vibration in steering wheel

[STEVER19]

I have a 1998 Nissan Maxima GXE with 159,800 miles and having trouble with a shimmy in the front end at all speeds. I have replaced all four tires in December 2012, I had an alignment done at a non-Nissan dealership that I used to work at, and all tires were mounted and balanced by them. My rear struts recently went bad three weeks ago and had them replaced. I had the dealership mentioned above to recheck my balance and they were fine. They reccommended I get Nissan to align the car since they cannot set cam and caster due to lack of Nissan codes not in their machine. What else can be causing this problem? My struts respond to downward thrust and rest immediately.

What is really strange is on some days, the vibration is not as noticeable, then the next day it shakes the steering wheel in your hand.

[flohtingPoint]

Column bushing? Bad tie rods?

[Dattebayo]

I'd check to see if all the balancing weights are still on the wheels. They may have not installed one tight enough and it could have slipped off.

[flohtingPoint]

Unbalanced wheels, more often than not, will not vibrate at all speeds. He's having issues, specifically with the front and it happens at all speeds.

[gwoods]

how are your bushings at 160 k miles miles you might invest in a shop press and install new ones.

[flohtingPoint]

Wheel bearings also.

[gwoods]

could be, in my experience with failing wheel bearings you have some squealing noise should a whole lot like a dragging brake caliper. Either way the mileage is right for wheel bearing and CV joints to be failing too. You can put the car up on jacks. Grab the top and bottom of a tire and try to move it. Watch where it moves from, you can see where your vibration is coming from.

I had upper control arm bushings fail on my 2wd Hemi Ram at 50,000 miles. Both wheel bearings on my track slut G35 sedan failed before 100,000. If you replace wheel bearings replace the bolts too. Very important part, threads stretch when the bolt is tightened.

[STEVER19]

I have had both CV axle replaced, 1st in August 2012, and the 2nd Sept 2012. Are the wheel bearings a separate item from the CV axle?

[flohtingPoint]

Very much so. Do as the poster said above and jack your car up on the front and shake the hell out of both your wheels and look for play.