Sounds like you think you have a handle on this problem. What exactly are you changing? Springs are all it should take if it is just a ride height problem. What else are you changing that adds up to almost $2400? Let us know if it really helps! Good luck.

 

I think if enough of us could complain to a major magazine or TV show like Dateline or 20/20..shows like that, I’m sure we could get them to do a story on this mess. Just this site alone should more than suffice. Plus, I'm sure if other sites where contacted they would join in and help. Together we stand...and the more of us there is the better. I really think we could do it!!!! So what do you all think?

 

I think what you are saying has been tried before back in earlier pages of this forum. I don't know exactly what page, but I am almost sure that there was a petition that went around to be given to NNA and several other major magazines. This forum has gotten so long that it is impossible for anyone to read back through the pages and see what has already been discussed. Only the ones who have been following the forum from the beginning know issues have been addressed. But,.... who is to say that if it is brought up again, that it can't help us?!

 

dirtyharry44:

I remember back in 1986, I believe it was 60 minutes, a story was done on the GM transmissions that gave out very early because of cheap plastic parts.

I spent two hours in a Nissan Dealership yesterday. They don't even have a clue. When I suggested to one of the young salesmen that he should at least advise his potential 350Z purchaser that they may have a serious tireeating problem after abouty 4,000 miles, he said "No way, I'm here for the money!"

I'm ready to join in on a campaign to get a major network news investigation program to aire a story on how Nissan continues to thumb their nose at us poor old suckers! Surely, somebody here knows somebody there. It would make a very interesting story.

 

Fact o the matter is , not amny people are *****!n anymore.

 

n2aZ:

I am in!

Nissan is beyond arrogant on this KNOWN front tire feathering/cupping issue!

All NNA is doing is throwing tires at us until the 24k miles/ 24 months is up.

Then you are **** out of luck!

I have a 12/2002 build and I can not believe the 2004 models have the same problem.

If 60 Minutes is interested in a report, I am there.

 

I think the lack of complaining is due to simple exhaustion. One can inveset only so much time in an issue before there is nothing left to say.

IF someone gets a connnection for an organized formal campaign - complaint I am in also. I have been going round and round with NNA over this since it first presented on my Z. I am on the third set of front tires (second free set) and already there is the indication the feathering will return.

Yes, I agree, Nissan has done a poor job of adressing thsi issue. I do not think they can afford to fix the issue without loosing serious respect in the marketplace because of the aproach they have taken to date (free tires and all thet needs attention is the toe in).

As I posted earlier, my tires wear very evinly when the Z is driven in a more 'sports car' faxhion. But, when driven as a dailey drivefr with a good share of freeway driving the feathering returns rather quickley.

I would welcome a resolution and am willing to provide all of my history if it will help. I have kept a log of conversations and such.

 

Are the 2004 having the same problem???

Thanks!

 

You betcha...

 

10K and still no signs of wear or noise. I do beleive mine has been fixed once and for all. I am taking it in for it's 30K service this week. I will have the tech look the tires over well to make sure they are wearing evenly.

If you haven't had the RE040's replaced with the new tread pattern I would definately request a swap.

 

BifNDFW,

10k, and no signs of wear or noise is very good news. Could you also post your alignment data (if you haven't done so already)? The new RE040 is probably the solution to tire feathering (w/ stock suspension), but now that I have aftermarket rims, I wonder if they'll come in 255/35/19?

 

BifNDFW (and others),

Please post your alignment data here:

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=92147

 

Dang it...I can't get a EVO because Mitsubishi is screwing around not backing there warranty

And now I can't get a Z because of the feathering issue...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

 

Same here - mine took a long time to show the problem (7k miles) comparared to others I had spoken with (3k), they drove freeway, I live in a rural area with lots of hills and twisty backroads. When I started taking longer freeway trips (post Winter) the problem started showing up.

I still have my post-side-to-side TSB pics up at:
http://homepage.mac.com/stracy01/Auto/PhotoAlbum12.html scroll down to the lower part of the page to see the pics.

You can see how badly worn the tread (now on the outsides, the wear came when on the inside). Don't have the car anymore so I can't tell you much; walked away at 11k miles after a bunch of other issues.

