I have a 1995 GLE with 133k miles on the odometer. The engine doesn't drip a drop of oil, and runs as smooth as ever.

Here's the situation. When I get above 60 mph on the freeway/interstate/pike, I start to feel a shimmy in the steering wheel.

Could this be.....

1. Wheel Balance
2. Struts
3. what?

The Struts are original.

I notice that when just driving around town on city streets, the car transmits bumps rather harshly. I do keep 40psi pressure in my 44psi maximum pressure radials, but I think this harshness to bumps and road conditions is something else not doing it's job.

Do new struts dampen out a lot of the bumps and road noise/uneveness/vibration?

My tire wear seems to be ok. There's no cupping of treads, or inside or outside tread wear.

If it's struts that need replacing, can I do it myself? How much of a job? I could rent a spring compressor, but is it dangerous? How much $$ can I save doing the change myself? I know I'd have to pay for a new allignment.

 

Check brake rotors and wheel balances. Bad struts may contribute too.

 

Get your wheels balanced, that should stop the shimmy. Your struts are probably starting to show their age, think about replacing them soon and you'll get a better ride from the car.

40 PSI is to much air, the factory recommended tire pressure for your car is 33F and 29R. You don't need to run the tire's max pressure. That pressure is for the Maximum load which that tire can withstand. Running pressures that high is reducing tire contact patch to the road which in turn will reduce the tires grip.

You can replace the struts yourself, rent a spring compressor and look up the procedure here on the org or get a Haynes shop manual for your car.

 

Sounds good. I'm new to the forum. Where or how do I navigate on the website to get to the area showing how to do strut replacements yourself?

 

This is from Maxima.org: Click

I might know more, If I do I'll post it. But try the search button on the top of the page on the tool bar... Thats if non donating members could use the search feature now???

 

finally a nice, non retarded newb....

 

I had the same problem... alignment did nothing... it disaappeared when I redid my entire suspension with 1.5 drop CE springs, illumina struts, and new front bearings, bushings, bumpstop/ dust boots, upper spring rubber, and poly spring tubes on the bottom... vibration above 60 is gone and it takes bumps better than the day it rolled out of the factory...

 

could be... in order of occurance

1. Wheels unbalanced
2. Wheel alignment
3. Warped brake rotors
4. unbalanced half-shafts (CV joints)

 

That was a very good pictorial with explanations. Thanks.

 

get tires balanced first.

if problem persists, check the inner cv boots. these boots if torn will cause problems in accelerating at higher speeds. you won't hear popping noise during your turns but you will feel the rattle stepping the pedal after 50 mph.

also you better release your tire pressure back to 30-32-ish. 40 is way too high...

 

Ok I have the EXACT same problem in my '95 max with about 130k miles on it. Recently got new tires (Toyo Observes for only $89 a tire!) They saw when replacing the tires that the CV boot was ripped so they ordered me a re-manufactured CV joint and replaced the old one, and my max starts to shake above 60mph, really sucks when in MT most of the roads are highways (atleast the ones I tend to drive on) could it be they screwed up when installing the CV joint? or maybe something else

 

well, it depends on which boot was ripped. there is the inner boot, which when ripped, will get you the rattles at high speeds. then there is the outter boot, which will make "popping" noises when you are turning.

 

No problem

I had the same problem. I needed new tires because of the wear I had, so after balancing and installing them the shake went away... I also noticed before switching tires that the weight that was on one of the wheels fell off... I also aligned because after dropping it I never had it done. (Tein S-Tech/AGX) The car goes up to and beyond 60 mph smoothly now...

So check your wheel weights
Check the balance then alignement
Usually warped rotors would slightly rub when you first start rolling the car...
My rotors are warped and I still have no shake (In the process of replacing) But then again thats just me...

 

if your going to do your struts i do recomend you get the strut bearings from nissan before you rreplace the struts. that way you have them in hand if needed.....good luck

 

There could be many problems:
CV joints
Alignment
Tires
Brakes
Struts
just re-check all of them.

 

All these ideas have much merit, and I will look into them, starting with the least expensive one's first.

Regards, eightball

 

get it on a lift and check all suspension parts out...and while ur in a shop get and alignment...Mine used to Shake like 60-70....then i did and alignment at skool....now it feels like a Max again..smooth

 

and my CV joints are messed u and no drivability problems until i make turns