" at highway speeds, and it just felt like the car was slightly shaking. Nothing huge, but it did not feel right.
What is it probably? How much to fix? Going to the dealership tomorrow so they can look into that....
02-28-2008, 06:33 PM
#4
Man, listen to yourself. Im not trying to flame seriously but do you know what the word alignment means? For the car to drive straight the wheels have to be perfectly "aligned" with each other. Now, Hitting a pothole you dont think would affect the "alignment" of your wheels?
02-28-2008, 06:35 PM
#5
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I'm no mechanic, but to me, wheels are bolted to the suspension and driveshaft and steering. So if it was aligned a week ago, how can hitting a pothole screw that up? It twisted metal somewhere? I mean, it did not unscrew alignment bolts, de-align, and then re-screw alignment bolts....
02-28-2008, 07:13 PM
#11
Wink. I'll do the rest.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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I'm no mechanic, but to me, wheels are bolted to the suspension and driveshaft and steering. So if it was aligned a week ago, how can hitting a pothole screw that up? It twisted metal somewhere? I mean, it did not unscrew alignment bolts, de-align, and then re-screw alignment bolts....
02-29-2008, 12:30 PM
#14
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was just wheel balance. They said the left front wheel balance was way off, they rebalanced it and shaking is gone. Didnt get a chance to test it on highway yet, I'll do that later tonight after all traffic is gone.
02-29-2008, 01:34 PM
#15
Yeah don't know why anyone didn't just suggest that from begging. If its just vibration its usually (not always) a wheel out of balance or round (bent). When the car is not driving straight, tires wearing abnormal/rubbing etc then it an alignment issue. In any case usually check balancing as its the cheapest/quickest problem to fix.
02-29-2008, 05:54 PM
#17
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I've got a question.
I have tried it on the highway at 70-75, and even though it's way better, the steering wheel still does vibrate a little bit. past 65.
Does your steering vibrate a little bit at these speeds? I'm not talking abolut the cracks in the road or anything, but at 70 on the highway on cruise control, can you feel your steering slightly vibrating?
Maybe it's not just the balance? What about yours ?
I have tried it on the highway at 70-75, and even though it's way better, the steering wheel still does vibrate a little bit. past 65.
Does your steering vibrate a little bit at these speeds? I'm not talking abolut the cracks in the road or anything, but at 70 on the highway on cruise control, can you feel your steering slightly vibrating?
Maybe it's not just the balance? What about yours ?
03-01-2008, 11:03 AM
#23
Guys that I thought would never flame anyone are really going hard on this guy. He might be clueless ^^ but aren't we supposed to help no matter what question is asked? Give this guy a break. Remember one thing if you dish it out be ready to take it.
03-01-2008, 11:06 AM
#24
Montreal is pot hole capitol of the world....sometimes it just takes one pot hole to ruin the alignment! I wait till the spring after the road crews have fixed the 3,200 pot holes around Montreal...on roads, main streets and highways...to have my aligment fixed. IMO you should check your mag wheel to see if it's bent and your tire pressure AND your wheel balance. All of these will contribute to "Shake". Take it from a pro! Wait till spring to do the big stuff and if the driving is that bad on the highway you probably need a wheel balancing as on the highway if car is pulling to one side or the other it's the alignment while shaking is due to either a bent wheel or unbalanced wheel or both. Make sure you take it to a garage that has a special "Road Force" balancing machine. Most dealers have this and the good dealers don't charge more than a local garage to do this.
03-01-2008, 11:08 AM
#25
.
Last edited by NmexMAX; 03-01-2008 at 11:11 AM.
03-01-2008, 11:49 AM
#26
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bay area, CA
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I've got a question.
I have tried it on the highway at 70-75, and even though it's way better, the steering wheel still does vibrate a little bit. past 65.
Does your steering vibrate a little bit at these speeds? I'm not talking abolut the cracks in the road or anything, but at 70 on the highway on cruise control, can you feel your steering slightly vibrating?
Maybe it's not just the balance? What about yours ?
I have tried it on the highway at 70-75, and even though it's way better, the steering wheel still does vibrate a little bit. past 65.
