Please help me understand.
I took my car to the dealer for an oil change, and to apply the tire-feathering fix.

For those of you who are knowledgeable about tires and / or have reviewed the NTB03-006 tire ‘road noise’ service bulletin:

Please help.

I got my car back from the dealer after they applied the TSB fix. It took them 2 days. They initially said that it would take four hours, but they ‘ran into transponder problems’ and delayed me with similar excuses at four-hour intervals.

(Translation: they did not follow the TSB properly and damaged the transponders on disassembly, or they put the transponders in the wrong wheels.)

So, they call me to tell me that it’s complete.

The first thing that I notice about my car is that the front left wheel is where the front right was, and vices versa. The tires were flipped and the rotation direction is correct at least. I ask about this, knowing but not saying that the TSB specifically instructs them to mount left wheel back onto left, and right back onto right.

The dealer’s reply: The TSB requires us to put the left wheel on the right and the right wheel on the left.
Ok, now I’m mad. I am aware that I am being lied to. This is why honesty is the best policy.
This dealer needs a TSB: How To Remove Dealer’s Head From His Rectum.

At this point, I figured that I would save my frustrations for NNA, but I am writing here hoping that one of you can defuse my paranoia that I just got screwed again by Nissan on this stupid tire thing. But certainly I welcome informed feedback regarding possible explanations for the dealers most unusual way of handling my problem.

Also, they forgot to do the oil-change. They said I could come back any time and they would be happy to take care of it for me.

 

the fix is to take the tires off the wheels on the front and switch them
so that the feathering is on the outside now. All that does is move the noise making feathering of the tires to the outside. They are also to perform a 4 wheel alignment. Go to the resources section of this site, the TSB is there for your review if you do not have it. I agree with you we all need to make waves with NNA. These so called fixes are just a bandage trying to cover a big problem with the Z suspension.

 

Thanks for your input barrybell,
but I'm wondering why they moved the wheels.

The TSB says not to switch wheels.
Any one else with thoughts on the subject?

 

The TSB doesn't say NOT to change the tires right to left. In fact it specifically said that they are SUPPOSED to do so.

They are to remove the wheel/tire, remove the tire from the wheel, turn the tire "inside out" thus making the feathered inside part of the tire, the feathered outside part. They then rotate the tires/wheels from right to left and left to right.

In fact they HAVE to do this otherwise the tires will be rotating in the wrong direction! The tires can only rotate one way and if you simply turn the tire inside out and then put it back on the side it came from, it will be going the wrong direction.

 

Allow me to demonstrate with my Dodge Stealth TT model.

I have marked the feathering with white out and the arrow depicts the rotational direction of the tire.

I have removed the wheel from the front drivers side of the car:

 

The tire is removed from the wheel:

 

The tire is put back on with the feathered part now on the OUTSIDE. Note as the car sits, if I put THIS wheel/tire combo on the drivers side again, the arrow is going in the WRONG direction.

 

BUT, when I put this wheel/tire combo on the PASSENGER SIDE of the car, it is rotating correctly!

I think you owe your dealer an apology!

 

The things I do for my fellow Z owners!


As I sit here on a Saturday night contemplating the fact that I was just playing with the tire of a TOY CAR, the lyrics to an old Styx song come to mind.

Something about "Too Much Time on my Hands"

 

Funny but effective Bonz. I think I would be more upset about them not performing the oil change after having the car for 2 days. Surely it will be for free.

 

dang Bonz... great explanation!!

 

LOL I didn't know what was tire feathering was all about till Dr Bonz explain it.

 

Thanks Dr. Bonz for the demo.

Yet, I guess I'm confused about the TSB.

1. & 2. Label left and right tires.

6. Mount the right tire on the left wheel.
You demonstrated that -- good.

7. Mount the Left tire on the right wheel.
You demonstrated that -- good.

8. Balance both wheel/tire assemblies.
I'm sure hope you balanced those wheels!

9. Mount the LEFT wheel/(right)tire assembly on the LEFT side of the vehicle.
Somehow they put the left wheel and the left tire on the right side of the car.

Something went wrong in their process, and I can't figure out what they did. I still have the road noise at low speeds. Maybe they swapped the wheels and not the tires? I dunno. But thanks for trying.

I may not be getting it. Perhaps I'm emotional -- I did not mention that they scratched the hell out of my wheels. I'm sure you'll agree, I owe the dealer nothing.

 

Yeah, mine got scratched a little too. They are going to have a wheel guy repair them for free though. It is VERY minor and hardly noticable.

I really don't think it matters which WHEEL you put where. It doesn't matter if the right wheel is put on the right or left side. The important parts of the TSB are flipping the tires inside out and then making sure the rotation is correct. Whether or not you put the tire that was on the right rim BACK on the right rim or the left rim, doesn't really matter.

I hope you understand what I mean.

PLEASE, don't make me get out my model again!!!

 

Thanks Dr. Bonz.

I just needed some reassurance that the wheel flip does not indicate more problems.

Plus, I looked at you gallery...
YOUR CAR IS BAD A**!!!

Where's the procharger pics?

 

The Dr Bonz Procharger Experience

 

Dr Bonz that was excellent...now if you had had "Gas Station Barbie" performing the work it would be a near perfect demo!!!

In 5000miles show us if the stealth's feathering returned...
;-)

 

Hey Doc! Can you put together an explanation of swapping out Bose amps?

 

Bonz, do you treat your patients to models like this to illustrate procedures???

 

But Dr. Bonz, something is wrong with the patient! If youlook carefully at your illustration, your rim is now spinning BACKWARDS! Most rims don't matter, but in some rims (and yours is one), the rim is now spinning the wrong way.

Of course, with the Z rims it doesn't matter (they are symetrical)...

Instead, if they dismount the tires, leave the rims where they are, move the tires to the oposite sides (so that the inside edge is now the outside edge), mount on the rim located there, the same effect is gained and you don't have to re-program the pressure sensors.

Sorry, got no pictures...