I just had some front end work done on my '01 X with Calmini steering system(the silver version). The shop found that my steering gear box had a leaking seal and sent it out to get sealed. While they had the X they repacked the bearings greased the hubs and replaced the bushings in the Calmini idler arm with the replacments that Calmini sent out.

I picked up the X last night and the service writer said that the steering would feel a little tight for a few days. What I noticed is when I turn either left or right, the X is slower to responed when first initating the turn, then it seems to oversteer. When makeing turns, once the steering "catches" it won't return to center without a good turn of the wheel the other direction. Prior to having this work done, I never had this problem. The steering would tend to settle back to center with little effort or notice. When I'm sitting in my driveway I can turn the tires with what I feel is normal effort. When on a rougher asphalt surface not moving, the tires are harder to turn. I don't recall if this was the case prior to the work, but it's happening now.

Any thoughts on this?

Steering gear need adjustment? Bearings not done properly? Alignment out? Powersteering problematic?

The work was done by a certified Nissan tech who I trust and has owned a X himself.

Thanks,

Andy

Did he overtighten the loose idler arm? I've seen that happen (but damn, it's hard to do!). That nut will seem loose, and some guys wip out the ol' impact gun and give her hell.

Look at your idler arm nut and see if it's been messed with.

I would say he probebly did tighten the idler nut. He had the whole idler assembly apart to replace and press the bushings. I don't know if he over tightened it though.

I get the same type of result if I overtighten my idler arm nut. You can also get those types of symptons if your wheels are toed in too much. I'd check the idler arm nut first (mine usually loosens itself up after a day or two), and if that isn't it, you may need an alignment.

Problem solved!

Thanks to ChuckH and Cyclemut for their suggestions of the idler arm nut. I loosened it yesterday and torqued it to 100 ft-lbs and now the X steers as expected!

Andy