Does your steering vibrate a little bit at these speeds? I'm not talking abolut the cracks in the road or anything, but at 70 on the highway on cruise control, can you feel your steering slightly vibrating?
Maybe it's not just the balance? What about yours ?
03-01-2008, 02:17 PM
#27
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,531
For now I have 17 inch steel rims with 17 inch winter tires. Toyo garrit HT winter tires... but the steering wasnt shaking before I hot that huge pothole.
The dealer balanced the 2 front wheels, and even though it does shake WAY less, there is still a slight vibration in the steering around 70mph. Nothing extreme or dangerous, just a vibration...
I'll wait another month until I put on my mags with 18 inch brand new RSAs(recall), and then if it's gone it was the wheel, and if not I'll have an alignment done...
Useless to have it done now I guess, I keep hitting huge potholes every time I take the car..... montreal streets at spring are horrible.
The dealer balanced the 2 front wheels, and even though it does shake WAY less, there is still a slight vibration in the steering around 70mph. Nothing extreme or dangerous, just a vibration...
I'll wait another month until I put on my mags with 18 inch brand new RSAs(recall), and then if it's gone it was the wheel, and if not I'll have an alignment done...
Useless to have it done now I guess, I keep hitting huge potholes every time I take the car..... montreal streets at spring are horrible.
03-01-2008, 04:50 PM
#28
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NC
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Mine has been shaking like a leaf since it hit 13k miles. I had the tires rebalanced 3 times and it just gets worse. I dont know if its the Goodyear shop has an old roadforce machine thats uncalibrated, or if the crummy RSA tires are just so screwed up they wont hold a balance. I think its the tires, and im almost ready to plunk down 1k for new Michelins, i dont have the energy to fight with the jerks at Goodyear. My town has 3 Goodyear shops and they all have dummies working at them, 8 dollar an hour kids who dont understand how to use the 20k balance machine, even if it is up to spec. My dealer is a total *** so thats out of the question. It sucks because its starting to make driving the car so unpleasant id rather drive my pickup, and the only options are to pull tires with plenty of rubber and spend a grand to replace them. Nissan really screwed the pooch with these friggin crap tires.
03-01-2008, 07:41 PM
#29
Ah yes....and check the lousy RSA tires for side wall cracks...there is a recall on them. Goodyear replaces these irregardless of mileage for a small fee. Try taking your Max back to the dealer and ask them help regarding the vibration. My dealer has been amazing in this regard though I'm up here in Montreal, Canada. (YAY Canadiens Hockey Team!)
03-01-2008, 09:13 PM
#30
For now I have 17 inch steel rims with 17 inch winter tires. Toyo garrit HT winter tires... but the steering wasnt shaking before I hot that huge pothole.
The dealer balanced the 2 front wheels, and even though it does shake WAY less, there is still a slight vibration in the steering around 70mph. Nothing extreme or dangerous, just a vibration...
I'll wait another month until I put on my mags with 18 inch brand new RSAs(recall), and then if it's gone it was the wheel, and if not I'll have an alignment done...
Useless to have it done now I guess, I keep hitting huge potholes every time I take the car..... montreal streets at spring are horrible.
The dealer balanced the 2 front wheels, and even though it does shake WAY less, there is still a slight vibration in the steering around 70mph. Nothing extreme or dangerous, just a vibration...
I'll wait another month until I put on my mags with 18 inch brand new RSAs(recall), and then if it's gone it was the wheel, and if not I'll have an alignment done...
Useless to have it done now I guess, I keep hitting huge potholes every time I take the car..... montreal streets at spring are horrible.
03-01-2008, 09:35 PM
#31
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mchenry IL 60051
Posts: 139
For now I have 17 inch steel rims with 17 inch winter tires. Toyo garrit HT winter tires... but the steering wasnt shaking before I hot that huge pothole.
The dealer balanced the 2 front wheels, and even though it does shake WAY less, there is still a slight vibration in the steering around 70mph. Nothing extreme or dangerous, just a vibration...
I'll wait another month until I put on my mags with 18 inch brand new RSAs(recall), and then if it's gone it was the wheel, and if not I'll have an alignment done...
Useless to have it done now I guess, I keep hitting huge potholes every time I take the car..... montreal streets at spring are horrible.
