Hey guys, my 03 Track model deal fell through so I'm looking at picking up a Touring model instead.

Back to the tire-feathering issue, will Nissan fix the problem if I take it into a dealership since there was a recall issued?

 

First off, it wasn't a recall, it was a TSB along with an extension of the alignment warranty for the '03 models. It's valid for 36 months past the initial in-service date, something that all 03's are way past now.

Your only hope is that either 1) the car never had the problem or 2) the previous owner had the TSB performed. In any case, if it does still have the problem, an alignment will solve it.

 

Thanks, so all I need to do is take it to the dealership and get a front end alignment to solve the issue?

How much would that set me back?

 

90.00 max i would hope

 

Will a front-end alignment completely solve the issue?

I've done a search and read about people here that paid for an alignment, but the feathering would return after a few thousand miles.

Thanks!

 

I have an 03 touring and after my new alignment (done by a local tire shop...not Nissan) I've had over two years of trouble free driving. My tires are wearing nicely.

 

The main problem with the alignment was that the machines were not being calibrated prior to the alignment being performed. The first TSB covering the 03s just specified that an alignment be done and the tires replaced. When the problem continued with the '04s and 03s where showing up as repeat customers Nissan issued the second TSB. That TSB required the dealers to submit a certificate showing that their alignment machines had been calibrated.

My own experience illustrates the problem. I brought my '04 Z in for the feathering before the second TSB. They aligned the front wheels and swapped tires between fronts wheels. Six months later, the problem had returned and the second TSB had just been released. I had to wait a few weeks for the dealer to get their machine aligned - the same one the previous alignment was done on. When they aligned it the second time, it was way out of spec (I have both before and after printouts). In the nearly 20K miles since that time, I haven't had any problems with feathering.

 

Get your alignment done by a professional tire shop- not a Nissan dealer.

As they were replacing my tires due to this problem, they told me that my alignment was right on spec. I asked them how my tires could be cupping if the alignment was perfect and they had no answer.

A local tire dealer downloaded the most recent alignment specs and showed me how far off it was-

it's now 3 years later and time for a new alignment- NOT at the dealership!!!

 

^^ Read my previous post and you'll understand why they told you the alignment was right on spec.

 

from all the reading that i have done on the tire feathering issue I believe that the consensus is three steps:
1. Get a Lifetime Alignment deal with some tire shop (Firestone is where I got mine)
2. Replace the stock Bridgestone RE040 with something better or less prone to feathering (i got the Pilot Sports)
3. Do tire rotations (this will require taking off the tires and swapping them so make sure your alignment shop will do it for you)

 

1) Not really sure what lifetimem alignment gets you. The feathering was caused by mis-alignment from the factory. Nobody ever said the Z wouldn't hold an alignment and would need one regularly.
2) That kinda' goes without saying since they're already feathered, you'd definitely want to replace them.
3) Swapping only works if your tires are symmetric.

Once I had my alignment done and front tires replaced, I haven't seen the slightest hint of feathering in over 20K miles.

 

If tire feathering is a grave concern, shop for a 2005.