I took my car to nissan to check out if my cv joints were bad because my steering feels loose,,well they said that it wasnt the cv joints,but the car need aligment.So I do the aligment and the car feels a bit better but my steering still feels loose and my steering wheel shakes and feels every bump on the road.I cant even go on a gravel road because my front suspension and steering wheel feel like its going to come apart.Yet nissan and some other shop said theres nothing wrong with my suspension???Whats wrong with my car,I think it might have something to do with my steering colum or something like that??Any one here maxima done this before?If yes what was the problem?

I have a 98. Supposedly the 97+ is an improvement over 95-96. If you're not used to Maxima, you might even think something is wrong with your steering and take it in to get looked at. The Maxima is way more assisted in the steering dept. than the average car. Everytime I rent a car and come back to mine, it takes a while to get used to the loose steering feel. NOt sure why, but Pontiacs seem to really bring out the contrast. I don't know without driving your car, but there is a good chance it is completely normal.

describe "loose" please.
turn in response was FAR from crisp as it used to be, but after I installed the ES end-link and front sway bar bushings all the jello was gone. It's almost too crisp now i can barely bump the wheel and go off the road, but the benefits in handling are WELL worth it

Well my car wasnt like this before,so I know theres has to be a problem somewhere.When I say losse I mean that the steering just doesnt feel as tight as it was before this problem began.( LOL )It feels like the steering floats around and my car goes to the sides and I have to constantly correct the car.One other problem that seems to get worse is that When I step on the gas hard on wet or icy roads the front shakes real bad and feels like something is going to break?I cant even go on a gravel or dirt road anymore because my front suspension and the steering wheel feel like their going to break apart??

my car was exactly the way you described, excluding the breaking apart thing, but I strongly suggest getting the bushings I described. PM me about it.

That floaty feeling sounds like a bad alignment of toe-out. Could you post your alignment measurements since you said that was already done?

The steering on my 98 "rattles" somewhat when I go over large bumps like train tracks. Sometimes I feel like something may be loose but other thatn the bumps, everything seems fine.

my car feels the same way !!! and i'm sick and tired of it , one day i might put some new bushings on it

on the other hand - i installed new struts on my "beater " 93 geo prizm Lsi and let me tell you guys - that thing with 120 k feels much better in handling department than my Maxima with $$$$$$ invested in suspenison upgrades.

steering is nice/stiff and precise with no road feel.
have brand new Yokohama Avid 4 tires on it and car rides great

BTW - the rear independent suspension install was bit harder than i thought ( i like the way Toyota is using varoius brackets to hold ABS and brake lines )

to make it simple my maxima feels " sloppy "

Nick

Its totally normal. I would consider two options: New expensive tires or get an aftermarket suspention.
don't be surprised at what you are experiencing.

hey my cars steering also feels funny almost like what ivan25 is describing is there a quick fix to it or should it just be ignored

Your struts may be blown. I had the same hopping problem until I replaced my front struts

It seems that many of us have the same problem
I went to a local shop, they said i need to start with getting new front struts.