Just got an '02 Maxima SE after driving a V6 Mazda 626 the last 3 years (it got totaled a few weeks ago) and while I expected a serious performance boost with the additonal liter of displacement and 85 more horsepower, I wasn't expecting the front tires to be so easy to spin, even at a 10-15 mph roll and not even giving it full throttle (maybe 3/4ths or so). The car has new Yokohama 520s on the stock 17" wheels. Punch it off the line and the tach immediately winds to 6500 rpm and the car smokes the tires (well tire, I guess) as long as I have my foot down.

It was a one owner car (married couple) and hasn't been modified that I know of. I had borrowed my Dad's '04 V6 Accord which has 240 hp and even with the traction control off, it only would spin the tires about 5 feet off the line...although on some surfaces, it would haze the tires a bit when it hit 15 mph or so.

Is excessive wheelspin normal at low speeds? Not that I am complaining about the power, that is one of the reasons I bought the car; but other than feathering the throttle off the line I don't see any way around it. Hell, it spins the tires farther than my Chevelle did when it had 3.08 gears and a mild cam (was running low 14s @ 98-100 at the time) and that was a RWD car and has posi.

Pic for reference....this was when it had 4.11s





My kids are going to think the tire spin is pretty cool when I see them next though.

 

you have to learn to control the throttle better...you cant "punch it off the line"

and get better tires

if it can be controlled with a 6MT...it can be controlled with an auto

 

I used to bracket race with my Chevelle and after I switched to 4.11s and a 4000 stall, I was still able to feather my way to high 12s at 108 on street tires (which weren't that great in the 80s) so throttle control really isn't a problem once I get used to the car. Just wondering if there are maybe any suspension modifications (like on RWD cars) that would help the car launch better.

Better tires are out of the question right now seeing as the ones on the car are practically new...but for future reference, what would you recommend?

 

toyo proxies 4

any suspensions mods will help...new springs/struts

 

Stiffer suspenesion = less weight transfer to the back of the car on acceleration, eh?

I'll look into the Toyos when I need tires, thanks.

 

lol you got one. I second the proxes 4s. My old tires were terrible and I couldn't get traction in 1st or 2nd, and now with my new tires I have a hard time breaking 2nd loose.

 

Yeah, I got one. Love it so far. Oddly enough though, after renting a Mazda3 for nearly 3 weeks, I at first though the steering response of my Maxima was really slow...but after a day, I realize it is just normal. The Mazda3 has really hyper steering response, kind of a pain when they are that twitchy when you first start driving one.

 

Try living in the Pacific NW! With all the rain here, my wife's Impreza will smoke my Maxima real bad here. Heck, the Impreza, as weak as it is will whoop just about anyone on the wet streets here.

Yeah, putting the VQ35 in a FWD car just emphasizes the limitations of FWD. My old VQ30 would rarely spin the tires off the line (newer BFG's of some sort) but the new VQ35 absolutely punishes these tires.

 

....get slicks =D

 

again...if you know what you are doing....you wont spin your tires

im sure 90% of maxima owners dont have the traction problem. you cant floor it from a stand still and have traction.

yes our cars have power...i can break my toyos in 3rd and my hankooks in 2nd if i want to. you just have to know how to control the power.

breaking lose and wheel hop not only wastes power...it wears out your tires and puts stress on your engine, drivetrain, and suspension.

 

Did I not mention I understand that already? I know how to feather the throttle and keep it on the verge of traction. I was just wondering if the copious amounts of wheel spin when you just hammer the throttle is normal and if there were tire/suspension combos that would allow me to leave the line with more throttle without spinning so much. You answered that part, thank-you. Not sure why you seem to think I am an idiot who doesn't get it about driver control reducing wheel spin too.

 

alright sir, you know your stuff becuz you drove a sexy chevelle back in the day. My play toy is an abnormal WS6 trans am with a stuttering problem.. if you know what i mean.
The best option is def feathering and yeah you know that already, what good driver wouldnt.. but with the maximas yeah it's pretty common and there not much really to be done about it... i havent tried the toyos but my boy has them on his 2k2 max and it's no big difference.. so yeah it's pretty commmon

 

shockz strutz and softer tires is the best you can do

 

Yeah, wheel hop sucks. I needed ladder bars to stop it on the Chevelle.

