Rear wiggling???
Well i had the car aligned using coupe specs (I have a sedan on coupe and Z springs). My rear toe was way off. The front of the rear tires were turned outward - like .5! I'll try to scan the sheet tomorrow. But get your car aligned. My G tracks true and is divine to drive.
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From: The OC boyeee!!
Good to hear!
I have an appointment for alignment work next Sat. ( I cant go to West End in Torrance since he's only available M-F
but I guess I have to make due).
I'll post my result there after.
I have an appointment for alignment work next Sat. ( I cant go to West End in Torrance since he's only available M-F
but I guess I have to make due).I'll post my result there after.
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From: The OC boyeee!!
Resurrection!
Okay, after a few weeks of messing with stuff and alignment that I didnt need, I back where I started. But I now have a theory:
I have messed with every part that I installed from when the problem first occured EXCEPT one: My camber arms. I either A.) installed the traction rod instead of the camber arms (the Kinetix set look basically identical to each other), B.) the washers I had put on the traction rods should have been used with the camber arms, or C.) a combinations of the two.
Like I said, the arms looked exactly the same to me. Both have poly urethane bushings and I havent had any out-of-the-ordinary problems with alignment, so this may not be an issue, but i could be wrong.
I'm really banking on the lack of washers in the camber arm, thinking on impact, the bushings have too much room to move. The arms dont feel loose at all BTW.
Any thoughts?
Okay, after a few weeks of messing with stuff and alignment that I didnt need, I back where I started. But I now have a theory:
I have messed with every part that I installed from when the problem first occured EXCEPT one: My camber arms. I either A.) installed the traction rod instead of the camber arms (the Kinetix set look basically identical to each other), B.) the washers I had put on the traction rods should have been used with the camber arms, or C.) a combinations of the two.
Like I said, the arms looked exactly the same to me. Both have poly urethane bushings and I havent had any out-of-the-ordinary problems with alignment, so this may not be an issue, but i could be wrong.
I'm really banking on the lack of washers in the camber arm, thinking on impact, the bushings have too much room to move. The arms dont feel loose at all BTW.
Any thoughts?
Plastiketa - you ever figure this out for sure? Mine is doing the same thing, similar changes:
- Hotchkis Sways
- Tein Mono Flex coilovers
- Nismo v2 front bumper
My first theory was the v2 on the front was loose somewhere and the car was getting shoved around as the drag forces changed on the front of the car but I'm not sure how much force drag is enacting and how much the front would need to bend to make the car wobble or unsettle the rear.
Another theory (prolly more likely) are the sways being installed wrong or not sitting quite right and when you hit a bump or lose traction the sways "unwind" to move the rear suspension, then when the car gets traction back the sways torsion back up.
The car was doing the wiggle/wobble prior to the Mono's, I just had the Mono's put on this weekend so need an alignment anyway but if you ever found the root cause it would save some trial and error...
- Hotchkis Sways
- Tein Mono Flex coilovers
- Nismo v2 front bumper
My first theory was the v2 on the front was loose somewhere and the car was getting shoved around as the drag forces changed on the front of the car but I'm not sure how much force drag is enacting and how much the front would need to bend to make the car wobble or unsettle the rear.
Another theory (prolly more likely) are the sways being installed wrong or not sitting quite right and when you hit a bump or lose traction the sways "unwind" to move the rear suspension, then when the car gets traction back the sways torsion back up.
The car was doing the wiggle/wobble prior to the Mono's, I just had the Mono's put on this weekend so need an alignment anyway but if you ever found the root cause it would save some trial and error...
Originally Posted by frizille
Plastiketa - you ever figure this out for sure? Mine is doing the same thing, similar changes:
- Hotchkis Sways
- Tein Mono Flex coilovers
- Nismo v2 front bumper
My first theory was the v2 on the front was loose somewhere and the car was getting shoved around as the drag forces changed on the front of the car but I'm not sure how much force drag is enacting and how much the front would need to bend to make the car wobble or unsettle the rear.
