Ride question

P

puck77

Member
Location
MT
I'm a noob to the FX. My main ride is a 350Z but I just picked up an 07 FX35 sport touring etc. for my wife/family car. It's only got 56k on it so it still has reasonably low miles. As far as I know it's bone stock. It did have the runflat option when new but it does not currently have runflats on it. Anyway, I have been noticing, or rather think that I'm noticing, what feels like a lateral...shimmy... (I guess) if we hit a small pothole or other bump with the tires on one side only. I feel like it happens more on the passenger side but I think that's just because there tends to be more road damage this time of year on the outside of the road. It's a little hard to describe but it almost feels like the whole car shifts sideways just a little when this happens at any speed. I'm not sure if it's just in my head after driving my Z or if it has to do with the taller ride height coupled with the softer seats or what. Since it's new to us and my wife is mostly driving it, I'm paranoid that there is something wrong. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has felt anything like this and if so, what was the cause? I haven't ever been in another FX so I don't have anything to compare to. Maybe it just need shocks? Any help would be great.
 
Start of by getting an alignment done. What condition are your tires? If you are mechanically inclined, jack up the car and inspect suspension bushings and etc.
Your shocks should be replaced around 60k and there fairly cheap. If you also experience wheel shake, search for the thread steering wheel shake fixed
 
Tires are pretty much new. I haven't noticed wheel shake but I'll check that thread anyway. I'll also take a look at the bushing. Thanks
 
I think its normal to a degree. Coming from a regular car to the FX i noticed the same thing, the car seems to laterally shift when I hit a bump or pothole. This was mostly felt at the rear of the vehicle.

Changing the shocks and adding lowering springs did certainly mitigate the amount but it is still present to a certain degree if I really hit a bump hard.
 
That's what I was hoping someone would tell me! I hope that's pretty normal. I'm guessing the extra 1200 lbs or so the FX has over my Z makes a big difference in that regard.
 
also check your tire pressures too, ive had problems before when the car was kind of drifting to one side and it was due to a lpw rear tire
 
If it is very subtle and only happens when you hit a pothole or a road imperfection, then it is normal. This was the first thing I noticed too when I had my FX new. The wider tire print of the FX even on its stock tires at 265 has the tendency to follow road imperfection. If it is pulling to one side on a reasonably good to near perfect road then you need an alignment.

Like what the others are saying here, do a simple visual inspection starting from the obvious such as wheel play. Check for any uneven tire tread wear, etc.
 
Also look out for the compression rod busing that goes on these car. I had a knock on my g35 that indicated the bushing was gone. Listen for a slight knock as well.




Sent from my iPhone
 
Underdamped rear shocks, it's entirely normal. But if your shocks are on the way out, it will make it worse. First time it happened to me, I was going through an intersection at speed and hit a dip. Thought the car was going to skid and something was terribly wrong. After a bunch of research, realized that it was just normal. Only thing that helped mitigate it for me was coilovers since they have much higher spring rates and damping rates. STB and other braces helped a tiny, tiny bit. But it will never go away entirely.
 
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