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2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 21, 2020, 8:03 PM
Post #1 of 17
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2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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2003 Nissan 350Z, 3.5L manual, 135000km. When the car is in motion it feels like a tire has a lump/bulge, flat spot or a warped brake rotor. The problem persists both when the car is in gear and when the clutch is disengaged and a gear selected. the sound gets slower/faster respectively depending on the speed at which in going at but is only really noticeable up to 50kmh at which point it becomes harder to discern. I've had this issue for the past year. In that time I've replaced both front and rear rotors and brake pads and a whole new set of tires, and installed a new rear diff bushing (all professionally done) just doing general maintenance. Got it up on a hoist today and cannot find any obvious play in any of the wheels or issues turning. I have no idea where to go from here so any advice or leads would be very much appreciated.
(This post was edited by Ttom on Jan 22, 2020, 12:06 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 21, 2020, 11:09 PM
Post #2 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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This is tough to understand exactly what you mean. I take it when car is coasting at that speed you notice a "vehicle speed" related lumpy ride but not when "clutch" is engaged? Suggests wheel, tire or brake issue may require removing the wheels/tires and checking those off car then a full check of brake parts that rotate as vehicle moves and related parts. If too difficult to isolate that yourself it should go to a professional to at least diagnose the source and declare what needs to be done a repair or replacement of which parts that are causing this. Flat spots in tires is a bit rare but separated belts of one or more is more common and elusive to find. Old tires or ones that sat for a long time much more subject to that or could be defective for assorted reasons? At this point it remains uncertain via a web site suggest in person help not all can be educated guessed at without being right there when the problem happens such as things like this? T
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 22, 2020, 12:16 AM
Post #3 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Hi Tom, Sorry I wrote my post on minimal sleep haha. Yes it is a vehicle speed related lumpy ride that occurs whilst coasting. The problem persists regardless of whether the clutch is disengaged or not. All of my tires are quite new but could it be possible that a puncture repair could cause premature wear and belt separation? In hindsight, when it was up on the hoist and we were spinning the wheels there were no obvious signs that the belts were separating on any of tires. I took it in to a professional today but he also had trouble determining where the issue might be coming from. He did say that it might be the transmission but wouldn't the problem cease to occur if the clutch was disengaged?
(This post was edited by Ttom on Jan 22, 2020, 12:39 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 22, 2020, 12:52 AM
Post #4 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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We are getting there slowly. If you had a new tire (or any) repaired for a puncture leak that tore thru steel belts (almost all now) that steel is exposed to outside moisture at least or road salts where applicable. Some folks will insist on a new matched axle set if one is repaired the fixed one much more likely to rust and belts don't stay in place. Hard to see sometimes without weight of vehicle on it that it's a soft spot or irregular. Some can be seen if tire is taken off rim. That if all out can make whole ride feel terrible also hard sometimes to know if left or right side is the cause. Sneaky stuff. Some you can rotate tires mark them where from to find the bad one if new enough meaning quite new and unworn just maybe a single new matching one brand and all would end it otherwise a pair. AWD vehicles can require ALL tires go if one is different than the others it confuses the whole traction show, anti-lock brakes see one rotate more than another for too long will be noticed eventually if rolling distance of one tire has changed enough. It's a pita now understand even tires are of max importance if you think about it of all vehicle features they are the only thing to touch the road surface. If you bought those tires new I'd go back and have them inspected knowing one has been repaired. That works to hold air again but tire is compromised from then on do know that. Your call it matters and is important it all is cars are beasts that take no interest in your expense as you've noticed no doubt this if so is or will be a safety issue if in fact just that, T
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 22, 2020, 2:17 AM
Post #5 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Cheers Tom, I'll look into this further over the coming weeks and hopefully find a resolution to the issue. If and when I do, I'll get back to you on this post.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 22, 2020, 2:35 AM
Post #6 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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If tread is really separating it could suddenly go real bad without warning so I suggest you seriously get it checked (reputable tire place) ASAP to assess that it can or can't still be used? Can't know from here, T
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 22, 2020, 1:37 PM
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Took it in to another tyre specialist today to get a second opinion but no luck. They said they couldn't see any obvious bulges or cupping or any evidence of separation. They took it for a drive and said they could recreate the sensation up to 60kmh. They didn't think it was anything serious and put it down to road noise which I'm inclined to believe it isn't based off what I ha e mentioned previously.