The dealer balanced the 2 front wheels, and even though it does shake WAY less, there is still a slight vibration in the steering around 70mph. Nothing extreme or dangerous, just a vibration...
I'll wait another month until I put on my mags with 18 inch brand new RSAs(recall), and then if it's gone it was the wheel, and if not I'll have an alignment done...
Useless to have it done now I guess, I keep hitting huge potholes every time I take the car..... montreal streets at spring are horrible.
03-02-2008, 04:45 AM
#32
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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The recall on rsa tires ended dec 31. The dealer acted as if they had no clue, so did nissan canada, and they told me to call goodyear canada. Goodyear told me the recall had ended and only their normal warranty is good now, with % use.
So I had 2 tires at 50% and 1 at 25% and one new from the dealer because it had a flat.
Goodyear refused to change the new one (even though it's got the defective serial number and it will eventually crack, they told me to come back when it's cracked).,
So I paid 50%, 50%, and 75% for 3 new tires. Not exactly cheap, but oh well, at least not full price.
So I had 2 tires at 50% and 1 at 25% and one new from the dealer because it had a flat.
Goodyear refused to change the new one (even though it's got the defective serial number and it will eventually crack, they told me to come back when it's cracked).,
So I paid 50%, 50%, and 75% for 3 new tires. Not exactly cheap, but oh well, at least not full price.
03-03-2008, 07:31 AM
#33
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 12
Ive had my RSAs rebalanced 4x now by Goodyear shops in my town, and each time it gets worse. They even ruined one of my rims, they said they were going to turn the tire on the rim to help it balance and the potato head tech used the "wrong dismount machine" and dragged the tire breaker across 3 out of 6 spokes. They bought a new rim and guess what, its a different shade of sliver than the one they wrecked, its acually kind of gray. They claim its the clear, "once it fades in a few months it will match the others." Im so sick of Goodyear tires and their incompetent jerkoff shops. Now the Nissan dealer is going to give it a whirl, maybe they will figure out HOW TO BALANCE A GODDAMN TIRE since Goodyear cannot. These crappy tires probably wont balance no matter what, but the stooges at Goodyear cant figure out how to add friggin air without mangling my car!
03-03-2008, 10:13 AM
#34
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 834
The vibration isn't just coming for the RSA's it's the cheap steering column (damper) or should i say light wieght damper on our cars thats why with accurate balance you still my get some vibration
Last edited by Lovemycar; 03-03-2008 at 10:15 AM.
03-03-2008, 10:25 AM
#35
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 12
Xactbalance has done the trick
Well, just got back from the dealer, they found every single wheel was out of balance, thanks to the local Goodyear tire shop. They rebalanced using a roadforce machine and Xactbalance weights, and 95% of what I felt before is gone. I agree these Maximas have inherent shimmy in the steering column, but I didnt know about this Xactbalance system till the dealer. It costs 80 bucks for all 4 wheels, but I think these weights are the new standard and if you are having shimmy problems find a shop that has them, its worth the extra cash. Anybody with a decent car should use them just for the appearance, they look cool too. This is one of those "why didnt i think of that" inventions. Here is a link.
http://www.imiproducts.com/xact/index.aspx
http://www.imiproducts.com/xact/index.aspx
06-26-2008, 06:53 PM
#36
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 9
Mine has been shaking like a leaf since it hit 13k miles. I had the tires rebalanced 3 times and it just gets worse. I dont know if its the Goodyear shop has an old roadforce machine thats uncalibrated, or if the crummy RSA tires are just so screwed up they wont hold a balance. I think its the tires, and im almost ready to plunk down 1k for new Michelins, i dont have the energy to fight with the jerks at Goodyear. My town has 3 Goodyear shops and they all have dummies working at them, 8 dollar an hour kids who dont understand how to use the 20k balance machine, even if it is up to spec. My dealer is a total *** so thats out of the question. It sucks because its starting to make driving the car so unpleasant id rather drive my pickup, and the only options are to pull tires with plenty of rubber and spend a grand to replace them. Nissan really screwed the pooch with these friggin crap tires.
What do you guys suggest I do? Take it back to nissan an tell them to balance and check the wheels to see if they're bent?
