When I use any permutation of current item (current_page_item, etc) or current parent/ancestor it always effects the whole submenu.
Here's what I have:
php:
<?php wp_nav_menu( array( 'theme_location' => 'primary', 'container'=> 'nav', 'container_id'=>'nav_menu', 'container_class'=>'grid_7') ); ?>
css:
#nav_menu li a:hover, #nav_menu .current_page_item a{
border-right: 10px solid #ffab48;
}
#nav_menu li a:hover:first-letter, #nav_menu .current_page_item a:first-letter{
color: #ffab48;
}
[ Please do not bump, that's not permitted here. ]