Wheels/Tires - Vibration Between 60 & 70 Mph
Classification:FA00-007
Reference:
INTB00-062
Date:
July 18, 2000
1998-2000 FRONTIER 2WD BODY VIBRATION
APPLIED VEHICLES:
1998-2000 Frontier (D22) - 2WD Only
SERVICE INFORMATION
If a 1998-2000 Frontier 2WD vehicle exhibits body vibration while driven (without braking) at speeds between 60 and 70 MPH, the cause(s) may be:
^ Road input (road surface imperfections)
^ Out-of-balance front or rear tires/wheels
^ Tire flat spotting
^ Excessive tire Radial Force Variations (RFV)
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Repair Flow Chart
If an applied vehicle exhibits body vibration, use the repair flow chart to determine the cause of the body vibration and apply the correct repair procedure(s) provided in this bulletin.
NOTES:
Road Input (Road Surface Imperfections):
This bulletin does not apply to vibration complaints due to waves, cracks, expansion joints, and other imperfections that may exist on the surface of the road.
To confirm if the vibration incident is due to road input, road test a known good vehicle on the same road and compare vibration levels to the incident vehicle.
Vehicle Storage Affect On Tire Flat spotting:
If the vehicle exhibits vibrations in the floor/seat at highway speeds, the cause may be tire flat spotting due to storage. See Tire Flat Spotting Information for more detail.
Vehicles are shipped from the factory with tire pressure higher than the pressure recommended on the tire placard affixed to the vehicle's glove box lid and/or the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) certification label affixed to the driver's side door jam.
To minimize the possibility of flat spots occurring on new vehicles, take the following steps upon receipt of newly shipped vehicles:
1. Do not reduce tire pressure until the vehicle is in the final stages of being readied for customer delivery.
2. In addition, it is recommended to move each vehicle at least every two weeks. The vehicles should be moved at least ten inches each time.
Inspect Wheels And Tires:
1. Inspect wheels and determine if the vehicle is equipped with Nissan OEM wheels and tires:
^ If the vehicle is not equipped with Nissan OEM wheels and tires, this bulletin and Nissan Warranty Coverage do not address vibrations that can be caused by aftermarket products or modifications.
^ If the vehicle is equipped with Nissan OEM wheels and tires, proceed to step 2 below.
2. Determine if the Nissan OEM wheels are aftermarket chrome plated:
^ If the Nissan OEM wheels are aftermarket chrome plated, this bulletin and Nissan Warranty Coverage do not address vibrations that can be caused by aftermarket products or modifications.
^ If the Nissan OEM wheels are not aftermarket chrome plated, proceed to step 3 below.
3. Inspect the wheels/tires and other assemblies for damage (i.e. cuts, blisters, abnormal wear, visible scuff marks, bent wheels, drive line, out-of-round tires, uneven tire wear, wheel nut torque, etc). Determine if damage is present:
^ If damage is present, repair as needed before proceeding.
^ If damage is not present, proceed to the Road Test Procedure below. Road Test Procedure
1. Check tire pressures and inflate all four tires to 26 psi.
2. Road test the vehicle under the following conditions:
On a smooth road between speeds of 60 and 70MPH for 10 to 20 miles. Occasionally make turns to check for low-level vibration in the body.
NOTE:
You must perform the tests under the above noted conditions to "exercise" the tires and eliminate "cold" flat spotting that occurs due to short-period vehicle storage or parking (see Short-Period/Cold Flat Spotting below for detail).
Performing the road tests as specified will also allow you to get an accurate Wheel/Tire Assembly Radial Force Variation (RFV) Measurement.
Tire Flat Spotting Information:
If vibration occurs in a vehicle's floor/seat at highway speeds, the cause may be tire flat spotting. Two types of tire flat spotting may occur; long-period/storage flat spotting and short-period/cold flat spotting. The following are descriptions of both types:
Short-Period/Cold Flat Spotting:
Short-period/cold flat spotting may occur when a vehicle is parked or stored for short periods of time (i.e. overnight parking or airport parking, etc., for up to 3 weeks).