Another theory (prolly more likely) are the sways being installed wrong or not sitting quite right and when you hit a bump or lose traction the sways "unwind" to move the rear suspension, then when the car gets traction back the sways torsion back up.
The car was doing the wiggle/wobble prior to the Mono's, I just had the Mono's put on this weekend so need an alignment anyway but if you ever found the root cause it would save some trial and error...
- Hotchkis Sways
- Tein Mono Flex coilovers
- Nismo v2 front bumper
My first theory was the v2 on the front was loose somewhere and the car was getting shoved around as the drag forces changed on the front of the car but I'm not sure how much force drag is enacting and how much the front would need to bend to make the car wobble or unsettle the rear.
Another theory (prolly more likely) are the sways being installed wrong or not sitting quite right and when you hit a bump or lose traction the sways "unwind" to move the rear suspension, then when the car gets traction back the sways torsion back up.
The car was doing the wiggle/wobble prior to the Mono's, I just had the Mono's put on this weekend so need an alignment anyway but if you ever found the root cause it would save some trial and error...
btw how do you like your Monoflex? Any past experience with other suspension that you can compare.
~Robert
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From: Albany, GA
When installing the Kinetix Traction rods you must ensure that the length is exactly matching the stock length. Kinetix claims you can adjust toe here, which you can adjust static toe, but you will mess with the entire geometry of the suspension when it goes through its travel, which will change the toe when the suspension is in another state other than static. And the main component to keep true is toe. So, therefore I believe you still have a toe problem in the rear.
BTW - I have bent a few Kinetix rods, yet the have never bent a stock rod, who said that aftermarket is better than stock should be shot.
BTW - I have bent a few Kinetix rods, yet the have never bent a stock rod, who said that aftermarket is better than stock should be shot.
Originally Posted by plastiketa
Resurrection!
Okay, after a few weeks of messing with stuff and alignment that I didnt need, I back where I started. But I now have a theory:
I have messed with every part that I installed from when the problem first occured EXCEPT one: My camber arms. I either A.) installed the traction rod instead of the camber arms (the Kinetix set look basically identical to each other), B.) the washers I had put on the traction rods should have been used with the camber arms, or C.) a combinations of the two.
Like I said, the arms looked exactly the same to me. Both have poly urethane bushings and I havent had any out-of-the-ordinary problems with alignment, so this may not be an issue, but i could be wrong.
I'm really banking on the lack of washers in the camber arm, thinking on impact, the bushings have too much room to move. The arms dont feel loose at all BTW.
Any thoughts?
Okay, after a few weeks of messing with stuff and alignment that I didnt need, I back where I started. But I now have a theory:
I have messed with every part that I installed from when the problem first occured EXCEPT one: My camber arms. I either A.) installed the traction rod instead of the camber arms (the Kinetix set look basically identical to each other), B.) the washers I had put on the traction rods should have been used with the camber arms, or C.) a combinations of the two.
Like I said, the arms looked exactly the same to me. Both have poly urethane bushings and I havent had any out-of-the-ordinary problems with alignment, so this may not be an issue, but i could be wrong.
I'm really banking on the lack of washers in the camber arm, thinking on impact, the bushings have too much room to move. The arms dont feel loose at all BTW.
Any thoughts?
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From: The OC boyeee!!
Well, it turned out to be a toe problem. It seems that the rear toe moves for some reason. The bolts seem tight but the ready out from the alignment said they half a degree off. So after a two months and 100o miles, I have chewed up tires, toe bolts that dont move anymore, and a rear end that doesnt wiggle anymore.
The alignment guy tried to blame that the tire tread was the influence of it all but I highly doubt it. Here's the tread I started with all the details so I dont get started with it on this:
https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-tires/275271-tire-and-alignment-dilemma.html
MoodDude: Before install, I made sure the stocks and the Kinetix were the same size. You were spot on with the toe problem. But I still wonder why no other alignment tech caught that?!?! ~Weird~
The alignment guy tried to blame that the tire tread was the influence of it all but I highly doubt it. Here's the tread I started with all the details so I dont get started with it on this:
https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-tires/275271-tire-and-alignment-dilemma.html
MoodDude: Before install, I made sure the stocks and the Kinetix were the same size. You were spot on with the toe problem. But I still wonder why no other alignment tech caught that?!?! ~Weird~
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From: Albany, GA
You must find a good mechanic that cares as much for you car as you do. 99% of them really don't care, don't know, and will say anything to get rid of you. That is why I most of my own work (including alignments) and the stuff I don't have time for, I take to a mechanic I can trust.
