Can you guys tell me if your Z does this?

Originally Posted by mbowler

Interesting. So you are saying that what I thought was correct (recentering if wheel slightly turned and wheel let go) is actually wrong. Do you have any information to backup your test?

If my car doesn't continue to track right but instead straightens out, what does this mean in this case? That my toe angle is off?

Originally Posted by kenchan

here's how i check my tracking...

drive to my predetermined flat road. (minimal crown of road, no strong cross winds).

1. point car to go straight say 30-35mph. ideally your steering wheel would be pointing noon, but nothing to cry about if it isnt perfectly straight.

2. turn steering wheel slightly counter clockwise, then let go. if the car continues its path towards the left this is good.

3. then, center car, do the same but this time turn slighty clockwise, then let go. the car should continue its path towards the right. this is also good.

this means your toe angles are even and pretty much straight.

Originally Posted by grant

My previous car had the wheels aligned perfectly, it tracked like an arrow. The steering wheel was about 15 degrees off clockwise though. I took it to the dealer and mentioned it, they thought I was nuts till they checked it. It was a Ford Fusion Hybrid, with only had 500 miles on it. It was my work car. After they aligned it with the steering wheel centered like it should be, all was well.

Originally Posted by kenchan

was it off by one spline?

Originally Posted by grant

No I think they just skipped step 1 where you center the steering wheel.

Originally Posted by mbowler

Ok guys. I have a small issue with the Z that is driving me up the wall. Dealership says this is normal and that they compared it to a new Z and that it's fine. My car has 7k miles on it btw and totally stock suspension, tires, etc.

If I'm driving on the highway and I make a gradual sweeping left turn and let go of the steering wheel the car will continue to turn left. The steering wheel does not straighten out unless the turn is more than "gradual" in which case it will "straighten" itself into a gradual left turn.

If I make the same gradual sweeping right turn and let go of the wheel, the car immediately straightens out, which is the behavior I would expect.

If I am driving straight the car might go straight or it might try to veer left, but it will NEVER try to veer right unless there is extreme road crown or bump that pulls me right. This behavior is MUCH more noticeable when it is cold. In the dead of winter on a 20 degree day after the car has been sitting it is downright PULLING left until something warms up.

Sometimes if I'm braking to a stop, and more consistently if the road is slightly bumpy, just a moment before the car comes completely to rest, the wheel will want to turn left quite a bit (1/4 turn or more). This never happens where it wants to turn to the right.

The effort to turn left is noticeably less than turning right. I'm not talking lock-to-lock turning, but the little left and right adjustments you might make to stay in a lane on the highway.

Visuallly, when driving the car straight, the majority of the time the steering wheel is turned to the left a few degrees (less than 10 degrees). This never happens where the wheel is turned to the right to maintain straight travel.

I've had the car in 3 times for this and every time I get the same story. "It's normal". "It's road crown". "It's aligned". When I got the car It did not feel this way. I hit a curb with the back wheel and replaced the back wheel and the lower swing arm, but it has never felt the same since. They even put it on an alignment rack and measured it and it aligns perfectly with the Nissan specs. I have the printout to prove it.

So guys, take you car for a spin and let me know if you have any similar behaviors. If you have any thoughts what it might be, I'm all ears.

Originally Posted by Haboob

If you look, there's nothing binding or possible wrapped around anything?

Originally Posted by mbowler

Car is at dealer right now so I can't look, but they've had it on the rack several times and even loosened/re-tightened front and rear suspension. I would assume that they probably would have seen this.

Originally Posted by Cmike2780

With a stock setup, I don't think there is a whole lot you can adjust at the rear. If it took a severe damage, something other than the swing arm might be out of spec.

Originally Posted by mbowler

I don't think they necessarily adjusted anything. I think they just loosed it up and re-tightened to make sure nothing got torqued out of place.

Let me ask this (of anyone).

If
1) The frame is not bent
2) The wheels show aligned (including toe, caster, camber)
3) Tires do not show wear

What is left? I can only think power steering.

Originally Posted by KERMIT

step 1: check tires (any uneven wear?, pressures?)
step 2: check alignment
step 3: check any loose bolts/bad bushings
step 4: Power steering system/rack check