The ride seems not to be their focus, only the tire problem. If BJ approves the Konis, I will buy them, because it could be another year before they address the suspension on a customer satisfaction level.

The Konis will be an upgrade over any running changes to my mind, so focusing on the tire issue is OK by me. The Konis are a one time expense, while the tires could be never ending and we lost a lot of owners with that staring them in the face. My 2 front Michelins cost me $202 apiece from Tire Rack, I don't want to have to pay that every 5-6000 miles. I am already anticipating a favorable review from BJ, just reading his first comments.

 

Just thinking about this today. People are getting alignments and tire switches per the TSB right? Yet they are still getting feathering? Would it do anything to get an alignment like once a month? I know there are shops that have plans that you can buy where they do your alignment free for a year or something like that.

 

Once a month seems a little too much to me, but every 2-3000 miles might not be a bad idea. It depends on your driving habits and how many miles you put on the car. However, if you can get it checked at regular intervals, it could provide data for how long the alignment settings last. If they only last 2 or 3000 miles on daily driving, the problem lies with the suspension, IMO. Worth a try if you are willing to pay out of your pocket.

 

I dont this an alignment every 2 to 3000 miles is going to help any. I had the TSB done 1500 miles from today and had to take the car back in to the dealer because the road noise has already returned. dealer just caled to tell me that Nissan rejected new tires.

 

I took my Z in for the drifting to the right problem and they my toe-in camber was off by .5 or something and they aligned the front tires free since under 12,000. Anyway was short changed because 1st time advisor said "the tires are cupping but not too bad" I was like WTF and he said his "we got guidelines to follow you can call 1-800-NISS.... and complain B.S." Left dealer still drifting, came back talked to other advisor and was able to order two new front tires which are on "backorder"nationwide supposedly. Got tired of waiting and went to another dealerand tech said it was some lower control arm he threw in/replaced anyway my Z No longer pulls drifts to the right as soon as I get my tires it should feel like new. I love my Z and it's preorder wuth the Z problems, but I'm at my 3rd dealer and so far they have been taking care of me. Just waiting for them tires. Alignment and new tires willnot fix the drift and feathering of tires problem!

 

I have read many posts that elude to "new" alignment specs. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Did Nissan Japan change the toe settings? If that is indeed the case it would certainly fly in the face of the NNA Customer Service "line". I can also state that my vehicle's alignment was checked at two different dealerships over a period of several months and about 4,000 miles and the results were virtually identical so we can probably put that one to bed. I also find it disturbing that NNA Customer Service has supposedly only now become aware of the problem given that many people, myself included, have previously gone to them for new tires on more than one occaision. But most disturbing of all is the proposition that this has been going on for over a year and they (Nissan) are only now looking into it. Doesn't exactly inspire one with confidence. Never the less, if they are actually sending some engineers over here to look into it there may still be hope. In the meantime it will be interesting to see if anyone else posts that they were not approved by NNA for new tires. Unfortunately I think someone already has.

 

We took our car in several months ago for our third set of tires after complaing to NNA.
Our Rep Ken Carter told me they were sending in some engineeres from NNA to look at our car because we were having unusual tire wear. He acted like it was something new to NNA but they had all ready installed one set of tires on my car.
I later asked the dealer who was sent in to look at our car. I wanted to meet and talk to this special engineer.
It ended up tp be the local reginal rep from NNA. Woooopde do!!!! So much for concern that this was a new problem. I thought they would have sent in a tech from NNA in Cali.

Dont be fooled NNA has known about this problem for months dont believe me look at how long this tread has gone on.

I think it is wishful thinking that they are now just looking into this problem.
Seems funnny it took about 12months for NNA to get a look at the problem. How long is the base warrenty 12,000 miles and dont most states have about a 12-18 month from date of purchase to file Lemon law case on the cars????
HUUUUUMMM make you think ???????

 

I agree Keith. Just find it funny they are changing the suspension to soften the ride when we were told there was nothing wrong. Come on Koni build the shocks!

 

Folks:
NNA was totally aware of the feathering problems. I am amazed, if it is true, that Nissan is now just sending folks over to to the US to see if the alignment is being done properly.
If I am the Service Manager I might take offense to that plan. These dealerships have been aligning cars for years.
None the less, when my tires were replaced at 9400, my alignment was right on.
I don't think Nissan has a clue as to the cause of the problem. Before long these service issues are going to really hit the trade rags and the value of these cars will drop like whale s.... (This also should speed up Nissan to really find the fix for the problem)Take a look at the customer feedback section of Kelly Bluebook and those type of web pages, customer discontent is starting to make its way into their feedback sections.

 

I didn't get a call from Jamie. Oh well... If anyone else gets a call from her could you please ask *IF* or *WHEN* the 04 Z is going to get the euro spec suspension?

