Maybe someone can help me with this!

I went to replace my steering rack and pinion on my 1996 i30t so I called Joe at Infiniti of Scottsdale to get one. He said I needed the the oem part # 49001-42U00. This is for cars that have engine speed sensitive power steering. It states right on my window sticker from the factory that I have this!! Well, surprise, I pulled the drivers side front wheel and the original rack does not have the sensor valve or pigtail to go to the ecu harness! What is this crap?? I called infiniti customer service and a tech bigshot told me none of the i30s had this option, in fact there is nothing in the srevice manual between 96-99 4th gens that mentions anything about engine speed sensitive power steering on the i30 or i30t. They said I need to use oem part# 49001-42U05.
So, they make a part(49001-42U00) that doesn't fit any i30 and the factory doesn't know what's going on. This isn't a j30 or q45 part #! Nissan just gave me a crock of BS on the phone.
Does anyone out there have any idea what;s going on? Is this a case of contractual fraud??

 

hmmm.... interesting stuff... looks like you've already done a lot of research... I thought speed-sensitive steering was an available on the later 4th Gens ...

here's a bump hoping that someone else has any insight...

 

this is a first time ive hear this in older cars there is a screw that will regualate power steering, imean there is no way the power steering can be effected by speed because its a pump it will always make the same amount of pressure regardless of the the speed, well at least to my knogladge it is, and i have a 97 maxima steering rack it will porbabaly fit a 96 i30 ill let it go for dirt cheap so pm me if ur intrested

 

The mechanism is located on the steering rack right by the connection between the steering column and rack. It is a votage operated solenoid? that receives speed info from the ecu and changes the power steering oil pressure in the rack so the steering gets tighter as your speed increases.

 

Are you saying you've never heard of speed-sensitive steering? or of speed-sensitive steering in cars that use hydraulic steering systems (i.e. power steering pump, etc.)? Variable-assist/Speed-sensitive steering has been around a long time. Mid-eighties in the Caddy's etc... probably earlier in the German luxo-sedans... in anycase - I don't see why setting up the pump to provide varying level of "assist" is not possible? It is being done in plenty of cars today.

Here is an article:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/at_010327.htm

 

Good thread , lots of 95-98 owners could benefit form it. I personally hate to loose steering at higher speeds. My Michelin pilot sport ps2 tires help a lot, but that "twichy" feel will always be there.

now few Q's - why did you decide to replace your steering rack in first place?
did it leak? how hard is it to replace it? and will the rack from 99 bolt right on?
I have 140K on mine - do they wear out with time - or should i try to get its tension adjusted first?

As far as speed sensitive steering , we need somebody with inside knowledge of Nissan vehicles - i can swear when i bought the car the diferrence in steering sensivity was noticable , but now it varies with outside temp only.



Nissan did some corrections to it in 99 and those fourtunate owners on 99 maxima report that it is much tighter - i'm assuming that it should bolt right on.


now as for the parts : are you going to buy the rack or the steering gear , i think those are two differnt parts of one unit.

her is a link with pic and prices:
steering gear $962 http://www.newnissanparts.com/
steering rack $129
both for 99 SE , i think GLE and GXE uses differnt parts.

Nick.

 

bump ............................