Nissan Maxima / Altima owners

[Dull Pain]

I have a 05 Maxima, V6 engine , 1,000 miles



Notice the steering wheel vibrates left and right (about 1/8 inch) under normal driving conditions (30mph - 70mph) cruising not accelerating. Under hard acceleration car pulls hard to right. Assume that is due to front wheel drive and unequal shaft lengths. Although I have owned many Front Wheel Drive cars I have never had one that pulled so hard to the right on heavy acceleration. Last I had was Dodge Intrepid and the Front Wheel Drive on it was the best I have ever experienced for not exhibiting any FWD characteristics as above. 2 Hondas with some pull under acceleration.



Car does not wander or pull left or right under these cruise conditions. Can let go of steering wheel and watch the steering wheel vibrate left and right??? Seems to get a little better the longer you drive but does not go away.



Anybody else experience this? Don't want to waste time to take to dealer just to hear "They all do this, It's Normal"



Would like to hear other owners experiences if any. Any Nissan owner sites / forums you know of.



thanks

 

[guava]

Hey...Its normal...

My honda does the same thing and I'd have to say its normal.



My FWD van doesn't do it but it doesn't have enough power to get out of its own way so that may be part of it too.

 

[Hohn]

You're getting "torque steer", and yes, the unequal length shafts are the reasons. Look at it this way: no torque, no torque steer.



As for the steering wheel wobbling, it might be a tire balance issue. I can't really say.



My 1997 Maxima has been flawless for 117K trouble-free miles. This is an auto transmission, even! It also has seen two summers of weekly bracket racing...



Justin

 

[Rman]

Torque steer is the inevitable consequence of a FWD machine. However lockers are available that will almost eliminate this. They are VERY expensive, and it is quite a job to install one. I had a stillen supercharged '99 maxima, had tremendous torque steer. I sold it before putting too much more into it. nice car I kind of miss it.