So, guys....I need some help here.
Over the last 3k miles (for me, six months) I've gradually developed what to most people (but not to the **** moi) would be considerered an almost imperceptible shimmy at the 57-65 MPH range.

Yes, I know, it's tire balance, say you. I said the same thing except that my wheel & tires have roadforced (twice) and have tested perfectly -three are under 8 lbs of road force, the two with the lowest road force ( 4and 6 lbs) are in the front of the car and balancing has been done to the nearest tenth of an ounce instead of to the more normal quarter of an ounce....bottom line, it's definitely NOT a wheel & tire issue.

The rotors are perfect, I took a dial caliper to them and run-put on one rotor was .0014" and the other .0019" -both as near as perfect as can be, so it's also definitely NOT a brake warpage issue.

Knowing that then Gen6 Maxes have notoriously suffered from shimmy, I checked the data bases and there is indeed a TSB for the Gen6's (TSB #04085) that calls for exactly what I did, meaning, road forcing the wheels using a Hunter 9700, bla bla bla. However, that TSB also directs the techs to (if the road force stuff, etc fails) tighten the steering rack adjustment bolt and gives the location/procedure to do that, which is turning a large, 24mm bolt located on the left side of the steering rack assembly clockwise a quarter turn.

Well, definitely the steering rack on our cars is different, because there is no large, 24mm bolt on our steering racks anywhere close to the position it should be as suggested by the Gen6 TSB. So, does anyone know where that adjustment bolt is located on our steering racks? Anyone who has a shop manual can find this out....can anyone help??

Thanks

 

the only thing I can find in the FSM that fits that description appears to be on the top of the gear assembly where the steering column attaches to the rack.....it's not clearly shown though, so I'm not *positive* that this is what the part is....

 

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

 

If you are interested in the solution, Dave over in the Gen 4 forum (Gen4's have the exact same steering rack) has the answer for this: there is a TSB for the '97 Maxes to correct steering pull and wandering that has the procedure to tighten a steering rack, so......if any of your cars are exhibiting what you might be considering too loose steering, wandering, yada, yada, yada, look over to the Gen4 forum for the solution........

 

Hi Galo,

I have the same problem as you described and have gone through two different sets of tires (Falken 512s and Michelin Pilots AS) , Hunter 9700 with RoadForce, struts and bearings, all withing the last 6 weeks, trying to figure out what's wrong. This is soooo annoying; I can't stand driving the car anymore. Did you get yours fixed by tighting that steering rack bolt yet?

 

Just browsing some old threads because my mom's 5th gen has a knock from the steering rack when you turn the steering wheel left to right right to left fast. I had the same issue on my G35 which I fixed by tightening the steering rack adjustment screw. It is so much easier to get at on the G35 than it is on the Maxima. There is a lock nut and you need to turn the screw but it's about 1/4" close to the black crossmember towards the left side of the car so you can't get at it without lowering the steering rack off the car. Good luck guys...