Also, I think nissan sending over 'engineers from japan' is a BS excuse. They knew of this issue already. There is NO freaking way they could have gone a year and just now figure out there is a problem. I can't believe this. It feels like this is just another way for them to buy further time to ensure either your 12,000 mile warranty or lemon law limitation runs out.

Collectivly didn't everyone by now try nearly all possible alignment settings, tires, and wheels??? The problem still exists. It seems like it's a design problem. I don't know if there is any value in this next statement but, it seems everyone who has aftermarket coilovers installed solved their feathering issue and the new euro spec suspension has improved shocks... Hmm...
I don't think it was ever an alignment problem. I think it was a messed up suspension from the beginning.

But whats the point? It's not like anyone has any choice other than to wait and see if this time, nissans' words are truthful and honorable. They better keep us updated.

 

Want to thank you members that did all of the work to get Nissan to address this tire problem. I don't have a problem with mine but I only have 1200 miles on it. Because of your efforts I will hopefully get mine taken care of if I do end up having a problem.

 

I think the suspenson was poor from the beginning, with wimpy struts and lousy tires. I expect the Konis to finish the job, I've already changed the tires. Nissan's gaming on our problems has just made me more determined to have a car that WORKS!

 

Boomer,

I'm with you on that one. I'm already saving up for the S-tune coilovers and some adjustable sway bars.

I can't think of any car up to $50K that I would choose over the Z. That's what kills me and makes nissan one undeserving lucky company!!!

 

They replaced my tires with the OEM RE040's. If the feathering starts again I'm taking it back in. I don't think it matters what tires are on the car. Yes, some tires are better than others, but this is a suspension defect, not a tire issue.

 

I would be interested in finding out how many people with the feathering issue are running 17's VS. those running 18's. I have 18's and my feathering was very subtle and had no road noise. I also feel that the dealer had no idea what he was looking for, but because I told them this was a KNOWN issue with the 350Z they replaced the tires.

 

I just called Jamie and left him a nice message stating my concern about the issue. I gave my name, VIN #, Selling Dealer, and Delivery date. I would encourage others to do the same.

 

What a joke. Nissan is going to turn something like 65 billion in profits this year (i swear i read that somewhere) and they can't even shell out a few bucks for your tires to keep you a satisfied customer until they find a real fix for this problem!

 

New multilink support frame?


"I have queried the hell out of NNA reps lately trying to determine if my 04 Touring (7/03) has the so called new Soft Suspension System.. The rep (Bianca) says the car has the new Suspension.

I ask what changed. She says a new multilink support frame, new shocks , new springs.. I say great but how can I confirm what you are telling me. She says wait ...comes back and says all 04's have the new system.. I say but I dont have all the other changes that were made. She still insists on the Suspension ..

I, still not convinced call the service mgr where I bought the car. Ask him the question and he says "haven't heard of any new Soft Suspension System".. I finally aske him to look at the 04 Service Manual to see if there are differences between 03's and 04's.

He agreed and will let me know monday.."

 

Well first of all I'm not buying this "Tires are on national backorder crap". My dealer had my tires one week after I went in, and these were the originalOEM RE040's. I think alot of the dealers are just feeding you guys this backorder crap so you will go away. Otherwise I am just really lucky that my dealer was able to get my tires so fast.

Secondly, as soon as I pulled off the lot my car shot off to the right and was totally out of allignment. This, mind you, was after having my front tires replaced and sent to a special custom wheel shop for a special allignment because my dealer did not have the proper equiptment.

Anyway, I took my car into another dealer and referenced the TSB that is supposed to fix the pulling to the right issue. They checked it out and ordered the parts. A week later I took it in. They preformed the TSB and now my car no longer pulls to the right and the steering wheel is now straight. Before it was cocked to the right. They never even alligned the car after preforming the TSB either. As far as I am concerned, anytime you mess with the suspension, you should do an allignment. Maybe this dealer also did not have the proper equiptment. In any event, the car seems to be ok for now.

As far as how long this is going to work??? Who knows. I know the fix works for some and not for others. If you are however experiencing the pull/drift to the right, I would suggest having your right suspension compression rod replaced per the TSB. For me, it at least makes for a better ride, and will hopefully prevent the feathering from occuring faster this time. Just my .02 cents.

 

Took my car in for the feathering the service manager says this
" Its the tires. High performance tire with soft compound. I dont think the feathering will ever go away."
I just looked at him like, By the way, I tried to trade my car in for a Lincoln navigator and the dealer says " oh, another Z. we will only give you 22K for it. We have took 3 z's in for trades and they have been in here for various problems, you may want to take it back to a nissan dealership, they may give you more."