Here's a question for you guys, maybe Daniel B. Martin will take a crack at it for me. I colored my gauge needles blue tonight. It looks great at night. Just used a Sharpie. To get to the gauges, you have to un-bolt the entire steering column, basically. Once you do this, it slowly falls near the floorboard. When re-assembling everything, I made sure these bolts were good and snug. Then I went for a drive to see the new gauges light up in the dark. I wasn't even paying attention to how the car drove, but I noticed a marked difference in turn-in. It feels much quicker to respond now, and maybe even a little heavier. I have driven nothing but '95 Maxima SE's for the past 6 years, so I think I would know my car, and there was definitely a difference. Does this make any sense at all? Is it even possible? What are your thoughts?

 

You're saying you feel like your steering is faster after coloring in your needles? Is that what you're asking? OR that the needles moved faster? I'm not sure what you're asking.



Maybe it was just because you were all excited that your needles looked cooler.

I've disassembled my dash plenty of time and I've never noticed anything different about my steering after I've reassembled everything.

 

I can't make any connection on this one. You didn't change the steering ratio, didn't change the suspension, didn't change the tires.

Some people swear their car runs smoother right after a wash/wax job. It's psychological. I think you are having the same experience.

Did you adjust your tilt steering wheel to a different angle than you usually use? That could explain a perception of different steering response.

 

Everyone knows that coloring something with a Sharpie is an immediate 10 horses.

 

No, its only 7 HP. The Indiglo guages would add 10 HP. Seriously, you should have NO change in your steering response taking off your dash and putting it back on.

 

when i was my car it always feels faster. next week i'll wax it lol.

 

Just make sure you did bolt it back correctly. BTW you did not have to unbolt the column to get to the needles. I replaced the entire instrument cluster without taking the steering wheel loose. I did however remove the plastic cover surrounding the wheel though.