We recently purchased a 1998 max. gle and shorly thereafter a first generatiuon max. ( 1988). We love them both and won't drive anything else. MY Problem : shortly after we purchase the car i started experiencing vibration or shudder in the steering wheel at speeds 40mph and above. At speeds under 40mph the vibration or shudder is less noticeable. I've taken the car back to the dealer where i brought the car from twice and was told they could'nt find anything (could this be due the fact that the dealer is a toyota dealer?) In frustration I decided to have the tires balanced and rotated which did'nt help in the least. I took a road test with the tire tech. ( something the dealer failed to do . they never road tested the car) he was totally baffled and felt it was'nt a tire but a tranny problem. He called a tech help line and found no info on this type of problem with the maxima. I'm glad to find this web site in hopes of getting an answer to this problem. THANKS TO ALL WHO POST AN ANSWER IN ADVANCE.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....=wheel+bearing

Anything like this? I just had a wheel bearing fail on my right front. If that's the problem, it needs to be addressed urgently. My bearing was intermittently seizing over the last week & the problem was growing worse at a rapid rate (I was waiting on parts to arrive: mail-order).

[Description of noise: started a coupe weeks ago as a slight clunk on accelleration & engine braking (I have a 5-speed). Gradually, there was a cyclical rolling noise mum-mum-mum & a vibration, especially at hwy speeds. Within just the last couple days, it deteriorated after a week to a screeching noise (metal on metal) & the vibration became worse at hwy speeds.

Anyway, after my hub was removed, it was found to be all scored up. The bearing was not just making noise, but was actually SEIZING intermittently, causing the inner bearing-race to spin (metal on metal) on the hub-shaft as I rolled down the road. NOT GOOD. I was lucky the race and the hub shaft had not welded themselves together!

So, I had to order a replacement hub as well, in addition to the bearing & bearing seals. My car is still on the lift at the shop - due to be completed tomorrow.

Q's:

1) Just to clarify, this noise you're experiencing is not occuring when the brakes are applied, correct?

2) Is it a cyclical noise? (frequency occurs in relation to wheelspeed?)

3) Any incidents/accidents before the noise occured? Ie: curb impacts, really bad potholes, accidents?


Anyway, hope this is helpful. It certainly could be tranny-related though. Imho, your likely suspects list at this point:

Tranny $$$$
Wheel bearing $$
Brakes $$
Tie-rod end $

(in no particular order)

(Btw, I decided to bring my car to a shop instead of doing this job myself b/c I got an offer I couldn't refuse - goodwill discounted rate on account of a minor service mishap) I'm sure glad I did, too! -Had no idea the hub was shot, too.