Today I compared the ts in my Max to that in my 97 escort (running 110 big ones with auto tranny). The Escort pulled half-way into the right lane after going about 30 feet, while the Max was almost straight ahead in the same distance (both floored from dead stop). Probably many of you will be surprised to learn that a paltry Escort has more torque off the line than your baby! (jk0

 

are you sure you didn't have the wheels turned when you punched it in the escort........j/k lol..

 

drive mine and i doubt u'd say the same thing

 

Well, my Max does happen to have VDC...Does yours?

 

97 escort? do you think f.o.r.d. put much thought into balancing the axles?

 

I have a 05 and my ts is not that noticible. I have punched it many times and it has remained straight. Now this is a little off topic but I am getting some vibration in the wheel when I apply brake at speeds over 40mph. What does that mean?

 

Yes. . . .

 

KUBLKMAX - The vibration when braking at speed is not connected to the 'dreaded shimmy'. Your vibration is most likely a warped or unevenly worn brake rotor. Others here have had this problem, and will soon post their more qualified opinion.

 

I experienced wheel hop for the first time last week. It was kind of fun having the front of the car bounce up and down as the wheels tried to regain full traction. Haha. As for torque-steer, I haven't really experience a lot of torque steer with this car, and that's a VERY GOOD thing! I remember back when I had my ol' V6 Grand AM, that thing would flop all around the road from a dead-stop to WOT thing. All I had to do now is fix the fact that from a dead-stop to around 60MPH I have no traction.

 

this is a very big issue with me when ever my foot turns into lead ... haha

how can i get rid of it?

 

torque steer of course

 

Couldn't have said it better.

 

I hope you aren't trying to hate on my baby...

 

The ECU will gradually adjust the timing to reduce torque steer; but by doing that, you'll also lose some of the initial RAW power of the car.

 

I agree. There is very little torque steer in my 04 (bought in May of 03). And it does not have VDC. The torque steer in my 86 Celica was much worse (like the car wanted to change lanes to the right) than in my current Maxima.

It seems to depend on the specific Max as to whether it has torque steer.

The brake shimmy may be due to a slightly warped rotor. I get this shimmy on braking -- but only on occasion, it does not happen every time.

 

Why would the ECU adjust the timings to lose power after a while? Is there a way to stop this from happening? I remember having a great deal of torque steer when I first got my Max back in September of '03. Of course, it could have been that I wasn't used to the Max's power since I came from a '94 Plymouth Sundance (it had a "Tubro" button - you had to turn off the A/C to make it up a hill in a reasonable amount of time!)

 

SteVTEC, where are you when we need you?

This sounds crazy to me, adjusting the timing to lose power -- but one can never be certain with "Modern Engine Technology."

 

It adjusts/learns to the way you drive.

 

When I was at TechnoSquare, I got the same explanation from Tadashi that Nissan uses the ECU to adjust the timing to reduce torquesteer as it learns the way you drive. I using a stock G35 ECU and it's giving more grunt in the lowend w/ a little more prominent torquesteer. Deus is using the 350Z prototype ECU, and he said there's a lot of torquesteer also. Tadashi also told me to be prepare for more torquesteer when I get my flashed ECU back.

 

My 17 yr old son was driving today and he said he kept grabbing for another gear AFTER he was in 6th gear cuz it felt more powerful as if it was in a lower gear. I could also feel it as he was driving. If torque steer is the only cost for the ECU reflash, its worth it big time. Just hang on tighter is all and dont drive with one hand.

 

The reason he wanted a taller gear is because 6th gear is geared too low for highway cruising. At 55 MPH your VQ engine is turning 2 K RPM -- it would be better (and get better mileage) if the Max's speed at 2 K RPM were closer to 62 MPH (100 kph). With the current gearing, the VQ is screaming at 3 K RPM when traveling 82 MPH. The VQ can do this all day long with no problems -- except the mileage will suffer.

Nissan needs to re-gear the higher gears in the 6-speed for better fuel economy.

 

Agreed. but the power increase gave it a feel of being in wrong gear.

 

Cant believe they are having the same problems with the 05 on 06 maxs. You give them the benefit of the doubt on the 04 because of the total redesign. How are the same problems appearing in the subsequent years?

 

I remember reading around this time last year after I bought my 05 that nissan beefed up the axles in 05, but the engine is just too powerfull and for a fwd TS just can't be avoided. I only notice it when I really punch it, and usually if I'm changing lanes at the same time.

 

And when your wheels aren't pointing straight?

 

i only notice the torque steer when i floor it and i'm slightly turning - such as an onramp

 

OK i need to clarify this....

does our 6th gen max have an LSD?

and if so, does this have anything to do with the torque steer?

Thanks

 

That's not torque steer, that's just a lot of power.

 

Early '04 w/ 6MT had LSD. Nissan did away with that and option VDC instead.

 

Damn that sucks. since i dont have a VDC

 

I think I also saw someone here say that wider wheels may remedy the problem

I think the stock SE rims are 18x7.5 (correct me if I'm wrong) and we can go up to 18x8 or 18x8.5.

 

Here is the thread started by dashingMax:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=458895

I don't think wider tires will solve ts! I think a wider tire could make it worse since a wider tire will have more surface area in contact with the road and any non-uniformity in the road will feel like steer.

 

I have read many messages critical of the Maxima for torque steer. I have never experienced any torque steer, even when trying to induce it. Perhaps the VDC on my 2005 SL addresses torque steer as it happens.

 

How do you "induce" ts?

I have VDC and I also have ts.

 

Mine wiill ts on uneven pavement regardless of traction control or not. Its just the nature of a fwd car

 

TS in my 91 NX2000 was far worse than in my 95 SE!

 

what exactly causes torque steer?

 

I agree,.... but to have the exact same conditions on the road would be difficult...


But remind me again why we are comparing fords w/ nissans?

 

Never really experienced torque steer with my 04 and I've had her for over 3 yrs with plenty of WOT!