[MichaelSilvey]

Hi Guys. As a brand new owner of a 968 can you advise me regarding the correct steering "feel".  My other car is a Subaru Legacy GT ( Factory Turbo) and this car has very light, quick steering. The 968 feels very heavy by comparison. It's not a complaint, as I love the car, but New Zealand country roads are quite curvy, and I feel the driving experience would be enhanced with lighter steering.

Is this the normal feel?. 

Are there any adjustments or modifications that can be made to lighten the feel?  

I'm running 34 psi in the tyres...

Kind Regards

Michael

 

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[flash]

there are a number of things that can affect steering feel.  it is all but impossible to diagnose that one online.  it could be alignment, steering pump, tire compound, bushings, yada yada

 

that being said, it's also very subjective.  i find the steering generally too light in the 968.  i had to work hard to increase steering resistance in the blue car, but it is fine in the white car.

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[ds968]

whatever is causing this in your car, when you find out please let me know  ( I'm not kidding ), the steering in the 968 too light for my taste..   

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[94SilverCab]

I usually run 36 lbs air pressure and these cars are very sensitive.

Check caster blocks at the end of the A arms, they are a well known weakness point.

Check power steering fluid and hoses (especially passenger side hose that leaks onto the steering rack bushing).

Jay

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[Ryan]

Maybe you have just become accustomed to overboosted steering. I know the steering in my wifes Audi is way lighter, however I don't like it and it lacks "feel"

 

I think both my Porsches have great feel and good weight to the steering.

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[jfrahm]

Power steering boost is pre-set at the pump and you could swap in a different pump to change the assist.  The early 928S4 uses a 75 Bar which resulted in the heavier feel of the 928 steering until the pump pressure was changed later in the model run (I am rebuilding a 1987 928S4 pump right now).  If you steering feels too light maybe someone has put in an Audi or BMW application that is 130 BAR.  Stock is 110 in the 944 Turbo, I dunno about the 968.

 

More likely if you steering is heavy someone has cranked the Caster angle.  As an oversimplification, the more you move the front wheels towards the radiator the heavier the steering feels.  Where are the caster block tabs pointing?  These indicate the position of the caster eccentric and can usually be seen pointing down as in this pic:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads2/...894143.jpg

 

-Joel.

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[MichaelSilvey]

I usually run 36 lbs air pressure and these cars are very sensitive.


Check caster blocks at the end of the A arms, they are a well known weakness point.


Check power steering fluid and hoses (especially passenger side hose that leaks onto the steering rack bushing).


Jay

 

Thanks Jay.

I'm sending it into the Porsche Dealership to change the Cam Belts, so I'll have them check your mentioned items. Thanks again.

Kind Regards

Michael

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[bombfactory]

Hm. I've had what I consider too-heavy steering feel in my car since I bought it - to the point where I've replaced everything (including the rack) except for the pump, which I rebuilt, and still the problem persists. If it turns out to be as simple as too much caster, I'm going to feel pretty stupid - but at least I'll have proper steering feel. Thanks for the tip Joel!

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[flash]

you'll never get that bmw "sissy light" steering feel.  the geometry won't let it, and if i had that, i'd probably shoot myself.  i hate how light bmw steering is. further, if you reduce caster too much, the car will be all over the road, so be careful on that one.  baby steps

 

something that many don't realize is that when you put wider and lower profile tires on the car, you increase steering resistance.  for example, going from a 225-45-17 to a 245-35-18 increases steering resistance about 20%.  a grippy tire compound versus an all weather compound will exacerbate that

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[Waylander]

you can send your pump off to a pro shop for PAS and they can increase the BAR of the pump a little to improve the weight of the steering.

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[MichaelSilvey]

Great answers guys. Thanks for all the input.

Kind Regards

Michael

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[bombfactory]

Flash I still run 225's in the front. Granted they're 225/40-18, not 225/45-17, but still, not really any wider. My car has a lot of stagger though - 285/30-18 on 10's in the rear. I understand this contributes to understeer - could that also be contributing to the heavier steering feel? If that's the case then a slight increase in boost from the ps pump might be welcome. Remember, I like BMW steering :-)

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[flash]

generally speaking, regardless of what is "supposed" to be, a 225-40-18 is indeed wider than a 225 in a taller profile tire.  also, the compounds today, particularly summer performance compounds, are a LOT more resistant to attitude change, and consequently provide a header feel.

 

caster is the single largest factor.  we add caster to stabilize the front end, but in doing so, increase steering resistance.  you can reduce caster, but then the car will tend to wander.

 

design is going to be huge here too though.  light steering is not desirable in a performance car, and the geometry is usually set up to prevent that, as is the case with our cars.  it is desirable in a sedan though, as is the case of a bmw.

 

you can try increasing your front tire pressures to reduce steering resistance.

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[ds968]

For my taste, of any and all cars I have ever driven, the Honda S 2000 ( first generation of those anyway ) had the absolute perfect steering feel, response, resistance..I want in a car. Suspension was pure stock set up.

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[flash]

one thing you can do is change the pulley size on the pump (be prepared to mess with the belt length and look for clearance issues).  that will change the pressure it generates, though most of the effect is at lower engine speed.  once you get the rpms up enough, the pump still makes the same pressure.

 

a smaller pulley will increase pump output.  a larger one will decrease it.

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[ds968]

did that ( on the six speed car )  small change but still no way near enough of a difference .    

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[bombfactory]

For me, my former (why did I sell it!) E30 M3 had the best steering feel of any car I've had. But now I have the adaptive steering on my 335 and I must say, once you get used to it, it's real nice not having to turn the wheel more than a quarter turn in most situations.

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[flash]

it's always interesting to see what the different preferences are.  in a performance car, i prefer a steering feel that almost fights me in a turn.  i want to have to apply enough force to that wheel to make it turn that every little variance is felt.  the worst cars for this i have ever driven have been bmws (and i've driven them all).  the overly light and vague steering causes over correction, resulting in constant counterturns.

 

conversely, in a sedan or daily car, i like a lighter steering feel.  bmw is great for that, and even in the X5 in comfort mode, it's perfect.  in sport mode it tightens up nicely and adds resistance.

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[Waylander]

think Audi replaced my steering rack in my A4 with a corpse, I hate electric steering!

 

 

it had to go back to the dealer recently for a steering software update WTF!!!!!

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[az968]

Steer by wire, I had a soapbox racer like that one, but I guess those were technically cables. Never had to up date the software, but boy were there bugs to sort out....

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