(This post was edited by Ttom on Jan 22, 2020, 1:38 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 22, 2020, 2:19 PM
Post #8 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Shoot. OK, no luck they are a pest to find. Do this at least. Mark the tire with the plug/repair as the most likely so you can find which one. Inside with a grease tire marker would do found at any parts outlet or the place you went just give you one almost gone maybe? If it stays the same all the time until you can knowingly move them for checks of your own it seems stable. If it changes suddenly for the worse take a serious note of that it's not unheard of for a tire to shed the tread right off of them. It's only rare but does really happen. Usually to folk who ignored it for a long time WAY too long. The skinny is it can be hard to find up to involved - remove all tires and inspect from inside would be a step to see unseen evidence now gets pricey we are still on a guess with this. Good luck I may be away for a while another may chime in if so, Tom
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 22, 2020, 7:18 PM
Post #9 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Could I swap out the spare tyre and see if that changes anything and by process of elimination hope to narrow it down to the one that is causing the issue?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 22, 2020, 8:33 PM
Post #10 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Only if you have a full size spare. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 22, 2020, 10:00 PM
Post #11 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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The car originally came on 18's but the original owner put 19's on it, I believe the spare tyre is 17". The plot thickens.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Jan 22, 2020, 10:15 PM
Post #12 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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Eeek. The change from OE size adds another whole dimension of how the car dealt with it and if this is a repercussion? OMG a totally tough one to nail down with any certainty! T
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 22, 2020, 11:16 PM
Post #13 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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What a headache. I've had the car for two years now and drove it with no issues up until mid last year when the problem began to arise.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 23, 2020, 1:39 AM
Post #14 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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I/we are coming to an end of ideas. In post #13 you had a tire pro test drive it and wrote it off to normal road noise otherwise found nothing. IDK. Was that tech well rounded enough to suggest other reasons or since written off ends that place and tech? Seriously what do you want to do with this clearly you are here because you aren't happy with it? Another tech or place? It's possible a VERY well trained and experienced alignment tech would find this. By the description it could be anything that moves or turns with the speed of the vehicle not just tires, wheels even items already checked or done and ruled out it's being missed by techs with it in person you just may need to start all over again checking everything with another shop or tech for a fresh new start at isolating it. The web hunt for it is probably over is limited in comparison still takes a tech in person that has the time without some insane charge to still find nothing. Back one thought: Altering wheels and tires from OE spec is going to change the "included" alignment angles and expected forces on assorted components just adds to the frustration to rule out would mean putting it all back with OE stuff if not for another exact vehicle to swap all that back IDK how you'd 100% rule that out?? Tom
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 23, 2020, 1:57 AM
Post #15 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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I don't think he was to be honest. I am somewhat limited to where I can take my car during the week without booking a day off. I will most likely try a number of different places till the problem is found. It is quite irritating driving it like that and it ruins the driving experience as I like to enjoy my cars and not simply use them as a means to get from A to B. If I had a set of OE rims I would swap them out and by doing so hopefully at least eliminate or confirm that a tire and or rim is the culprit. Of course that's going to require some kind of monetary investment and if that can be avoided that be preferable.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 23, 2020, 2:48 AM
Post #16 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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OK, now this is kind of side notes on a problem that's being elusive or YOU being ignored to a point. There's only so much time a tech can justify and not find a problem so pass it on. Shop owners, managers would be screaming at a tech taking too long without full priced time seems it's going to take lots. Honesty? Yes that can happen wear you down till you quit. You trying to save a buck - of course that's why folks look stuff up on their own some things you find some you don't. Nothing available locally to you isn't a problem for a web site it could make you choose another type car totally to begin with? People routinely get rid of or swap out cars over headaches like this used cars are for sale by countless millions this would be one of the many reasons. OK: Have you marked your tires yet - just that one thing since you've been here? NO? If not this is a waste of time both you and us. Have you found and marked the tire that was repaired? If not why not? That's on the suspect list you should know which for as long as it's on the vehicle. I'm trying to help you sport but you have to be realistic. Web suggestions are just that it's not some magic wand that comes out and solves all problems for free or happen on the exact answer perfectly it just doesn't work that way. I really do have to quit this some time off unknown lenghth let others take over if you are still here. There's a whole web full of places to ask for suggestions go ahead and try others as anyone can stop you. You should and probably find similar suggestions or perhaps a spot on fix. It's ends here for me I can't think of more to do or suggest than said already time to move on like those in person it's not getting anywhere so chalk it up to a nice try. Have a great day and hope you can figure it out or decide this problem is too overwhelming and make a choice that suits you, Tom
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Ttom
Novice
Jan 23, 2020, 3:47 AM
Post #17 of 17
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Re: 2003 Nissan 350z lumpy ride
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The front and rear on the drivers side were the tyres that received repairs and I've marked both accordingly as per your suggestion. I understand the time constraints of getting an initial diagnosis on them at a shop but now that I have at least two opinions on the issue and your suggestions here I can bring that to the attention of the next mechanic I bring it to and hopefully give them a but more insight into the issue. I seem to have given you the wrong impression, I'm grateful for any and all help you've provided me with here. I fully understand the constraints of asking for help online as opposed to in person with the vehicle at hand. Not expecting a magic wand but a bit of direction as to what I should look into next or at least draw to the attention of a mechanic which I can take my car to here. You have definitely done that and I appreciate it. Thanks for your help Tom, again I really do appreciate the time you've taken to provide me with help here.
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