I live in Dallas and am really fed up with this problem. I'm taking the car in tommorrow to put on the 3rd set of tires at 31k miles. I had to fight them tooth and nail to replace the tires the first time. They didn't get replaced until 17k. I really want to stick it to Nissan for treating me this way. Should I wait to see how this suit pans out or file for the LL? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I feel your pain Satchel. I live in Frisco and it is no fun driving a dump truck up the North Dallas Tollway. 34,000 miles and feeling the pain and noise.

If you want to control your destiny, go for LL or BBB case. Class Action could take years to settle. If you want to keep the car, I have had good success with Kumho Ecsta MX's. HAd the aligment done by Kwik Car Tech in Plano off of Ohio by the Sam's Club. I think it was $60 for the front and rears. 11,000 miles and the fronts are fine.

 

Thanks ezchief

I think I might give Nissan the ultimatum to pay for that.

 

ezchief:

Do you know if the last alignment you had performed by Kwik Car Tech used Nissan's specs or their own?

11,000 miles on your car is great without any feathering. I am lucky if I can get over 6,000 miles.

I have decided to keep my Z. There are too many things I like about this car.

 

I have an appointment tomorrow morning for them to check out the tires. I have a 2004 enthusiast with 12500 miles. I apologize, but i dont' feel like reading all 153 pages of this thread. I assume they are just going to change the tires, and thats ok, if nissan develops a fix soon.

 

He has been doing alignments for 12 years plus. He analyzed the wear pattern that had started to show, checked NNA specs, calibrated his own thoughts against NNA and voila. I immediately went next door to the tire store and had the fronts cross rotated. I went back to him at 5000 miles and he checked the specs and they were dead on. No movement what so ever. He does not use a Hunter machine but some other brand. At the time the machine was a few months old. I just could not go back to Nissan anymore after two failed alignments.

 

What are the alignment specs on your car? Do you have any aftermarket suspension parts?

I don't see how a simple toe adjustment can fix the heel-toe wear pattern that most people seem to have. But even if it can on some cars, it seems that there is absolutely no room for error. Nissan claims that "the z is very sensitive to toe settings", and that may be the case, but I have never seen a car that was anywhere near as senstive to toe as the z.

 

Pure stock, no aftermarket. I do have Kumho Ecsta MX 245's on the front and 255's on the rear. I know total toe is at .05 with the right tire having the most if not all of the toe in. It has been a while since I looked at it.

I am no expert and do not think the toe is the total answer. It so happens that I have been lucky IMHO. But alignment is part of it and it takes a seasoned vet to analyze this stuff. Seems he had the answer months before NNA did just by looking.

 

is this problem with the 2004 as well? i don't think i have experience the tire feathering.

 

Thanks for the info ezchief.

I agree with you on Nissan's ability to align a 350Z properly.

More Z's have feathering that don't. But it somewhat explains why some have none.

 

I had the TSB performed at about 8k miles and the sound was gone....and btw....there was no signs of any feathering...just alot of noise.

I received a letter from Nissan Canada saying that my tires would be convered for an additional two yrs.

I called him today and they are ordering me two front tires....same OEM....

I will report on my progress one way or the other.....as time goes on.

I guess I should be happy I dont have feathering.....however, there is no question these tires are very noisy....

Happy Motoring..

 

If you have the roar, you have feathered tires. Plus the dealer can't replace your tires unless they are feathered. You need to have the dealer show you how to tell when your tires are feathering so when it starts to happen again you will see it coming. Good luck.

 

I've been looking to purchase an '03, is it worthwhile - every car has its share of problems

 

I always find these types of questions to be rediculous. You know where you are, right? In the midst of a 350z owners forum. We ALL (minus those who haven't) have bought one because we thought it was a worthwhile car. And you just said it yourself, every car has its share of problems.

However, your needs and wants are different than every person on this board. We can't tell you what you need or want. You take a test drive, a long one... not a dealer standard 3 miles one, and decide for yourself. Problems are fixable and warranties cover deficiencies in quality or craft. If it breaks and its your fault... that's just an opportunity to mod the car. Bigger brakes, exhaust, intake, grilles, sways, tires.... it's your car - decide which model is for you and make it yours in every way possible. You're not buying the car for us.

 

Um...Pit bull....you're quite mistaken.....alot of owners have reported noisy tires with NO feathering on this board....contained in several previous pages....

by this time...with over 152 pages of posts...I think we all know what to look for in terms of feathering.....and my tires are not feathered....just noisy....which by the way is exactly what
several Lexus and Audi owners reported about this tire at their forum.

The dealer ordered my tires over the phone....I didn't even have to visit. Let's face it..if the noise comes back....I'm on my own....


BUT I STILL LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

 

Anybody get tires recently. I am being told they are still on 'National Back Order'.

 

While there is a certain noise level that will exist even with perfectly wearing tires, the noise that people are complaining about is indeed caused by the heel-toe wear pattern that is mistakenly called 'feathering'. If you have abnormal noise coming from the tires, then it most likely is because the tires are starting to develop this heel-toe wear pattern. If the tires were wearing properly, then there is no reason the tires would be any more noisy than they usually would. It doesn't take much of the heel-toe wear to start generating the 'howling' sound that is being experienced, so maybe you just don't have the wear problem very bad yet. Also, make sure you look at both the inside and outside shoulders of the tires. The wear pattern could be on either, depending on the toe setting on your car.

BTW, if the noise does come back, you shouldn't be on your own...don't settle for that! This is Nissan's problem, not the customers who bought their improperly designed car.

 

8/9/04 - 03 Touring 6mt - Went in for tranny replacement, had them look at the tires as well (feathered extremely bad...didn't notice them until reading it on here). The mechanics response to the service manager was "do we have these tires in stock?" So i'm assuming they are being replaced for free as well (I will update later this week if I end up being wrong).


Cecil - I've had

-oily windows
-tranny grind + replacement
-tire feathering
-gas cover level problem
-trunk release problem

And EVERY single problem has been fixed without question (or charge) by my dealer. I absolutely LOVE that car. Granted...i'm only 23, and I haven't owned that many cars...but I have ZERO desire to own any car short of a 360 Modena But then again, that's just my opinion.

-And yes, DarkBlueTA if you read this...that includes the Supra.

 

Pit Bull is right, it's just a matter of time. I loved my care as well and there hasn't been a day since I settled my lemon law case that I don't think abt it

 

ezchief,

You stated your total front toe is at .05. I know the other alignment numbers are not adjustable, but what are they (castor, camber, L/R etc) fixed at? If possible, can you give all your actual settings inclucing the units (degrees or inch)?
I strongly suspect the problem is related to several factors, not just toe setting.
Thanks,