Does anyone else have a problem with their maxima shaking at over 110km/h (65mph)? The steering wheel shake like mad....creating an uncomfortable ride on the highway.....it occasionally stops especially as you go over 140 km/h (85mph). I have a feeling that it could be the alignment...any thoughts on that?

 

You answered your own question.........alignment.

 

Most likely alignment.

Could also be a bent rim, but you'd feel that at other speeds if you were sensitive to it (i.e. didn't mistake it for road vibrations). For a minor bend it can be pretty subtle.

 

yeh, I looked it up in this manual thing that I got a checkers for it. It also said alignment.
Two possiblities I know absolutely nothing about, but is alignment doesn't work, and there's nothing else(this may be dumb)
Wheel balancing
or
Tires are at very different air pressures.
Just two other almost non existant possibilities.

 

Tire pressure is something you should get check first. ALways make sure your tire pressures are right as a first step. I check my tire pressure every week.

Use a tire pressure gauge (they're dirt cheap, get one if you don't have one) and test the pressure on each tire (remove the nozzle cap on the tire, press the gauge onto the end, read the measurement, replace the cap).

The correct pressure will be written down on the underside of your center console armrest/storage. It's probably 29 psi front 29 psi rear, maybe 32 front 29 rear.

Make sure the front tires have the same psi and the rear tires have the same psi.

Wheel balancing is where they fix minor imperfections in the weight of the wheel and tire which cause it to be heavier on one side than another. They clip little weights onto the inside of the wheel to even things out.

Many places offer free alignment checks, so you can get that checked for free and only tune it if it needs adjustment.

If you do get a wheel balancing, Hunter 9000 machines balance the best. Check their website, http://www.hunter.com/ for places that have that machine.

 

It could also be a bad tire0 such as one with a broken belt or blister in it.

Could also be a bent axle. I had a vibration a few years ago that I changed springs, struts, complete brake system (went to aftermarket calipers an skyline rotors), two sets of wheels and about 4 sets of tires.
blah blah blah.

blew a CV boot finally and when I replaced the boot and got back on the road, the vibes were gone.

 

you all are forgeting just one thing...that is it could be blown engine mount...I had the same thing but once I changed the mount it went away!....so check all those...I know it doesn't make it easier but you can check the engine mount easily...if you engine bucks when you put it in drive or reverse...then...presto...problem

 

Does the vibration feel like it's coming from a particular corner of the car? If so, then try moving that corner's wheel to the opposite corner of the vehicle. If the vibration follows the wheel, then it's a problem with the wheel or tire. If it stays in the original corner, then it's something with the components there like the axle.

 

i had the sam problem after adding mags to the car, thought it was balance, then tyre, but it turned out to be the studs were off centre on the wheel, this wasn't picked up during a balance, cause they balance the wheels through the centre hole.

 

Someone told me that it may even be transmission related? I hope that this not the case. It scares me however because when I put the car in drive, I have to push the gear shifter back a bit (give it a bit of a shake) before the car goes into drive. Is it possible that the gear shifter is not aligned....or could it be something else?

 

thats the shifter bushing, search for it, its been discussed heaps.

 

Cheapest and MOST LIKELY first...balance the wheels..might not be bent just out of balance (tires do this too).