[williamoss]

I thought I had a problem with my power steering as it was a making a rubbing , or growling noise when I turned the wheel all the way left or right. I found I did not have a problem with the steering but instead there is a piece of plastic, in the wheel well that popped out and was rubbing on my front left  wheel. A little construction adhesive and a screw and no more noise. A very simple fix.

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[williamoss]

I just had an alignment done and was I surprised. Before, the steering was heavy, and difficult to turn while driving. Now the steering is light to the touch, no shifting of the track while driving down the highway. It feels like a new car. And the funny thing was prior to having it done, I could not see any wear on my old tires.

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[bombfactory]

Do you have the before and after caster measurements from this alignment? I'd like to compare to what I've got. I'm wondering how much caster is too much (too heavy steering feel) and too little (wandering handling up front) on the 968. I should probably should find the factory recommendations too...

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[jfrahm]

Take a look at the tabs sticking out of the caster blocks and see if they are more or less pointed straight down.

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[nibn968]

Actually I like the heavy steering feel especially for cruising around. I still have one issue that bugs me though. As I get faster and especially after 70mph, the steering wheel starts feeling lighter with a bit of play. I don't feel confident going faster with this loosey feel. Anyone feel that? How can I get the same or close to heavier more planted feel at higher speeds? I even have the front splitter but still get the light feel.

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[williamoss]

I do not have the before numbers; . but the following numbers are the after numbers:

 

  Rear Camber -0.17   0.09  Caster Adjust 2.14   1.64  Toe .09  .07 

 

   Front  Camber -.17   -.10  Caster Adjust  2.00  1.70   Toe .08  .08

 

I assume the numbers as shown are left and right wheel

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[Bulti]

Actually I like the heavy steering feel especially for cruising around. I still have one issue that bugs me though. As I get faster and especially after 70mph, the steering wheel starts feeling lighter with a bit of play. I don't feel confident going faster with this loosey feel. Anyone feel that? How can I get the same or close to heavier more planted feel at higher speeds? I even have the front splitter but still get the light feel.

I guess there must be something wrong, as the power steering should give a heavier feel when the speed increases. Lighte(er) feel for parking and city-driving, more direct when on highways and spirited driving (higher rpm's).


Quote from owners manual: "The power assistance de-creases with increasing engine revolutions or in-creasing vehicle speed and has the effect of producing increasingly positive steering action."

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[flash]

actually, that's not necessarily true.  it's a pump, and develops pressure with rpm (though it relieves that pressure after it hits a certain point).  so, you would have heavier steering at lower rpm.  they worded that very badly.  they are factoring in friction and resistant forces of gravity, which would add to the steering resistance, assuming you have made no changes from the completely stock configuration.

 

however, if you have added camber, caster, have modern tires, or any number of other things, it may not have the same effect.

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[ds968]

My steering does feel as if it has more resistance, " heavier " , at high speeds than it does at low speeds but that could be just a false sensation as a result of the entire car's more stable and planted feel at triple digit speeds than it does at 30 or 40 mph...

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[flash]

yup - the new grippier tires will feel heavier at high speeds than low speeds.  similarly though, new tires with lower rolling resistance will feel lighter at low speeds and in a straight line, than their predecessors, giving you the false sensation of overly light steering

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[Bulti]

So more modern tyres (and possibly some suspension tweaks) could make the steering feel like the exact opposite as the engineers who designed the steering rack intended to be?

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[Waylander]

The pump should generate full pressure at tick over

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[flash]

bulti - yes

 

waylander - some pumps do.  ours does not seem to do that.  it seems like it reaches full pressure at a little under 2krpm.  that might be a design feature intended to reduce strain on the timing belt

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[nibn968]

So in my case where there is a loosey feel at higher speeds, are there any suggestions?

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[flash]

slow down?

 

seriously though, i would look carefully at your ride height first, and see that you're level.  then, i would look at your alignment settings, and see if you have enough caster, and not too much toe.

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