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CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AT HIGH SPEEDS
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
kelarned@hotmail.com
Apr 20, 2009, 9:42 AM
Post #1 of 2
(13145 views)
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CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AT HIGH SPEEDS
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I have a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder with 160000 miles on it. I can't seem to find a mechanic that can fix this problem...PLEASE HELP!!!
The problem is that the car starts to violently swaying back and forth while driving at speeds over 50 mph. It is like someone is outside of the car and pushing on the car from one side rocking it back and forth.
It started two years ago. I purchased 12 cases of water (35 bottles each) and left them in the car for a week or so. The water was extremely heavy and when the swaying started on the freeway I took the water out. Once you hit the right speed or the road is uneven it will not stop until you slow down.
It is not a shimmy or a rattle or a shaking in the steering wheel. You really can only feel the rocking motion and it forces the steering wheel to move back and forth also. If my hands are fixed at the 12 o’clock position… they will move with the wheel back and forth from 10 to 2 until I slow down. There is no noise that accompanies this...it just violently rocks back and forth.
We have had the shocks and struts replaced…New tires (x2)…the wheels aligned (x3)…No one can come up with another reason, yet it is still rocking.
Any suggestions????
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 20, 2009, 1:16 PM
Post #2 of 2
(13135 views)
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Re: CAR ROCKS BACK AND FORTH AT HIGH SPEEDS
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If this is a 4X4 have the front axle constant velocity joints at the wheels checked; making sure that there is no binding when rotated through it normal angle of travel.
There’s a TBS that has something to do with correcting a “Shimmy” at hwy speeds. It’s called checking & adjusting the “slide force” of the steering rack. Ref.# NTB98-102 Issued Feb.15,1999.
What it’s asking is to test how much pulling force is required to move the tie rods.
It says to disconnect both outer tie rods from the spindles; disconnect the steering input shaft from the rack. Rotate the steering gear so that it is centered in the strait ahead position.
Then attach a spring scale to one of the tie rods and measure the amount of pulling pressure that is required to make the tie rod move. The spec is 37 to 44 lbs; if to loose it could be causing this shimmy?
This sliding force is adjustable at the rack; if the rack is not worn past the adjusting screw’s allowable amount of travel.
I won’t go into the actual adjustment procedure; its something that needs to be done with a far amount of care and knowledge of what you’re doing.
Here’s a diagram of the spring scale attached to the tie rod.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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