2000 Nissan Maxima Thumping/Shimming

DOPPLEHERZ69

MEMBER
2000 NISSAN MAXIMA
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
139,000 MILES

First, I'll state the symptoms:
*Thumping/Clunking sounds while doing fast accelerations from 0mph, steering wheel shakes back and forth.
*Very hard rolling while turning.(Only since struts have been replaced)
*Steering wheel feels very loosing while driving (40/50/60mph) (I can move it back and forth a couple inches each way and it still drives straight). However, when in park, there isn't any play.
*Sometimes there is shimmy while going 40-70mph, somedays there isn't.
Next, what I've done:
*New struts on all four wheels
*New motor mounts on the sides and transmission side mount
*Tie Rods replaced 30K Mi. Ago (still tight)
*Wheels have been balanced and alignment has been performed from two different companies.
*Outer CV joints replaced (This could be it, the inner CV joints have never been replaced on the car)
Could this be symptoms of inner joints that need replacing? What else could it be? Plus the boots are good on the CV joints (no cracks, and are not loose). Could it be an internal failure, not visible from the outside?

1 Reply

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok the noises on acceloration sounds like you may have a bad front drive axle one of the inner joints may be bad and replacing the axle is more cost affective.
Now the steering problem that is a different issure you said the outer ties have been replaced and tight how about the inner ties and the rack unit? Is there any power steering pump noises as you turn the wheel? How do the column u-joint feel? Get back to me with what you know and we will go from there.