Steering has become lazy/light after 1200km
 

Hi all,

I couldn't find a specific forum for 'steering', so figured this would be the ideal place.

I have only had my 86 GTS manual for 4 weeks and have only done 1250 km on her, but as of about 3-4 days ago, my steering started to feel a bit different.

It's hard for me to explain, but the best description is light, lazy, and vague.

When I first got it, the steering was tight, responsive, and reactive. I felt connected to the road and could feel the car pull and had lots of feedback.

But now, it feels light.. I feel less feedback from the road - very little at all. I feel that I have to turn the wheel more than I should - almost like the power steering is on, but not assisting.

It is certainly worse at low speed than it is going faster, but even then there's little feedback or resistance when cornering and I still feel like the car isn't responding. At high speed I feel like there's a delay in the car responding to my turns.

I have checked tyre pressure and it's all fine.

I am stumped honestly. My local dealer took a quick ride and says it felt normal, but i KNOW it's nothing like what it was like when I got the car. A perfect indication something is wrong: I couldn't stop finding reasons to get out and drive the thing, and now I am finding excuses not to drive it :(

Overall the steering feels sloppy, light, and slippery and not tight, resistive and responsive.

Any ideas on what might cause this type of thing?

I understand it is electronic power steering?

Scott

I know my steering felt better toward the break-in mileage eclipsing. I think the electric motor assist takes a little bit of breaking in as well.

Probably just in your mind. New things will do that to you, just go with it and to see it through some twisty roads or a local autocross and see if it feels weird after that.

What's the average 'break-in' mileage, would you say?

Some cars have an adjustable pre-load for the steering rack. I don't know if that applies to the FR-S, but if that was set too loose it would make the steering pretty sloppy.

Interesting, IF the 86 has one and that is the cause, sounds like a fairly straight forward way to fix the problem.

You could just be getting used to it, try driving another car.

If you really think something is wrong just take it to the dealer. It's still under warranty.

x2

I always thought that the steering on my GTI was very light, until that time I went to another country for a month. Once I came back I couldn't believe how much heavier the steering felt even though nothing has changed.

Not saying that this is exactly what your experiencing, but it could be one of the reasons.

Too much air in the front tires? I remember growing up my friend put 80 psi in all his tires and he asked me why his steering is so light. :confused0068:

Did you hit a pothole that could've messed up the struts or anything?

She looks like an owl.

tire pressure check time

this.

Is it possible that your arms got bigger?

Scott

Maybe you been workin out at the gym?
Benching over 250lbs will do this too!
Slow down on them vitamins?
Protein shakes?


Just having fun with it, dont mind!

Double this.

Sometimes a bad alignment can make the steering feel very off. Or possibly a tire that has become asymmetrical or with a slipped belt. Rule those out first.

You lift?

Have you flushed the power steering fluid?

Did you hit any curbs lately? Even lightly brush any curbs?

:laughabove::bellyroll:

Have the dealer do an alignment, more than likely for some reason you have too much negative toe on the front end causing the car to wander/feel vague.

It is possible that after the suspension bushings, springs, and spring seats settled in the angles changed a little. You would be surprised at how much of a difference the alignment can have on how a car feels and how it interacts with the roadway.

Also the 86's features of the VSC Sport mode affects steering, if you're driving with the VSC mode on for a few days then turn it off the steering will feel different.

Ahaha thanks for the great (and funny) replies guys. Yes, I DO lift, and 250lbs is no probs on bench press LOL, but I'm not that much of a unit (I'm a track 100m sprinter actually lol).

Tyre pressure checked in at 240-250kPa while warm on all 4 tyres.

Ozzman, thank you for the info. That tends to make a lot of sense honestly.

And LOL - I DO realise that YES I might just be getting used to the car - but a sign that it's different is that today, yesterday and the day before, I have had to hard lock the wheel all the way to the right or left when exiting shopping mall car parks etc.. Something I'd not had to do a single time until 4 days ago... lots of travel in the turning for little actual steer affect.

And LOL at the power steering fluid comment. I looked but couldn't find where to top it up :P

Just did 1000k run from Calgary to Jasper and back and my stealings still tight as a virgin.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Source, please.

I took mine on about 140km drive today... at higher speeds the problem isn't as bad, but to me there is a slight delay before the car responds to my steer. ie: if I'm doing 100 on the highway and give it a little nudge to either side, there's a small delay before it actually nudges the steer.

...as in, cow-tipping? :bellyroll:

Yeah. Lol. Perhaps, maybe, I am a noob. I just had my mate come over who is much more educated in cars. (Mechanic). He took her for a spin and said it feels perfect. His first time in an 86 and he loved it. Says the greater lightness at low speed could be the electric steering parking assist effect.

He says if it were his car he would be very happy.

So with that in mind, perhaps you are all right. I'm just getting used to it?

I guess beating the first good car I have ever owned, I have been super paranoid?

Look on google maps and find yourself a winding mountain road somewhere and drive it.

Ergh I still dunno... it feels way too light and unresponsive. Pulling into my garage tonight, I was turning the wheel 1 full rotation left and 1 full rotation right and the car pretty much stayed straight. My hands were doing a lot and the car was barely nudging. Thankfully, a fellow Aussie 86 owner who lives 2.5hrs away is letting me have a drive in his to compare steering. So by this time tomorrow I will be able to let you all know how I go!

Yeah, I'd definitely get in another one to feel it out. I don't think I've ever hit the lock before in either direction.

Yeh - I'm hitting full lock EVERY time I exit my driveway, or park my car at the super market etc... In fact, at full lock, the car isn't turning at it's tightest turning circle.

Thought: Can I pull the fuse out for the Electronic Power Steering - or disconnect the battery for a few minutes, then reconnect it? Could this possibly reset the steering controller?

Best go to the dealership before you go head on to a semi cause the steering fails.

or an overland train............:confused0068:

very interesting

I am glad I found this thread. I have been feeling the same way about my steering (distinctly more vague, more turning less output and a tad more light than when new) since about a week.

I have dismissed that notion to the fact that I am getting used to the car and maybe it's time to check tire pressure and/or alignment, but, I am glad I am not the only one sensing this steering feel change.

Edit: I have 50XX miles on it.

Yes! I feel this too (felt it at 1.5k miles, I have 3k now). I am going to have another FT86 owner see if he/she feels it too.

I haven't driven the frs (in any mode lol) but I have noticed other car's steering feels different from when all traction/stabilty controls are on to when they're off. Just normal city driving the cars steering feels slightly heavier with all the aids on. I'm not saying it affects how far u physically have to turn the wheel to negotiate the same turn.

It really is quite the challenge remaining polite on this forum. Here's a guide to being a disrespectful fool:

Approach 1 (to which I first replied)
Step 1. Post unfacts confidently.
Step 2. Disregard any follow up questions, despite the notification mechanism, but continue to post elsewhere.

Approach 2 (to which this is a reply)
Step 1. Find a post undertaken by Approach 1
Step 2. Endorse it.