I just my bought 2002 Maxima SE about 3 weeks ago. It had 24 miles on it. A couple of the issues: First, already, when I brake at moderate speeds my car pulls to one side. Do I have a heavy foot? I think my first mod is going to the brakes. I've never been happy with OEM brakes. Second, is it me or does the rear suspension seem a little loose when cornering?

Other than that I luv my Max.

 

Check your tire pressure. My Maxima was delivered with 45 lbs in all four tires. I found this out after 3 weeks of what I considered excessive torque steer cured by proper pressure. My guess is they over inflate the tires at the factory.

 

Have dealer check and adjust wheel alignment... rarely are cars delivered with correct alignment. You have a limited time for them to check this... 12k-miles if I remember right, maybe less.

BuddyWh

 

I had a similar problem when I got mine. I made the realer do an allignment and wheel balance and I havent had any problems since.

 

In regards to the rear suspension, my 2K2 does the same thing. I think the only that will solve the problem is suspension mods, because the handling on this car sucks *****. Driving on a curvy road can be a freakin nightmare in this thing.

 

Yeah, I didn't realize how much of a BOAT this car was until I took her into the twisties. I think some springs will definitely help. I can't believe that idiot car reviewers rate the SE's handling as "Harsh". NO WAY...the car is totally SOFT...TOO SOFT for a "sports" sedan.

 

I agree completely...I think the 2k2 could definitely use a stiffer suspension.

 

Same here.....I have since added and Eibach pro-kit and an Addco RSB. Definately a huge improvement over factory. Now, once I get an FSTB and KYB AGX's, I'll be set

 

I agree with see5. My Maxima had 32 psi in the driver side tires but 40 psi in the passenger side tires. Both handling and ride were greately affected by this.

 

I'll have to take a look at the tire pressure. Just from the look of it, it seems fine..however, I'll trust the guage to my eyes. What I noticed is how the back of the car seems to "lift up" under hard cornering...doesn't sit down like I expected it to. It's kind of an unnerving feeling...especially if the roads are wet. I scared the crap out of myself the first week I had the car. I took my GSR's handling for granted! (Although I had RSR springs and 17" wheels on it, with front and rear strut bars). Time to start modding!

 

Correct tire pressure makes a huge differnce in ride/handling. My car was delivered with between 45-50 psi in the tires. Ride quality was terrible. I think whoever inflated the tires was reading the max psi on the tire sidewall and not the tire placard.

 

My theory is that they put high press. at the factory for the boat/truck ride and the dealer did not adjust before dilivery.

 

IMO... start with FSTB and RSB (in that order)... easy, fast, cheap and helps a lot with the queasy feeling in the corners and transient response on the freeways. Quick sure lane changes with out the boat-like feel.

BuddyWh

 

I was recently having trouble with my maxima. I thought it was the suspension, but after visiting 3 different dealers, the third one told me it was my tires. He said that the z rated 17" tires don't really last that long (about 30,000 or less). I replaced my tires and now I dont have a problem. I have 27,000 on my SE.

 

When I got my Maxima a year ago, I also discovered the tires were overinflated. When I went to check them after having the car for over a month already, I found all of them were at nearly 40 psi!

 

i needed an alignment also at 3K and the dealer said that wasnt covered either, even wheni asked about the 12K adjustement warranty, i forgot about that. one more thing to add to the list of things that the dealer wouldn't fix on my car. the stock brakes suck bad also, if your interested in a big brake kit i can get them for like 900 bucks and i think there is a sale on RSB's right now somewhere they are a very good mod.

 

much higher rear 'roll center' than the front's, that's why you're getting that 'lifting' feeling, namely because that's exactly what is actually happening!

The RSB will mitigate that somewhat and u should make this 'mod 1' not the FTSB which does little except on bumpy roads & does nothing to fix the rear roll center issue.

If still not satisfied, then springs/shocks are the next move...once u add springs you will benefit/need the FTSB as well since stiffer springs will induce more chassis flex. Needless to say, the OEM tires suck so....they need to go as well, sometime.

On the issue of 'harsh' versus 'soft', the Max suffers from overspringing, underdamping and too little front suspension compliance, which is nothing more than the ability of the wheel to move rearwards a bit when impacted by a short, harsh, high-frequency bumps, hence 'absorbing' them somewhat. The combination of all those faults make the car floaty over low-frequency bumps & undulations while feeling harsh over small bumps. This is a baaaad combination of attributes which, since u cant change the design, can be mitigated by more compliant tires to improve high-frequency bump 'damping' and better shocks & springs.

On this last (springs) if you go too harsh or too low, you'll be exacerbating the 'overspringing' condition so...gotta be careful here.

Another session of 'Suspension 101' is over

 

...I was concerned with the same 'floating and lifting' problems you mentioned, and I hooked it up with H&R springs, RSB, and FSTB and it handles like a champ. All I need now is some Toks or KYB AGX (if they EVER come out for 2002) and I will be set. But I must say I have gotten plenty of life out of my stock struts/shocks with no real complaints in ride quality. But one of these days I will upgrade those for the complete package...

Good luck. And watch out for the 'mod bug', once it bites you, that mother never lets off!