Can this be done to our cars?..if So, has anyone done this?

http://www.monte-list.nu/tech/boxmesh.shtml

 

Just curious, do you really think your car has much more play in the steering now, than it did stock? Every 4th gen maxima I've driven has the same lack of steering feel. I think this was purposely done to make the car drive "more like a luxury car."

Nissan never did get the "steering feel" thing down on our 4th gens, like most german automakers have had down for ages. Just way too over-assisted so you lose that nice steering feel and feel for the road...

Some people on here have said that the 99's got tighter steering, or maybe just the 99 SE's. I can't verify this as I've never driven a 99. I think at least one person changed their steering column (or other parts) for a 1999 version and noted improvement.

 

well my steering's wayy more lose than any other car i've driven. kinda like it, saves arm strength.

 

If our cars did come like this stock, why did the major automobile magazine editors fail to mention this?...and if this was the case, our cars wouldn't have won "import car of the year" in 1995.

 

are you guys talking about slack, or a dead spot?
i think too much of both is unsafe...i dont have either. no dead spot and no problems with hardness or turning. i dunno what you guys are talking about...."stock play in the steering wheel" sounds kindof wierd...

 

I guess I'm not talking about "play" so much as steering feel. Steering on our cars are oriented much farther toward the luxury end of the spectrum than towards the sporty. Very over-assisted and not very precise. This makes our cars great for long drives. Excellent touring car b/c less steering fatigue. However, in my opinion it leaves a lot to be desired when you are talking about sporty driving. Very mediocre steering feel and road feel through the steering column b/c of the overly soft and assisted nature.

Like I said, it's a compromise. They went more for luxury/comfort/touring steering feel. And yes articles have complained about Nissan's lack of steering feel compared to it's german competitors from 1995 all the way to the 2005 Altima. Hate me if you will, but I'd prefer tighter, less-assisted steering.

 

they went for luxury and ride comfort....because its a luxury sport sedan. i think you want a sport coupe

 

I'm going to agree with you 100%. Yes, that's what they were going for. But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't prefer the steering to be sportier!

I've already killed the softer ride they intended by putting stiffer struts and springs on. And I've killed the silky-smooth shifting of my auto tranny by getting the VB mod. Next thing I'd like to do is kill the soft steering feel to make it all match!

Not going to happen though - too much work! If you have different preferences that's cool with me. I won't argue. Plus people have reported that steering in 99's is much better. If that's true then you already have what I want!

 

I work in a shop and have the luxury of driving many different cars everyday and to tell you the truth my maxima has a stiffer steering feel than most of the cars that come in, so I really don't see where a lot of you are coming from unless my maxima has something funky going on with it. Try driving a Lincoln Navigator or something...THAT is over-assisted steering to the max!

 

Replace your worn out balljoints/tie rods and sway bar endlink bushings and your steering will be nice and tight.

make sure you torque down those end link bushings to 12-16ft-lbs and frame bushings to 36ft-lbs

sway bar endlinks play big role in steering feel !!!

Nick.