Dumb question - need new suspension?

chairman kaga · Apr 2nd, 2008, 01:17 PM

This is my first truck/SUV. I come from a long line of sport compacts and honest to God sports cars with rock hard suspension, so my perspective on what qualifies as good and/or bad is sort of skewed.

My '92 2WD XE (170K miles) wobbles like a drunken goat. I think it's mildly lifted (I'm the fourth owner and honestly have NO idea what work was done prior to the guy before me), cause I can crawl underneath and change all the oil without jacking or ramps (thanks for the help with that project, by the way), especially compared to the otherwise identical Pathy that sometimes parks next to me at work. But back to the wobble... On the interstate it's taken to the drunken meandering. It FEELS like I'm driving through a force 10 gale, the way it bobs and wanders. So I wonder if it doesn't need new shocks, springs and bushings. With as many miles as it has, I wouldn't be too surprised. Sway bar adjustments? I'm reluctant to take it intot he shop just yet because of the damned $50 diagnostic fee, but this project, if necessary, might be a good use for my tax return.

Or maybe it's time to just triage the Pathfinder, keep it around, and buy a Miata as my DD. She also needs a new main seal, a clutch, probably a timing belt, water pump, brakes, brake linings...</Ray Stantz>

Any input?

Calimoxo2 · Apr 2nd, 2008, 03:33 PM

At 170K miles..if the shocks are factory..they are toast..... take one off and compress it...usually if it stays down..it is dead..

also look for oil around the piston seal....

Anyway..they are really cheap...Rancho 5000's or Fabtech Click here

chairman kaga · Apr 2nd, 2008, 04:05 PM

As far as I can tell, they're stock originals. How can I tell if the springs are shot, too?

Man, I've spent hours with a breaker bar and blowtorch pulling suspension bits out of an Integra before. No fun. And that car only had 60k miles. Every bolt will be frozen, and every head will shear, and every bushing will crumble.
Ugh.

Calimoxo2 · Apr 3rd, 2008, 07:44 AM

Go here for all your Nissan performance parts........ They have lots of suspension kits....

**88pathoffroad** · Apr 17th, 2008, 08:50 PM

$50 diagnostic fee? I think not, come on over to the NPORA forums and we'll take care of ya, friend.
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