This may sound funny, but working in as a Race Engineer in pro racing for the last few months has shown me just how little even these guys know about alignments. Pro-racing is so much about word-of-mouth and what the winners are doing it isn't even funny. Most of them don't think about the problem to come up with there own solution, it is so much easier just to copy the winning team.
This may sound funny, but working in as a Race Engineer in pro racing for the last few months has shown me just how little even these guys know about alignments. Pro-racing is so much about word-of-mouth and what the winners are doing it isn't even funny. Most of them don't think about the problem to come up with there own solution, it is so much easier just to copy the winning team.
Originally Posted by LaoSiFu
Mine did but it turn out my camber arms were a bit loose.
btw how do you like your Monoflex? Any past experience with other suspension that you can compare.
~Robert
btw how do you like your Monoflex? Any past experience with other suspension that you can compare.
~Robert
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From: New Zealand
Originally Posted by plastiketa
Well, it turned out to be a toe problem. It seems that the rear toe moves for some reason. The bolts seem tight but the ready out from the alignment said they half a degree off. So after a two months and 100o miles, I have chewed up tires, toe bolts that dont move anymore, and a rear end that doesnt wiggle anymore.
The alignment guy tried to blame that the tire tread was the influence of it all but I highly doubt it. Here's the tread I started with all the details so I dont get started with it on this:
The alignment guy tried to blame that the tire tread was the influence of it all but I highly doubt it. Here's the tread I started with all the details so I dont get started with it on this:
My damn Z since I purchased new has always thrown alignments often within a couple of days. Over the last 1 yearish it will throw an alignment within in 10kms, and no I'm not kidding.
Usually toe dramatically out, and the thrust angle will change every alignment, even if the 2nd alignment is the next day. There is movement in the rear subframe. So many major problems with my Zed it's not safe to drive. Transmission, driveshaft, fuel pump, knocking tappets, etc, etc, etc & can't hold a straight line without the back drifting out even at 15kms, irrespective of speed, cronic harmonic vibrations throughout the whole car.
Already had:
**driveshaft (excessively notchy at UJ, this only took 2 weeks to get to that point again)
**shocks (seized at about 30k)
**fuel pump (malfunctioning)
**left bank solenoid, CD player (not working) under warranty
**oh and I paid for a right axle assembly to stop the knocking & abnormal movement of the original one.
Fuel pump and CD player malfunctioning again because of the vibration.
This car has caused so much stress, mechanical bills, lawyer has been involved & my Z has been off the road most of the last year. I've had so many assessments of my Z, it's not even funny & I'm still battling to have it fixed. It's a stock 04, Touring, done 56k, problems became very apparent at 30k. It's had all it's services at a Nissan Dealer, been babied because of the all the issues, had more alignments than most cars will have in 300,000kms.
Please if anyone has been through similar with their Z or has insightful mechanical advice please post.
PLEASE no dumb/pointless posts, or sell it posts etc. NOT APPRECIATED & no we don't have Lemon Law in New Zealand.
^^ I do empathize with your situation. I'm sure the troubles you have gone through have certainly not been matched by the driving experience. I hope you can resolve the issue (whether by ridding yourself of this Z or otherwise). Best of luck.
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From: New Zealand
Originally Posted by myG35zx
^^ I do empathize with your situation. I'm sure the troubles you have gone through have certainly not been matched by the driving experience. I hope you can resolve the issue (whether by ridding yourself of this Z or otherwise). Best of luck.
I can only wish that my Zed will finally be 100% mechanically sound after such a long time. Having driven 16 x 350's all specs I know how they should be to drive. 
Cars/motorbikes have been a big part of my life since I was tiny.
