Depending on the original stock wheel/tire size the steering stop adjustment (length) is different, at least on the Gen. 5. There are cars like the Acura TL, I believe, that have a TR worse than ours......so quite complaining.

 

Wow I'm glad I saw this thread. My car makes a terrible metallic squeaking/grinding sound when I am pulling into or backing out of a parking space on uneven ground with the wheel fully turned. Guess I need to replace the turn limiter things...

 

The turning radius is bigger on all the SE models. The first time I noticed this was back in 2000. I took my 2k SE Max at the time to the dealer for... (don't remember what) but asked to be dropped at the subway. One of the guys there took the manager's 2k GLE to drive me and I got amazed how that GLE got out of the service parking - place where I had to maneuver the first time I tried coming out. Without going to deep, the main difference between my SE and that GLE there was the tires. The GLE comes standard with 16 inch tires and I ordered my SE with 17.

So, I got my hands on the repair manual and looked down at the steering section and here is some interesting info:
- Turns of steering wheel (Lock to lock) --> 2.9 for 16-inch tire
- Turns of steering wheel (Lock to lock) --> 2.6 for 17-inch tire
- In/Wheel Nominal Turning Angle --> 39.50 degree for 16-inch tire
- In/Wheel Nominal Turning Angle --> 33.0 degree for 17-inch tire

A full 6 degree difference!

...

 

The correct term would be transverse. Horizontally opposed refers to engines that are flat, such as Subaru and Porsche engines, hence the cylinders opposing each other horizontally.

It's the suspension design, not necessarily the size of the car, that dictates turning radius. I drove a Porsche Cayenne with huge 275-20's and the turning radius was really tight.

 

(Since you revived it..)
I'd noticed that in the FSM as well. Is there anything that can be done, besides removing the bump stops, to move the SE's turning radius closer to that of the GXE? Does one inch really make that much difference?

 

Just take off the bump stops and you'll have the same turning radius as a GXE / GLE. Still not great but better. My bump stops have been off since about a year after I bought the car (10 years ago), and haven't had any issues with rubbing or interference. And, yes, I have the 17" wheels with 225/50 tires.

 

Bump stops? Interesting... I have an SE with the factory 17's and I'll have to do that. Parking here where I live isn't great. People fight for parking spaces here at the shopping centers, movie theater's, etc. and I always have to swing wide and back up to pull in straight and even. These parking lots were designed really tight.

 

Definitely not something in your mind dude, our beloved Maximas are notorious for their absolutely terrible turning radius. The **** that I've had to pull in tight downtown Toronto, sometimes a 4+ point turn!!!!!

Every rose has its thorns.