A friends 90 Maxima has really loose steering. Seems like lots of play when driving. Rack ends, tie rod ends, ball joints, bushings all good and tight, alingment looks good, no uneven tire ware. I adjusted the rack pre-load and it helped a little. I'm thinking the rack bushings maybe bad.
I've never had to change these things on any other car. Do they go bad????

 

Has any of your "other" cars been 13 years old?

 

Sorry about the seeminly sarcastic remark. I am still fired up over the My-Maxima-is-a-Piece-of-Shyt post.

 

Don't laugh, but I have a 1991 Axxess and the steering is fine.
Sorry to hear your Maxima is a problem. Maybe you just got a lemon. My dad has a 1990 Maxima and it's the best car we've ever owned. My friends 1990 Maxima(the one with the loose steering), According to him is the best car he ever owned. Maybe the owner before you trashed it and didn't tell you.

 

maybe flush the power stearing

 

Check the rack bushing that hold the rack to the firewall, the entire rack is probably moving as you turn.

Probably fluid leaking onto the bushings and deteriorated them.

 

There's no fluid that I can see on the bushings. When I try to move the rack, it seems tight. I'll try and take off one of the caps a check it better.