Are the Maxima 2003 SE owners experiencing a vibration problem in the steering wheel which is not resolved by replacing tires nor alignment? And that the service managers at the Nissan dealers keep blaming the tires? This seems to be an issue with the Maxima 04 as well. If there is a thread already posted on the subject for the 2003 models, please advise.

 

mine shimmied when the rotors were on their way out......

 

I purchased this 03 with 15k miles 3 months ago and have had to resurface the rotors twice already. The vibration continues.

 

Your rotors are trashed. I have been reading and researching this because I had the same problem. Short and sweet, once the rotors become heat damaged ("warped") the brake pads encounter a damaged surface then an undamaged surface and very rapidly grab and slip......grab and slip...grab and slip... = Shimmy in your steering wheel. The heat damage created a surface that the pad does not transfer material to, resulting in the slip. The problem here is that the damage is self-sustaining and penetrates the metal of the rotor. When you "resurface" or "turn" the rotors you are removing a portion of the damage bloom on the rotor, but reducing the mass of rotor. This leads to hot spots that recur even more rapidly as the rotor can heat faster. Your brakes will "warp" again.....even faster.
I just replaced my rotors with Raybestos PG OEM rotors for 72 bucks a piece and got Nissan OEM pads. The MOST important part!!!!: I followed the burnishing directions: 10 almost stops from 30 MPH using a medium pressure with 1 minute of driving of at least 30 MPH between each stop to cool the rotor. DO NOT fully stop (even though Nissan says to do a full stop) as this creates; yes you guessed it: a HOT spot. Then for the next couple hundred miles you must be very aware of your brake usage, you are trying to heat your rotors evenly and gently to nearly "re-forge" the surface to an even hardness and quality.
I now have brakes that stop nicely, smoothly and without a hint of shimmy. a hundred to one the guys that turned your rotors took your car out and hit the brakes down to the ABS 2 or 3 times to "test" your brakes. great for them to make sure your car stops and even better for business.

 

this is the same problem I believe i am having as well..I have been having problems with my brakes be ing very loud and making noise...i noticed now that thw wheel shimmys as well...AS i stop and the wheels turn its like squeek squeek as the wheel turns...The thing that makes me mad is i took it to nissan and they said it was fine....BS...Shouldnt be making this damn noise...Guess i will have to get a brakejob done...Should I replace the rotors? or get them turned? car has 45k on it

 

my steering wheel shimmies when Im going about 60 and up and I brake...it sucks

 

Mine is smooth as silk. 2003 SE 6 sp, LSD. Stock protenzas.

There isn't a common problem from what I've been reading around here with 5.5 gen. I wouldn't even compare it to a 6 gen.

Some things that can cause a vibration are that you haven't tried

bent rim - you need to check the inside, outside can look perfect but inside can be bent. I had a bent rim on the front, and when I rotated it to the back, I swore the shimmy got worse up front!! these can be deceiving. This may apply to tires too.

warped rotors.

Bad tire (snapped belt). same thing applies here than the bent rim, you'd think rotation would isolate it sometimes but it doesn't.

bad alignment

 

I have not experienced this with my 2k3. I hope that I don't.