leaf spring failure!

chirojoe · 03-03-2008, 01:50 PM

I am new to this forum and I love what I see. I was curious to know if anybody has had a leaf spring fail on them. My 04 just had the right spring fracture at the looped end. If that wasn't enough, the force blew the end of the spring through the bed and frame (bed) of the truck by 4 inches. The dealer was hoping to get some satisfaction from Nissan but the rep says no warranty help here. The truck has 60,000 + on it but springs shouldnt go like that.
Thanks for listening

hooligan · 03-03-2008, 02:21 PM

you sure it wasn't the rear leaf spring shackle that failed? they've been known for the 2 weld spots to break and cause the shackle to literally unravel and blow the leaf thru the bed.

here's a pic of the shackle unrolled due to the welds breaking...

and here's what happens when that shackle unrolls...

you can find a bodyshop or fab shop to repair the bed hole and as far as replacing shackles. it is HIGHLY recommended to purchase a set of PRGproducts.com Heavy Duty Shackles...

Prg Heavy Duty Shackle Install W/ Pics

Wiscdave · 03-03-2008, 04:28 PM

What a Piece of Shzzzzzzit if my truck does that..How many guys have had that problem>

**loufish** · 03-03-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

What a Piece of Shzzzzzzit if my truck does that..How many guys have had that problem>

Actually that's a good question, I don't know if there's been a real count..Uhh mine broke also...

Timmyo2L · 03-03-2008, 08:08 PM

I have been reading more and more of this, I know I will be buying PRG shackles before my warranty is up, cheap insurance for the long haul.

chirojoe · 03-04-2008, 10:05 AM

Thanks hooligan, that makes more sense. I am looking at replacing the leaf spring and the truck bed. At this point its going to come out of my pocket $$$. I am looking for any others that have had the same problem, maybe this will be a recall issue. I had the dealership check for a "cluncking" sound that I have been hearing over the past several months, I wonder if that was a precursor to the eventual failure?
Let me know if anyone else has had this problem.

Hawaiianbasshead · 03-05-2008, 09:22 PM

hate to be the bearer of bad news. but most clunks are from the rear end about to go, and they're over $3,000... good luck either way. sucks to actually see what the shackle breaking does

alanav · 03-21-2008, 06:46 AM

Apparently this is becoming a trend. I opened my tailgate yesterday, and to my surprise, the leaf spring shackle had shot through the bed of my truck, as well. It looked exactly like the photos hooligan posted, with the exception of it being on the passenger side. I have no idea how long it's been there, but it had to have only been within the past couple of weeks that it happened.

I took my truck to the dealer, and they kept asking me when it happened, how I didn't notice, etc. What they didn't take into account was the terrible winter we just had. Our city streets had almost 6 inches of ice (with matching 6" deep craters and ruts) for months. It was like having to go through a mine field to get down my road, which was much akin to the surface of the moon. So how did I not notice? Well, even with kid gloves, and driving very slowly, the ice made a lot of noise constantly. My bad.

Long story short, they gave me an 05 Altima for a loaner car, and I'm just waiting until Monday for them to take a look at it and let me know what it's going to cost. I'm not used to driving a car; I feel like I'm sitting on the ground in this thing.

Speaking of which...should this be covered under powertrain warranty? Or at least a recall? I really don't want to have to do an insurance claim, especially with what appears to be such a widespread problem.

-----------------------
2004 LE Crew Cab 4x4

37L1 · 03-21-2008, 08:03 AM

Disturbing as it may be to those who have had it happen to them, I don't know if I would define this issue as "widespread" at this point in time.

ptgarcia · 03-21-2008, 09:33 AM

Do the new trucks have better shackles? Or are they still running the same piece of sh!t?

This issue would be a good one to report to the NHTSA. It's clearly a poorly designed part that needs to be fixed.

Tiwaz · 03-21-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptgarcia

Do the new trucks have better shackles? Or are they still running the same piece of sh!t?

This issue would be a good one to report to the NHTSA. It's clearly a poorly designed part that needs to be fixed.

Good question. Is this mostly happening to 04's, or the newer year models also doing it?

**walleeme** · 03-21-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptgarcia

Do the new trucks have better shackles? Or are they still running the same piece of sh!t?

This issue would be a good one to report to the NHTSA. It's clearly a poorly designed part that needs to be fixed.

I just arranged to have mine fixed by calling PRG.
We put a lot of heavy stuff into the back of this truck.
I think it's a cool mod with a great benefit for the price.

Juday45 · 03-22-2008, 09:23 AM

I had this happen only mine did not break through the bed like the pictures above. It did make one hell of a noise and left a bubble in my bed. I wanted the PRG shackles but couldn't wait so I went back with the OEM shackle. The factory replacement I got was made much better than the one that broke. The thing that made me mad was my dealer would only replace the broken one even after seeing how the first one failed. I went ahead and bought another one for the other side and put it on myself. Cheap insurance. They were less than $20 each. Based on how the new one was made I would say Nissan knows they have a problem.

mr.cash · 03-22-2008, 09:33 AM

ive had it happen it wasnt that bad but did pop a hold it the bed they patched it fixed it and resprayed the bedliner but i really had a hard time because im only 20 now i was 19 then and couilnt get a rental they had it for over a week but its ok now i was shocked when i saw it but the dealership sounds like there screwing u

**Nissan Mike** · 03-22-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.cash

the dealership sounds like there screwing u

Now why would you assume this or are you just pulling one out of your ???
The truck is 24,000 miles out of warranty,the DEALER requested assistance from a Nissan and their Rep turned this down.
What has the dealer done wrong for you to assume this?
Should the dealer have fixed this at their own expense? At what point would YOU assume responsibility if this was your car?
I'm all for getting things covered under Nissan's Goodwill policies,but if they say no,it doesn't mean the dealer is "screwing you". Dealers have no problem at all doing work at Nissans expense.
Do you understand that the dealer is not making any money unless either the customer or Nissan is paying them?