Light steering wheel feel after coilovers? - yes it's aligned

[BDotG]

Anyone experience a lighter steering wheel feel after installing coilovers?

Tein flex z - lowered about 1.8" - 4 clicks back from full stiff, and fairly close to stock alignment specs, nothing fancy.

The steering wheel feels really light and floaty though. My buddy just installed the same coils in his car and he has noticed the same thing.

What gives?!

[shellslinger]

Interesting I did not experience this. Hopefully someone can chime in real soon

[8R6]

is your car lowered evenly from front to rear? are you still at 0deg front camber? the rears will naturally camber in around -2.5ish with that amount of drop, but the front needs to have negative camber dialed in manually by the tophats on your teins.

[mav1178]

what is "close to stock alignment specs'?

[BDotG]

Originally Posted by 8R6

is your car lowered evenly from front to rear? are you still at 0deg front camber? the rears will naturally camber in around -2.5ish with that amount of drop, but the front needs to have negative camber dialed in manually by the tophats on your teins.

I think it is pretty much as close to factory specs in the front and back for alignment, think if I dial the front camber in a bit negative it will take care of this?

[BDotG]

Originally Posted by mav1178

what is "close to stock alignment specs'?

When they did the alignment they just brought it as close to whatever the factory specs were for alignment. So removing as much camber, toe etc whatever that was excess from the drop/install.

[8R6]

Originally Posted by BDotG

I think it is pretty much as close to factory specs in the front and back for alignment, think if I dial the front camber in a bit negative it will take care of this?

Originally Posted by BDotG

When they did the alignment they just brought it as close to whatever the factory specs were for alignment. So removing as much camber, toe etc whatever that was excess from the drop/install.

but unless you have adjustable rear lca's, you cant just add/remove camber in the rear. the rear naturally gains more negative camber the lower you go.

im just wondering if it might be a setup of 0 camber up front, and -2.x camber in the rear. and maybe thats why the steering feels all light? i dunno though, just a guess. im no suspension expert :o

[GSpeed]

Originally Posted by BDotG

When they did the alignment they just brought it as close to whatever the factory specs were for alignment. So removing as much camber, toe etc whatever that was excess from the drop/install.

"Factory alignment specs" are suuuuuuuper loose. When we bought our car, first thing we did was put it on a laser alignment machine. (Not trying to brag, just pointing out it's accurate and reliable). The front left camber was +0.24°, and the front right camber was -0.27°. Yep, one was in, and one was out. And technically, that was within "factory spec."

I'd get it checked out by a real race shop that will do a good alignment. 99% of drivers don't really care if the alignment isn't perfect, so most NTB-style alignment shops don't have techs that do tight alignment specs. Usually.

[BDotG]

Originally Posted by 8R6

but unless you have adjustable rear lca's, you cant just add/remove camber in the rear. the rear naturally gains more negative camber the lower you go.

im just wondering if it might be a setup of 0 camber up front, and -2.x camber in the rear. and maybe thats why the steering feels all light? i dunno though, just a guess. im no suspension expert :o

I have adjustable rear LCAs. I cant find my alignment sheet but im pretty sure im at like -0.8 in the rear or something like that.

[zc06_kisstherain]

subscribed since i have same coilover but yet to install

[ajcarson11]

Same 'light steering' feeling. Running -2.6 camber in front and -2.5 camber in rear with Flex Z.

Sorry to revive old thread... but the Flex Z is relatively new, so still relevant!

[strat61caster]

What are the caster numbers?

[twag4]

I had that problem after lowering and adding 17x9 +35 wheels. Fixed it with the Whiteline anti-dive/caster correction kit #kca 434. Worked great returning positive steering feel and quicker and better return to center after a turn.

[Black Tire]

Did you check the tire pressure? Did you use a digital tire gauge? I just couldn't resist a digital tire gauge joke.

Tires do make a difference to the steering feel on this car for me: BF Goodrich Rival 225/45R17 - weighty feel; Yokohama Advan V105 225/45R17 - good, mostly neutral; Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 205/55R16 - light and too quick, doesn't easily track straight. It seems that many things will affect the steering feel for this car.

Subscribed, as I am interested in the same suspension options as listed hear and would like to see some good recommendations that have actually been tried and work.