Do you guys have to get frequent alignments for your Max?
I find mine isn't terribly resistant to potholes.
Is this normal? Is my mechanic not tightening the tie-rod ends enough (I think that's how its done)?

 

Bought my 02 new, and I would say every 6000 miles would have been best. I probably averaged every 9000. When I buy tires I try to get the policy where you get free alignment foir the life of the tires. They recommend you come in every 5000. I think Maxima's are bad on alignment.

 

Thanks for the feedback.
Have you ever heard or read of anyone tightening up the tie-rod end after an alignment, just in case...?

 

Are you talking about tire rotation & balance??? I have NEVER heard of a manufacturer recommending an alignment every 5000 miles. Most tire retailers will have a package you can get when you buy tires that gets you a rotation and balance every 5-6K miles.

I generally get an allignment on my 02 every 50K or so miles.

 

On EVERY car i've ever owned i usually get an alignment done after the winter, just because of the fact that between the frost heaved roads, and the way i tend to drive in the winter. Plus i'd rather not EFF up the summer tires.

 

Several times I have bought tires and gotten a policy for about $12 per tire that gave you free rotate and alignement. They suggest every 5K miles, not me. It did make my tires last alot longer. If I'm paying for the alignments, I do it about once a year. My wife aims for potholes I think.

 

hhhmmm i did my alignment ( myself at my shop ) about 10k miles ago and have replaced my tires once already, ( bought it with 132k, i now have 156k ) the lock nut shouldn't move, it's the banging on the tie rod end that slowly puts the toe out of alignment, thus having to go back and reset the toe back to specs.


Too much negative or positive toe will cause the tires to wear on the shoulder and have uneven wear, since our cars dont have camber adjustable angles excessive toe in or toe out will chew up tires quick .

Combined with the weight of the front of the car and it will cause a problem .


To answer op's question the Maxima isn't prone to more frequent alignments than any other car, the locknuts duty is the same as all other cars, so by that logic all cars would need an alignment every 5k miles

 

I have found that the max and I30 seem to keep their aligment well. My 95 max never needed an alignment (keep to 55K miles), and same thing for my 2000 I30.

The I30 has 85K miles and living in NJ has seem it's share of pot holes. Have never needed to get it aligned and it still tracks straight as an arrow.

For the person that said for $12 he gets lifetime rotation and alignment, are you sure you don't mean rotation and balance?? That would be more common.

I have noticed that if you get the tires balanced when you rotate them (I do it every 6-7K miles) , the car drives better

 

Amave - anything special about tightening the tie-rod? Just tighten the nut at the end nearest to the wheel? Do I need to clamp on the rod itself?