Okay, as many of you know i've had my 2k2 SE Auto for almost 3 months now and hovering at 4k miles.

I love it. I love it. and oh, did i mention i Love it?

Seriously, the car is amazing and i've gotten more than a handful of compliments about it - even from other "daily-driver" Maxima owners who figured out that "something's different about Mike's maxima, hmm.."

Anyway, if anything i have one serious and totally awful gripe about this car.

Traction problems

- Off the line, punch it to 3k rpm and your wheel squeals (with the ever common torque steer)
- Turn a corner at over 20mph and your wheel squeals
- * the worst! *, from a stop or on a roll punch the gas just a little bit (not WOT) when the road is wet and you betcha... horribly bad torque steer + hydroplaning

From the torque steer alone i've almost hit the cars beside me (from a traffic light) a handful of times scaring them to the point i get shocked looks and at one point a fist in the air (go figure).

Long post short, any ideas on how i can at least help the traction problem, especially with hydroplaning? I still have the stock Potenza tires. Do you think changing these will help?

Any tips, suggestions and information is gladly appreciated.

Thanks.

- Mike

 

lowering springs

 

Lowering springs take care of torque steer and hydroplaning?

How?

Thanks.

 

does lowering it really help??
and someone told me if i lower my car, i need to get new shocks, but i only had my 2k2 se for 1+ months, i don't want to spend the money on the shocks yet. So do I have to change my shocks if i change my springs (lowering) ??
thx

 

how to fix: RWD

 

=( anything besides RWD

 

lowering springs, adjustable high perf struts/shocks, sticker tires, Stiffer Motor Mounts(will out and out kill torque steer), FSTB.. they will firm the suspension and allow less movement..

 

Torque steer you feel in the steering wheel. What you have just sounds like lousy traction. Try getting better tires, or taking out 2 sparkplugs.

 

I do have torque steer as i always have to correct the direction of the wheels when it happens.

I also have poor traction as the tires keep hydroplaning.

I'll check into replacing the tires. Thanks.

 

See if you could get the HLSD added to your ride. That should help alot more than any other mod. Springs and struts help in cornering not on take off. But those are highly recommended for the maxima since our handling isn't the greatest.

 

I would say most of the traction problem is in the sucky stock tires.

 

Ok, so does this only happen in 2k2s?? since it has more hp than FWD can handle? and HLDS (or watever its called) is gonna be an expensive add on right? I just got my car bout a month ago, and already spent $2000.00 on it (stereo & tint) so i'm probably not gonna do anything for awhile, and besides tires are still sooo new!
but anyways, the conclusion i got from this thread is:
1. lowering will not help on torque steering, instead it'll help on cornering.
2. HLDS is probably the best idea to add to my 2k2 for not torque steer?
3. New and BETTER tires will help the torque steering, but if i do get really good tires, is it gonna stop torque steering completely?

thanks

btw, this is my first max, so i really don't have any ideas on max =)

 

get a 6-spd i don't have very bad torque steer at all and i only have a VLSD and you can't add HLSD to an auto. get better tires and a FSTB, i HATE my tires HATE them. i'm getting new ones in the spring.

 

The HLSD will be pretty expensive. I have a 2k1 and wanted to see if i could custom install it and Nissan wanted about $650. And then your looking at about $500 for install. But if you have the loot then its well worth it. The HLSD is a limited slip for the Max that gets the power to the wheels. Without this your Max will spin one wheel instead of both wheels at the same time. Get some new tires maybe some Toyo's they grip great.

 

the stock tires suck when it comes to wet traction. When it is wet out, be careful.... I once hit the gas a little hard on the take off when the roads were slick and starting spinning all through 1st gear, and then the car started going sideways

There isn't much you can do about torque steer... expecially since you have an auto. Even in my 2k, it is apparant.

 

jOO need traction control

 

i can spin all the way throught third when it's wet out, ask MattC but the car stays on course and doesn't try to pull sideways, it's nice.

 

Torque steer was responsible for my 5 minutes of jubilation when I kept up with a loaner auto 2k2 to 100kph. I was amazed that I kept neck to neck with the 2k2 in a drag race from the light. Feeling full of myself and my incredible AE maxima (also auto) I afterwards strutted over to my brother-in-law who proceeded to burst my bubble. The torque steer had terrified the wussy so much that he was afraid to floor it. Another damn reminder of how slow my car really is.

 

The main problem is that the Max, both 3.0L and 3.5L, has too much power for front wheel drive to handle gracefully. Add mediocre tires and you have a big problem. Better tires will help a lot with the wheelspin problems. A rear sway bar will cut down on the inside front wheelspin in corners. A front strut brace will help with the torque steer. A limited slip differential will help with both wheelspin and torque steer but it's an expensive mod - especially for an automatic. If you go with aftermarket wheels, be careful - any additional outset will magnify the torque steer problems, as will wider, lower profile tires.

wdave

 

speaking of motor mounts...wouldnt it be a pain in the butt with the vibration at idle?

if you're going to do the mounts...why not do the driveshafts while you're at it