Just completed a 2800 mile roadtrip in my 2004 Roadster. Now my car sounds like a four wheel drive with cheap tires. My car is evidence that Nissan did not fix the problem on the 2004 model. I have attempted to search this site for more informatoin. But there is just too much information on this site about this subject to weed through. Here is what I think I know:

1) the front end on the car is not designed to adjust out the problem so others have purchased after market parts to fix the alignment
2) Nissan doesn't really know how to fix the problem
3) a good alignment shop can fix the alignment properly?

My car has 11,000 miles now. I've had it since 8/14/2003. What should I expect when going to the dealer? What should I say when reporting the problem? I want to know what has worked for others.

Thanks

 

Just get new tires the ones that came with the 2004 sucks in my opinion. My 2004 had the tire roar as many on this site have. I replaced my stock tires and the tire roar went away. The dealer will not replace the tires as I have tried and have failed.

 

Zpylot. Assuming the suspension is original, the only adjustment up front is for Toe. Which happens to be what Nissan blames for "tire roar" (they never refer to it as "feathering"). So IF your dealer is very nice and IF he decides to extend the old TSB to cover your 2004, he would replace the front tires (with the new thread design if you don't happen to have them) and align the car to April 2004 TSB values.

I have a 2003, but I don't think it will hurt for you to open a complaint with Nissan North America (NNA). The more 2004 owners complaint the btter chance you have to get the TSB extended to cover 2004 cars. I mean it is worth a shot, is a calll to a free 800 number. They might (or not) help you with the dealer.

All that said the alignment and new thread on the RE040s (my opinion here) just delay and cover the noise. So it will be longer before you notice the noise. But then, that is all there is, just noise. The problem is of low impact otherwise.

I think the people who change tire brands just hide the issue also. The tires get eaten anyway, but you don't hear the noise because of the thread design.

Most after market suspension components allow you to drop the car, and then adjust the camber as needed. Camber is not the issue, so it has little to do with feathering. Extreme excesive front camber might make the problem worse, but the right camber settings don't get rid of it. So, for feathering, don't waste money on that.

So, your choices. Fight the dealer, or go buy tires (NOT RE040s I would think)...

 

I had doubts as to my 2004.5 having feathering until I went on a 1,200 mile road trip. Like you my tires were roaring pretty bad near the end of the trip. I went with an after market suspension and all is now well with the car.

New tires and alignments help but only in the short run. Good luck with your tires.