I have a 2003 sedan. According to the manual, it is the "transverse link"; the alloy control arm thingy that goes from the sub-frame to the front axle assembly.
Where it connects to the sub-frame, there is a bolt and a bushing - this connection has slipped off the bushing (still on the bolt, but off the center and off the bushing. I jacked up the car and persuaded it back into place with a rubber mallet, but it has slipped off again.

I do have Stillen sways (set at soft on the front), and the sway bar does connect to this link. It seems the sway bar may be causing more pressure on this link and forcing it off-center and off the bushing.

Anyone else noticed this?

Any suggestions on how to keep it centered and on the bushing?

(by the way, I stole someone else's picture of the suspension - so no, that is not a stillen sway bar...), but I outlined the problem area.
Also, looking at that pic, the end links seem a lot chunkier than mine, and the transverse link looks different - the area that is bolted into the sub-frame looks like it fits almost the entire width of that slot, and there are bushings on either end where it bolts into the sub-frame - mine is much skinnier there and no bushings surround it like that one. Maybe it was a problem and was fixed on later models ?...

thx

 

don't get me wrong, I love the stillen sways... best mod ever.
Seems to me that the control arm attachment needs some additional bushings on the sides to prevent it slipping off. Interesting that the other models (05?) seem to be a different design that (seems to) build this in.

 

yep - I can see their response now... ohhh you have aftermarket sway bars - there's your problem, take them off..... heeelll no!

I do think it is related to the sways - I am going to investigate if there are bushings that can be inserted, or swap out the control arms with the newer design which appears to be different.

 

not really, I thought it was a little bit sloppy on the turn-in at the track (understeer). After the track day, I was getting some noise from the front - the sway bolts were a bit loose, so when I was tightening them, I noticed that.
I have also noticed it tracking a little to the right (alignment?) - but nothing drastic. Still haven't had a chance to do anything about it....

 

Interesting - I suspect it may be a common, but not visible problem.
What did the shop suggest you do about it?

 

Oh and my setup was hard hard, but now soft(fr) and med(rear)

 

I am not sure that bushing package will fix your problem.
From what I can see, the control arm has a bolt securing it, and there is a thin bushing around the bolt - not even a bushing, more of a wrap.
Replacing this I think will just cause the problem to reappear.
I think it needs large bushings either side of the control arm housing - on the bolt to keep it from sliding around. That thicker version of the control arm in the photo does have some bushings on the sides. - I wonder what that photo was from - maybe a 2005? I also wonder if those control arms will fit our 2003 sedans. bit of an expensive fix tho.

 

haha... and hence forth let them be known as skinnies and fatties....

the shop recommended replacing the entire control arm? - were they an infiniti dealer?
Yeah I tend to agree on adding our own spacers. I wonder if that full bushing is available from the fatties.

What do you think the effect is (of the control arm slipping off the center)? Would alignment go out? It looks like it has slipped aprox 1-2inches which must have some effect. I haven't noticed any noises when turning, so I don't think it is slopping around.

 

Hey Dave- do you have your stock front sway bar?
I want to put the stock one back on and take it in. Anyone in the Houston area....?