Notchy Steering

elhombre

Hello all,

So I started my 2009 370z up the other morning and started my daily commute...Anyways about 5 minutes into the drive I noticed that when I turn left/right(but is worse on the left turns) the steering wheel doesn't return smoothly to the center position. Right at about 30 mph if you steer left then go back to center I feel a notchyness, almost like something is hanging up on the wheels/steering components. The weird thing is when you start to go faster you don't feel this really at all...

I checked PS fluid it is full, wheels are torqued properly, all components on the both knuckles are tight...

I am perplexed by this what else could it be? Could it be an alignment issue or do I need a new steering rack?

elhombre

Also want to add that when I am not moving the steering feels fine, there is not indication that anything is wrong until about 30 mph to 45 mph then the sensation gets more vague and harder to feel in the steering wheel.

SouthArk370Z

Alignment? Get it checked.
Worn suspension/steering parts or bad tire? Whoever checks the alignment should spot any problems.
Speed sensors (car has speed-sensitive steering)? You should be able to check with an OBD scanner/monitor.
Old PS fluid? Replace.
Check the FSM and see if your symptoms are listed or you can spot something that might cause the problem.

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elhombre

I set up an alignment appointment for Saturday at a performance shop (EFI Logic) so we will see what they have to say.

Jsolo

Jack up the front and turn the wheel slowing lock to lock. See if you feel something similar. Might help narrow down between a suspension component and the steering rack.

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elhombre

So I was rotating the wheel back and forth multiple times trying to simulate this feeling. When I did this rotation left to right about 10 times the steering wheel stiffened up slightly...

I then took the car for a drive and the sensation that I was getting before has pretty much disappeared...

The thing about the alignment too is I just had it done 5 months ago when I put Ark GT-F springs on. Also all of the components that are involved in steering the car seem tight when I jacked it up.

Could this be from old fluid with sediment in it? It has never been changed in 38k.

JARblue

I've done several PS fluid swaps for local Z owners with fluid between 60-120K miles old, and none of them were complaining about the steering.

My uneducated guess is that it's your steering rack. Take a look at the tensioner bolt on the steering rack under the car; don't adjust it - just look for a bunch of gunk around the bolt. I'm about to get mine replaced under warranty, but my symptoms are different. My steering got super loose all of a sudden. Tightening the tension bolt can fix the loose steering but it causes the gears to bind, which is obviously not a good thing over time. Over-tightening the tension bolt can cause the steering to stiffen such that it does not return to center during turns.

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elhombre

Yeah I saw that thread. Its the 23mm bolt...The only thing is I don't have a warranty on my car from nissan anymore since its a 2009, so hopefully its not a steering rack because they are 900 dollars new.

elhombre

I also want to add that there is no looseness in the steering, the car handles exceptionally well. There is just a slight judder intermittently, I think if anyone besides me drove the car they wouldn't even notice it.

I'm wondering if the linkage of the steering column is slightly loose at one of the jointed connections or to the connection on the steering rack itself.

JARblue

Maybe the PS pump is starting to go?

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elhombre

I'm not very sure at this point there's no noises or lose of steering power, I'm wondering now if it is the steering rack binding in those areas of the turning radius. The only weird thing is I only get the sensation at speeds of 30-45 mph.

I guess I will let the problem get worse because I can't really say for certain what is going on and throwing parts at a problem gets expensive.