What alignment spec's and what alignment system have you found works out best for good on center feel, stability, and tire wear? I realize the alignment technician has a great deal of influence over the quality of the job, but if I were to specify a particular set-up, what do you recommend?

Background-
I have a 93 and a 97 and a 98 Maxima. I have the manufacturer's alignment spec's. The three all drive differently, steering feel is significantly different, especially between the 97 and the 98 which are both on Blizzaks right now (getting major snow today). I understand the 93 has totally different suspension geometry in the rear vs the 97 and 98, but it establishes my basis for what feels right. I have had both the 97 and 98 recently aligned. Both are supposedly "in spec" which to me means simply that they didn't touch a bolt if the parameter was within the allowable tolerance range, but the "after" readings are not nominal at all. How much difference will a few tenths of a degree of camber make? The 97 is twitchy, feels like it constantly wants to change heading, needs to be steered all the time. The other two are not like that. What do you think?

 

Can you post the "after" specs you got assuming they printed and gave you? Few tenth's camber isn't gonna matter but toe will cause twitchiness or pulling.

 

That sounds like a loose tie rod end or inner tie rod joint.

The factory specs are what you want, it's measured in degrees and as long as it's within spec, your not going to feel any difference in the two cars with a tenth of a degree differance.

The 97 & 98, if there the same model with same tires, tire pressures, struts ect. should feel exactly the same. If one of the cars has softer struts do to age, mileage ect. that will also make a differance. Ware and tare from miles slowly loosenes up the bushings in the car. You can check your sway bar end link bushings or even the control arm bushings for ware and tare. If one car's bushings are worn more then the other, the front end will not be as tight and could feel twitchy on the road.

The 99's have a very different feel to them, the steering is much tighter.
(Thank you Nissan for correcting that!)