1996 Pathfinder 4x4 SE (75k miles) shakes or wobbles from side to side on highway or side streets usually after I go over a uneven bump like an angle road joint or slight dip on one side of the lane...can't use cruise control...it will stop shaking if I slow down or speed up...shocks seem good and rear ones have been replaced already...someone said front stabilizer bar mounts might be broken but they look good...Has anybody else had this problem?
This is definitely you’re rear control arm bushings. I’ve replaced mine twice now. This last time I used poly bushings from www.4x4parts.com and I really like them so far. If nothing else, they are going to be a lot easier to change out than the OEM bushings.
I looked in the Haynes manual and see there are rear lower and upper control arms...do they both need to have the bushings changed out? (that would be 8 bushings total with one in each end of each arm) Thanks...
Some people just replace the lower four bushings. I replaced all eight. On my truck the upper bushings didn’t look any better or worse than the lower bushings.
Does this apply to 4x2 trucks as well? I have a lot of lateral sway that I assumed were shot shocks.
Heath, I don't think in this case. The '96+ unibody Pathfinders have a 4 (or 5) link coil-sprung rear axle, and our trucks have leaves. That's not to say that perhaps the bushings in your leaf springs aren't worn out. Mine seem to still be good at 187k though, so I would suspect yours are good too. If you already know the shocks are gone, I'd replace those first before any other parts.
I got the truck back today with the new bushings (the poly ones from 4x4.com) installed...had all 8 changed out...WOW ...what a differece !! Thanks for all your help guys !!
The bushings from www.4x4parts.com were $145 and a local auto maintenance place charged $300 to install them...make sure you find a place that has a good press to get the old ones out...
If you ordered your bushings from www.4x4parts.com all eight bushings are the same size. The OEM bushings however, are not all the same size.
greetings all. this is my first post. i bought my moms pathfinder that is in great shape, but this "rocking" is driving me crazy and is SCARY. can someone help me but explaing the reply above. why are the OEM busings different, but the 4x4parts ones all the same. im ready to order these and change them SOON!!
I don’t actually have an explanation, but I can tell you what I remember about the OE bushings. The 4 lowers are the same and the 4 uppers are the same. The uppers have a thicker outer sleeve than the lowers and the steel liner of the uppers have a serrated end detail. I’m not certain why, but that is how I remember them.
The polyurethane bushings do not have a steel outer sleeve nor do they have a serrated end detail on the steel liner. I have 14,000 miles on the polyurethane bushings from www.4x4parts.com and I am very happy with them. The ride is good and solid. If nothing else they will be a lot easier to replace than the OE bushings.
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