 

now quick question guys, I havent' been on the boards for a long time now and I noticed there's 159 pages of info. I don't think I should spend my entire day reading it, but has anyone actually found a cure to it aside from going to the dealership itself. Maybe buying some aftermarket products to adjust the front suspension and new tires of course with an alignment?

 

Originally posted by SteveZ [/i]
Don't have the car anymore so I can't tell you much; walked away at 11k miles after a bunch of other issues. [/QUOTE]

Walked away as in Lemon Law?

 

I've seen three categories of "solutions" -

1) OEM route - TSB's for swap and possibly the compression rod problem I had, alignments, tires replaced on NNA's nickel, extension of warranty out past 12k to 24k, working with Nissan to keep patching the problem, which does not seem to go away. Possibly go Lemon Law if things get really ugly. Not willing to spend $$$ on trying other options because Nissan should fix this.

2) Hybird - OEM/Warranty Intact - buy different, usually harder compound tires, plus do all of the above. Are willing to buy new pairs fairly often (~10k miles or less), I call this the "highly optimistic & tolerant" route. Does not seem to fix the problem, just "manages" it. This group does not put aftermarket suspension or wheels other than maybe Nismo, because doing so kicks you into Option 3. The TSB's state the work is only to be performed on STOCK vehicles or those with Nismo mods; if not stock have to be returned to stock condition to be eligible for the tire-related TSB service.

3) Custom - completely forget about Nissan and their suspension/tire warranty and completely replace things on your own - springs, tires, wheels, etc. As many options claiming success as religions - I have never been able to find one combo that appears to have worked for a lot of people. You see Teins, Nismo tune, all kinds of combos of wheels/tires/springs/shocks.

The problem is most people going Option 3 aren't posting here anymore because they don't look to NNA to solve their issues, they have no warranty covering this, and if they continue to have serious problems, they either put up with it or dump the car and buy something else.

Hopefully this helps at least a little - you either put your faith in Nissan (#1), or ride out the storm and rationalize the $$$ spent on tires as normal or acceptable (#2), or start working on a few thousand $$$ or more of your own solution (#3) and assume the risk you still won't fix it. So far the trend I see is #1 people end up walking away from the car as I have. #2 people will stay in there indefinitely. #3 people - who knows? The only constant I see is the Z is highly intolerant of misalignment, you need to use the right equipment to get a real alignment, period - which only matters in the rate of wear, but really fixes nothing.

I only still check this forum because my G isn't too far removed from the Z and if something does change, or someone pops up with "the answer", I'd like to see it. I'm over 8K miles of the same driving now with the G Coupe and no issues. 6k was around where my Z first showed the problems. See this link for what my z tires looked like: Click here and scroll down the page to tire pics

 

Don't forget the new reo40s, which now have more rubber on inside of tire, where feathering occurs. Bandaid? Yes, but you should get more miles before feathering begins.

 

No, the "new" re040 is not the solution. My car now has those and still has the problem.

Also, even if the "new" re040 did fix the problem on all the cars that had it, its a bogus solution because you are now required to run a certain type of tire if you want to avoid the problem.

 

I think you're right. People are realizing that there is not much they can do while Nissan rapes them. I've had two hearings through the BBB Autoline program, and Nissan has lied and pulled everything possible to avoid responsibility in my particular case. I also think the arbitrator flat out ignored most of the pertinent facts, which really makes me wonder if Nissan is lining the pockets of some of these 'volunteer' arbitrators.

I had planned to pursue it in court, but I'm not sure now. I don't have much hope that I'll get a positive result because its obvious that Nissan will stop at nothing to avoid responsibility. Right now, I have three options:

1. Keep the car. And continue dealing with the tire problems, while also feeling pissed off every time I even look at it (because I know how Nissan is raping me and others)

2. Sell the car. Be honest about the problem, drop the price to a ridiculous low in order to get a buyer, and lose even more money. I guess I could trade it into a dealer (preferably a Nissan dealer) and not say anything about the problem, but once again I'd be losing more money that I should have to.

3. Go to court. Take a huge chance on going even deeper in the hole. If you win in court, all the associated costs are covered by the manufacture, as required by law. But if you lose, you could be putting yourself several thousand more in the hole.