Tires usually recover from "cold" flat spots. Depending on the storage/parking period, tires may require 10-20 miles of driving to recover from a "cold" flat spot. Tires recover faster when the vehicle is driven at highway speeds (60-70 mph).
Long-Period/Storage Flat Spotting:
Long-period/storage flat spotting may occur when a vehicle is parked or stored in one location for a long period of time (more than 2 months).
Long-period flat spotting may also be eliminated by driving 100+ miles at highway speeds (60-70 mph).
3. After the road test is complete, determine if the body vibration still exists:
A. If the vibration no longer exists, the procedure is complete.
B. If the vibration still exists, balance the front and rear wheels/tires using the appropriate wheel balance adapter kit and procedures (see Wheel Balance Adapter Kit information Below).
Wheel Balance Adapter Kit
1. Install the wheel balance adapter kit (Kent-Moore tool # J42625-280) on the wheel and wheel balance machine in the order shown.
2. Refer to Nissan Service Bulletin "Wheel Balance Machine Adapter Kits" (NTB97-012) for further information.
3. Road test the vehicle at 60-70 mph.
4. After the road test is complete, determine if the body vibration still exists:
A. If the vibration no longer exists, the procedure is complete.
B. If the vibration still exists, complete Wheel/Tire Assembly Radial Force Variation (RFV) Measurement Procedure.
Wheel/Tire Assembly Radial Force Variation (RFV) Measurement Procedure:
Use a Hunter GSP 9700 wheel balance machine (or comparable equipment) to perform this procedure and identify tire/wheel assemblies with excessive RFV.
If you do not have a Hunter GSP 9700 balance machine (or comparable equipment), locate a repair facility equipped with one in your area by logging on to www.hunter.com or calling 1-314-731-3020. Hunter will connect you with a service representative who can assist you.
1. Check the inflation pressure of all four tires and adjust to 26 psi, if needed.
2. Repeat the Road Test Procedure.
NOTE:
Completing the Road Test Procedure will "exercise" the tires and address any possible "cold" flat spotting that may have occurred due to short-period vehicle storage or parking (see Short-Period/Cold Flat spotting for details). It is also necessary to perform the road test as specified to get an accurate RFV Measurement.
Never check RFV without first driving the vehicle as noted and "exercising" the tires. If the vehicle's tires are not exercised first, accuracy of RFV measurements can vary 2 or 3 times the actual values, even if the vehicle is parked/stored in one location for only a short period of time (20 minutes).
Perform the RFV measurement immediately after exercising the tires. If the RFV measurement cannot be performed immediately, lift all four wheels off the ground with a hoist or jack and stands to prevent measurement errors due to further flat spotting.
3. Follow the operation instructions of the Hunter GSP 9700 machine (or equivalent) to measure RFV of all four tire/wheel assemblies.
NOTE:
If you are using the Hunter GSP 9700 machine, use the "Details" pop-up screen to obtain the Radial 1st Harmonic Value (RHI).
RHI value is accessed by pressing the K4 key twice from the primary screen after the spinning operation is completed.
4. Identify tires/wheel assemblies with an RHI value of more than 12 lbs. (5.5 kg.) and replace them with the tire listed in the PARTS INFORMATION section. Match and install the tires/wheel assemblies with the lowest RHI values on the front axle.
NOTES:
Lubricate the tire bead and mating surfaces of the wheels when mounting. Use an appropriate fast drying tire mounting lubricant to prevent liquid from being trapped inside the tire.
Match and position the red dot on the tire sidewall in line with the blue/gray/white dot on the wheel. If the paint dots are wiped off or missing, use the Hunter GSP 9700 machine tire/wheel match mounting feature to achieve the best RFV fit.
Immediately inflate the tires to 40 PSI. Gradually deflate the tires to proper air pressure of 26 PSI. This will aid in properly mating the tire beads with the rims.
5. Road test the vehicle at 60-70 mph.
6. Confirm that the body vibration is resolved.
PARTS INFORMATION
CLAIMS INFORMATION
Please reference the current "Nissan Flat Rate Manual" and select the Operation, or combination of Operations, that best reflect the repairs performed.
Important!
In the event that any tires must be replaced, please record and retain the RFV measurement data with the RO.