Hi,

Wierd one, this; Just been to the pictures ("Serenity" - good film if 
you liked the series / SciFi), met a couple of mates there, one in a new 
"banger" - around 8 year old Nissan Primera (I think) - anyway, probably 
not *too* important about the model, or age...

He did comment about some grinding noises that he hears at low speed / 
cornering, and proceeded to demonstrate that the nearside front 
suspension bounces 2-3 times when depressed, "that's bad", he said, then 
compared it to the offside front - where he claimed "nice and firm".

Firm?, it was bloody rock solid.

And this is what's throwing me. The height of the suspension appears ok 
- bear in mind I'm looking at this at 22:30 in a cinema carpark with a 
1-cell micro maglight. Can't see anything obvious under the bonnet, and 
running my hand behind the wheel arch the spring appears to be intact.

Anyone have a clue what this could be?, siezed shock? (only obvious 
thing I can think of - but I've never heard of this). Obviously a 
daylight inspection would be necessary to get a better appreciation of 
this, but my parting words were to get it booked in absolutely ASAP.

Sound familiar to anyone?, and if so, nature of repair - DIY or 
mechanical garage?, approx cost? (He's a little unaware about cars, so I 
want to make damned certain he gets this sorted ASAP)

Mike

I've a primera GT and the suspension is really really firm,  it only drops a
few cm's with my weight on it,  so if it is a GT i'd be looking at the side
that drops a fair bit and not the firm side.

Anyway pop over to http://www.nissanprimera.net/ and see if they can help at
all.

"Mike Dodd" <no-address@lo0> wrote in message
news:434599b9$0$12172$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...

> Hi,
>
> Wierd one, this; Just been to the pictures ("Serenity" - good film if
> you liked the series / SciFi), met a couple of mates there, one in a new
> "banger" - around 8 year old Nissan Primera (I think) - anyway, probably
> not *too* important about the model, or age...
>
> He did comment about some grinding noises that he hears at low speed /
> cornering, and proceeded to demonstrate that the nearside front
> suspension bounces 2-3 times when depressed, "that's bad", he said, then
> compared it to the offside front - where he claimed "nice and firm".
>
> Firm?, it was bloody rock solid.
>
> And this is what's throwing me. The height of the suspension appears ok
> - bear in mind I'm looking at this at 22:30 in a cinema carpark with a
> 1-cell micro maglight. Can't see anything obvious under the bonnet, and
> running my hand behind the wheel arch the spring appears to be intact.
>
> Anyone have a clue what this could be?, siezed shock? (only obvious
> thing I can think of - but I've never heard of this). Obviously a
> daylight inspection would be necessary to get a better appreciation of
> this, but my parting words were to get it booked in absolutely ASAP.
>
> Sound familiar to anyone?, and if so, nature of repair - DIY or
> mechanical garage?, approx cost? (He's a little unaware about cars, so I
> want to make damned certain he gets this sorted ASAP)
>
> Mike

I agree.  The problem is more likely with the soft side.  Even the standard 
Primera has a firm suspension, especially the P10 (pre around Sept 1996). 
My 97 has got a slightly softer suspension that has a  reasonably smooth 
ride but you can't bounce the front suspension at all by pushing down on the 
wing, it just budges a little with a big heave.