Just curious. Also wondering if there's a way to tighten it up w/o having to do other modifications such as changing tires and such.

While we're at it, i'm assuming it's a rack and pinion type of mechanism. Is it even possible to swap either the rack or the pinion to modify the amount of turns?

 

strange, i find that my steering wheel is somewhat tight when turning.. kinda like driving a big ol bus!

 

Really?

I noticed a long time ago that the steering response isn't very quick nor accurate. As i mentioned a while back in some posts it feels like the steering mechanism is loose and whenever i go over large bumps i can hear some weird noises in the column - really as if there's something loose.

I'm not exactly sure how to describe it but picture this. Say you have a bicycle and you're adjusting the chains for it. Now if it were tight the moment you turn the pedals the rear wheel turns right away. Now loosen the chains a bit, you can turn the pedals roughly a few mm before the teeth in the sprockets catch the chains to turn the rear wheel. That's how the column feels in the Max.

Then again, maybe i'm asking for too much from the Max.

 

Maxima steering is typcially over "powered" or "assisted" by the power steering pump. If you could under pulley the pump, that might help a bit(and hopefully wouldn't make steering too hard). The gear(if there is one) on the rack and pinion also might be changed but I think that's a pretty hard one to dig into.

To get an idea of how "assisted" your maxima steering is, try to turn the steering wheel when the car is not started.

 

Hmm, i wonder if there's a way to modify the amount of power supplied to the steering. Is this just a mechanical feed or electronic?

What makes me curious is there are a lot of other cars that i've tried which are obviously assisted as well (turn while stopped technique as you brought up) but steering response is always tight and crisp once moving.

Could this also have something to do with the RE92's being too soft or something?

 

I would love it if this could be done. The 2K2 has way too much power-assist. With my lower profile 18's, it's a tiny bit stiffer, but not nearly good enough. Remember how the ads claim that the power-assist varies by your speed? When I'm going down the freeway, anything over 80 it's terrible! They call this an SE, huh...

 

The steering wheel's too big, the ratio too slow, the power assist too assisted, the wheelbase is long, there's lots of rubber in the rack mounts, all make the steering vague. In practical terms, stiffening some of the bushings would help and so would more caster. Caster would also help wind stability. The problem is how to do it.

 

Mike,
You still have the RE92s on?????

Those have something to do with what you feel. They aren't too soft...they have no grip. I'm tellin' ya man, get some Pilot Sports. Big difference in grip and response.
Beyond that, there are so many things that affect steering feel. Over-powered assist. Suspension geometry, etc. etc. I also think it has something to do with the fact that these are FWD cars.

 

I'm just waiting for the day that i need to and can replace the tires, for now it will have to suffice.

Not sure about being FWD though - Sentra's, Mazda's and RSX's all have pretty good steering response. Then again they're all geared towards that.

 

Tires will help, mine did. But the biggest improvement was when I installed my JICs. The steering, while still over powered became more precise, I really noticed it at the track when going through non constant radius turns.

 

Now if only i could afford tires & JIC's

 

Yeah, I think it has a lot to do with just how the power steering is designed and how much assist it gives. I just drove the g35 coupe...the steeering on that car is perfect. Very very tight, feels like you have a lot of control over the car. I was highly impressed