Pedders 28-Point Suspension Check - FAILED

[edgar_raphael]

Sick of all the crazy annoying noises coming from the car everytime I drive over bumps and humps on the road, I decided to send the Maxima to Pedders and enrolled in their 28 Points Suspension Safety Check, after about 40 minutes of waiting while they did the test, the results came out.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1052/frontwp3.jpg
Here are the two front results

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9357/rearrv6.jpg
And this is the rear results

However, these are only the suspension shock test, which works out fine except that the rear shocks are losing and is getting softer, the fronts are alright.

And then on top of that, they did test and check on all other suspension and steering components on the Maxima, and here are the results:

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/2592/reportbz5.jpg

Only 17 points were applicable to the Maxima and my score was, 9/17 so yeah, basically, my Maxima FAILED, pretty miserably. Here are the lists:

PASS
Front
- Shocks
- Springs
- Swaybar Bushes
- Ball Joints
- Upper Bushes
- Steering Pump

Rear
- Springs
- Lower Bushes
- Bump Stops


FAIL
Front
- Tie Rod Ends : Worn and Knocking
- Lower Bushes : Soft on both sides
- Steering gear : Internal knock (steering rack and pinion)
- Lines/Belts/Filter : Requires flush (steering fluid)
- C.V. Joints : Outer boots need replacement
- Tyres : Worn on the inside

Rear
- Shocks : Very Soft
- Lateral Arms : Bush Soft


So basically, all those noises that I have been complaining about comes from the Tie Rod Ends, Lower Arm bushing, and my worn and leaking steering rack.

To fix this, will costs me:


http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4530/quotationyx6.jpg

A whopping AUD$1,981.10 , in which the estimated cost sheet do not include the Tie Rod Ends as they need to be ordered directly from Nissan which will cost around AUD$100, to sum up a total of AUD$2,000 to repair and replace the problem.

I am heart broken really and pissed off at the same time. I need some real good advice here. All I want is to eliminate the suspension noise and that is it.

And I am going to try and replace as much as I possibly can and only hand the car to the workshop for some bigger job where doing them at home will not be possible. My questions are:

1) How hard is it going to be to change the tie rod?
2) What about the steering rack? Do I really need to purchase a brand new one? Can I fix it? What is wrong with it?
3) We can't possible change the bushes can't we? As it requires the press tool?

 

[ongteckweng]

damn!!! AU$1900!!!! u can get urself a set of Titan adjustable + fixing the problems here...sorry to hear that...so whats the plan now?

 

[edgar_raphael]

I am doing further research on those parts that need replacement to see how many faulty parts I can replace by myself to save the labour.

The steering rack and the labour charges are the most expensive. So I am wondering if I can recondition the steering rack or do they need to be totally replaced?

 

[weikee]

the lower arm its not too hard to be replace. get the super pro bushing, its better. I'll change the bigger lower arm bush to super pro, the smaller one will use back the original. You need to send it to the press machine to replace the small one. the big one no need.

Ong, Titan will not solve the lower arm noise. its just solve the suspension softness only.

Tie rod end, think you need to take the steering rack out, and its a pain to take it out. Why not you get a recond steering rack, and get some friend to help you do the installation. One person will certainly hard to do it.

 

[edgar_raphael]

Which one is the bigger lower arm?

SuperPro? where can I get these? and how much are they? Am I right that there is 2 bushes per arm?

Tie rod ends replacement need not take the whole rack out, they are the 'outer' end, not the entire tie rods, so just remove the nut from the knuckle and the tie rods itself.

At the moment, I am considering the cheaper alternative:

Replace Bushing and Tie Rod Ends.

We'll see how we go after that, I really don't want to replace the whole rack as they cost so much here, and there is no A32 for wrecks yet!

 

[weikee]

recond one?

if you want recond power steering, can get it about AUD 100 in here.. than can ask someone replace the tie rod end, and boot for you. and send it over. just that i am not sure how expensive to send over.

buy the bush from here.. since you are in Au, its much better. Home I will use back the B13 big bush for my A32, cause according to the superpro website, its same. My B13 bush after 2 years of use, its still in very good condition

 

[edgar_raphael]

How much does the bushes cost for the 2 arms? Are they better than the OEM Nissan items?

When you say recond steering rack, do you mean a the rack off a wrecked car or a reconditioned item, meaning they are refurbished?

 

[weikee]

Malaysia normally are used. try get the recondition in Au.

forgot how much its cost, if i remember correctly maybe its about RM 120 for a pair of big bush. for B13, its feel so much better than the new Nissan bush.

 

[edgar_raphael]

what is B13?

So it is around RM120 for a pair of lower control arm bushes? or which 'big bush' are you talking about?

 

[weikee]

part number SPF1338K from super pro.

 

[ongteckweng]

the lower arm its not too hard to be replace. get the super pro bushing, its better. I'll change the bigger lower arm bush to super pro, the smaller one will use back the original. You need to send it to the press machine to replace the small one. the big one no need.

Ong, Titan will not solve the lower arm noise. its just solve the suspension softness only.

Tie rod end, think you need to take the steering rack out, and its a pain to take it out. Why not you get a recond steering rack, and get some friend to help you do the installation. One person will certainly hard to do it.

weikee...what i mean is with AUD$1900, i can get myself a set of Titan n fix all the problems above!!!