My 1990 Q45's have better steering "feel" than my '91 or '93; anybody else?

[jjbuzzman]

My two 1990 Q45's have, IMO, the perfect steering "feel." It's a delicate balance of road feel, responsiveness, and sense of handling. My '91's steering requires more pressure, has less road feel, and is much duller. These 90's and 91 are stock with Tokico's and 15 inch tires. My '93 has Q45a rear sway, Tokico's, polyurethane bushings, 245/45/18 tires, etc. so the overall "handling" is very good, but the "steering feel" is not as good as my 1990's - the '93 has lots of road feel, but the steering is too "light' - as if it has too much power assist.

Given these cars use a lot of interchangeable parts, this difference does not make sense. Is this situation just a peculiar artifact of my particular cars, or do others also notice some difference in the steering with the 1990's as compared to later years?

I wonder how my 90's steering would compare to the 94-96 series?

[gammer_ghn]

How many Q45s can a man have? the world will never know!!! lol Check your powersteering components and route it back to its good points!

[Kiven422]

My 93 Q45 steering is the best i've ever used, so responsive, so perfect and so damn quick! My 94 Q45t has 4-wheel-steering and it makes the steering loose with a good 0.5inch of play and a requires "force"... hate it after I drive the 93 Q... love it after I drive anyone elses car! I bet its pretty nice on a standard 94-96 Q though. Never actually drove one.

[Haitian_King]

My two 1990 Q45's have, IMO, the perfect steering "feel." It's a delicate balance of road feel, responsiveness, and sense of handling. My '91's steering requires more pressure, has less road feel, and is much duller. These 90's and 91 are stock with Tokico's and 15 inch tires. My '93 has Q45a rear sway, Tokico's, polyurethane bushings, 245/45/18 tires, etc. so the overall "handling" is very good, but the "steering feel" is not as good as my 1990's - the '93 has lots of road feel, but the steering is too "light' - as if it has too much power assist.

Given these cars use a lot of interchangeable parts, this difference does not make sense. Is this situation just a peculiar artifact of my particular cars, or do others also notice some difference in the steering with the 1990's as compared to later years?

I've never driven another Q to compare with mine. The 90-93 models had a 15.1:1 ratio for steering. I know in 94 they changed it to 17:1. The slower ratio was to make it feel more luxurious I guess and justify the price tag.

I thought 90-93 were the same. Do you have HICAS? I hear it makes the steering feel loose. How about your steering link bushing. I think mine is worn. Sometimes my steering wheel looks like I'm turning slightly (like a lane change) but the wheels are aligned. I've let go of the wheel to check my alignment, and I can't see any sort of pull or drift. I'm guessing it's the rubber bushing.

I wonder how my 90's steering would compare to the 94-96 series?

[Q45tech]

The steering rack pinion preload is infinitely adjustable over the less than 90 degrees safe range. Set you steering stiffness where you want it..........just be careful of excess where the rack might bind in cold weather!

Follow proceedure in FSM...................tiny tiny increments say 5-10 degrees at a time.

It will change depending on PS fluid and rack temperature. It will change as PS fluid ages.

[Haitian_King]

What the hell did I do? I posted my reply in a quote? I must have been really tired.

[lino]

Does my 1991 ACTIVE have the same steering ratio as the 1990 standard car?

[96Qowner]

I'd take a good look at the tension rod bushings on the 91.

When I first got my 96 I was annoyed by a mushy steering feel. The rack seemed to hesitate for a fraction of a second before responding. It went away when I replaced the bushings.

[Haitian_King]

I think it does. The 15:1:1 ratio was standard in all 90-93's according to my research.

[Q45tech]

Count the number of full and partial turns of steering wheel. 1.25 + 1.25

[Haitian_King]

Count the number of full and partial turns of steering wheel. 1.25 + 1.25

And that will get us what?

[Q45tech]

It will tell you the steering ratio since the max tire angle is in FSM.A turn is 360 degrees. 1.25 =450/ 30 [tire angle]= ~15:11.5 turns x 2 [3 total]= ~ 18:1

The FSM has a range of possible tire movement so you will have to measure that to get EXACT steering ratio. The toe will change ratios

Spoon feeding high school trig again.

[Haitian_King]

It will tell you the steering ratio since the max tire angle is in FSM.A turn is 360 degrees. 1.25 =450/ 30 [tire angle]= ~15:11.5 turns x 2 [3 total]= ~ 18:1

The FSM has a range of possible tire movement so you will have to measure that to get EXACT steering ratio. The toe will change ratios

Spoon feeding high school trig again.

Uh, you posted a cryptic answer to a question no one asked. No one asked you to get the spoon out.

You gave the same answer I did. Only, the 18:1 steering ratio was implemented by the Nissan engineers (as far as Q45's go) in the 1997 Q45 model.

94-96 had a quicker ratio than later years, but was a tad slower than the 90-93 which had a 15:1:1. The 94-96 had a 17:1. (Except for the Q45t version which retained the original 15:1:1)

Count the number of full and partial turns of steering wheel. 1.25 + 1.25

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[Kiven422]

I have a 94 Q45-t I was wondering if I can replace the parts from a 90-93 non-touring Q45 to tighten up my steering... Is it possible to exchange parts from a non-HICAS to a HICAS model?

My 94 feels like its going to understeer if I take a turn to tight and its completely due to steering... On the same corners I can take my 93 with ease and more speed.

[Haitian_King]

According to my research, the touring model was supposed to keep the 15:1:1 ratio that the 93 would have. Customers complained that the 90-93 didn't feel luxurious enough. That's why the ratios were changed.

[maxnix]

(Except for the Q45t version which retained the original 15:1:1)

Not after 1994. When one calls Joe for a new Infiniti rack (~$1,100), there is only one part number for any G50 model year.

Just don't know how a quicker ratio wouild change the feel, but may be more convenient around town. I don't see it's virtue at extra legal road speed where it would tend to be more twitchy.

A restored later front end reminds why I like driving a G50 so much.

[Q45tech]

Everyone's arm strength is different why there is an entire section on setting the required steering wheel torque [ ~~9 pounds] for rotation.The other problems are every tire model has a different self aligning torque curve plus differing caster which will mean different tires can require a widely different amount of steering wheel force to turn and this force will change with speed. Many tires are not linear vs angular change or rotational speed.

Unfortunately the orginal speed vs force was set for 215/65/15 Michelin.

So individuals will need to reset things to match tires they are currently using.

It took about 8 adjustments to compensate [zero in on] 235/60/15 H4 tires on oem wheels. I can imagine what would happen with heavier or larger and heavier wheels/tires.

Luckily most males have an excess of arm strength and unconciously compensate.

[maxnix]

So individuals will need to reset things to match tires they are currently using.

The original poster would have to have teh same tires with the same wear at the same pressure with the same wheels and shock wear to truly compare just the sterring ratio and preload.