And yes, it was a sexy Chevelle.

 

Yeah, my father had a chevelle... i think a 71 SS in dark blue with white leather interior. he gave it to his best friend who passed away and left it to his nephew.. i was kinda mad because i wanted a chevelle... but yeah the big block does damage stock.
my trans am has subframe connectors, torque arms, strut bar, shocks and struts.. as far as suspension and im still spinning on street tires in first.... seemingly more easily on b/s street tires... well becuz of that fact. once the racing tires are on it grips and launches... im runnin high 11's all motor right now.. =D

but the maxima really does spinn easily.. got a real good point. i raced my boys monte carlo SS and it was a spinning match for a good 3 seconds... 2nd pull, played it smart.. he spun i feather'd and i was pullin on him way earlier. so not as many options when it comes to the maxima as it is with the american muscle.. which is too bad cuz the maxima has great potential

 

im replying to the other people that are posting pointless info...not you.

i guess i should have quoted the guy that said "get slicks"

 

Hey Scott!!! I see you around OT.com and you do one heck of a detailing job!! Welcome to the .org!

 

No TCS on such a powerful car is a problem..
My tires.....sign

 

I heard by changing the motor mounts from stock to Energy S maks a big difference. not shure why. mabey less motor flex, but i was told this on a few oc. let me know if am wrong !!

 

Stiffer mounts will get the power to ground quicker, so, it will actually make it 'worse'.

 

True. but do you think the trade off is worth it they claim better 0-60 times and what about the parts like the controll arms and the trailer arm bushings just wondering man i can't spell....

 

If you think an engine mount is helping 0-60 times, you've got a little more to learn.

 

They say less lag and motor flex so you take off faster just asking take it easy.....

 

Did Jclaw ever develop the "Jbars" for 5th gens?

 

But considering how similar the car/chassis is,

 

 

Thanks!

I like my Maxima a ton better than my 626. A lot more power, more comfortable, HIDs, better handling, etc and no trade off in gas mileage despite the exta power.

 

while we are hugging...might wanna read this

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...91&postcount=4

 

I took some better pictures today, so I'll change the sig pic once I upload them.

 

hey scott how much do you charge for detail and wax?

 

It depends on the condition of the vehicle. Not sure if I can post my business url that will take you to my website but it is in my profile.

 

I can tell you whatever he charges, it's worth it...

 

Speaking of details has any one used the porter capel 7424.. i heard it is the cream of the crop for waxing. any user information?

 

It's on my Christmas list.

 

Spend a bit more and get the UDM (Ultimate Detailing Machine). Similar to the PC but a more powerful motor so it breaks down polishes better and removes swirls more quickly.

 

I should sell you mine - I bought a brand-new one for the G, and used it once (not on the G...). Use Zaino on the G, so haven't touched it since. Worked great that one time tho.

OP, I know you said you don't want to buy new tires yet, because the current ones are new; but switching to Pilots cured a fair amount of wheelspin for me. Still impossible to floor it in a low-speed turn without lots of spin tho. The VQ just has too much torque for one front wheel.

 

let me know if it is for sale am very interested!!!!!!!

 

Probably could do new struts and drop the car an inch (to reduce front end lift and weight transfer on acceleration) for not much more than a set of Michelin Pilots.

I have hear Pilots have good traction on acceleration though.

 

screw overpriced pilots

springs - H&R or maxspeed
struts - illuminas
tires - toyo proxies 4

you will love it. that springs/struts combo doesnt roughen the ride much and drastically reduces the front end lift and weight transfer.

when i got my car, it had stock potenzas on it and i couldnt get the tires to stick. i lowered it and it helped alot but the when i changed tires...stuck to the ground. when i wait and give the tires a change to get traction...it takes off.

 

watch the launch at the start of this video...with the combo mentioned above, you will notice that the front doesnt lift very much and there is only a few seconds before the tires get traction.

granted that isnt a full speed launch but if you go slow until they catch, you can floor it. its all about learning the correct touch. if i can learn (after a lot of practic) to do it with having to use the clutch and throttle to control the launch, an auto will be easy.