power steering feel adjustment
 

Any chance the electric power steering feel / weight can be adjusted through the ECU? I'd love to make it a tad heavier if it's to light

I thought about removing it, until I found out the rack is a 13:1 ratio.

Increasing the steering weight can be easily done if they wish to because it is all in the ECU programming. It would be nice for the steering to be more heavy when in VSC sport mode.

Improving the steering feel through programming though would be quite hard. Good steering feel comes from the geometry of the whole suspension and steering system. I haven't driven the 86 yet, but I do hope it has a good steering feel/feedback.

EPAS tends to have it's own separate control unit, and it's not at all likely that it will be accessible to tuners/end-users because of liability concerns. It should be possible to effect the steering weight by altering the signal from the steering torque sensor or, if the EPAS control unit and the motor controller a separate, by altering the signal and/or power supply to the motor. Depending on how the EPAS is programmed though, any of those may cause some unforseen issues in potentially very unfortunate situations.

I've heard was that it had a nice sporty weight to it from many reviews, and NOB Taniguchi said it had a fairly tall steering ratio, but if you're used to driving race cars all the time, that might be why.

You could probably set up a switch to disconnect the power steering. PWM on the motor itself could work too, though I imagine the controller could get angry.

The cool thing is, if there is enough demand, smart people exist to engineer a solution.

I like heavy steering: we think of the 80s often as this dismal time for cars, but E30s, manual-rack AE86s, and others have that nice weight to the wheel I miss in most affordable new cars.

As a track car, I'll delete all the power steering system and have it natural as in my old car.

Why bother when there is no parasitic power loss and extra parts like on hydraulic systems? You won't gain any power back and also I don't believe you can remove the motor from the steering assembly to save weight.

I like the heavier feel of the 350/370z steering and from what I have been reading the reviewers mention the steering is kinda on the light site. Its not a deal killer so long as it is direct and accurate (my RX8 is a good example of electric power steering done right).

I thought I read somewhere someone was looking into a way to modify the steering weight but I couldn't find it again so thats why I asked.

the whole world is looking for cheap EPAS systems for their track cars and there's people that don't even have their 86's yet that want to take it out..SMH

So you think just because it's electric it doesn't cost any power?

Who do you think charges the battery? And who drives the alternator ;)

Yup, Mr 2.0 Boxer Engine.

Some smarter systems like the VW Bluemotion only drive the alternator when slowing down, so actually reusing that power to charge, and disable the alternator when accelerating, but i dont think Toyota/Subaru have implemented such a feature in this engine?

Yes, you are correct and that can also be said of anything that requires electricity on the vehicle.

I for one will be removing the ignition coils for maximum performance.

haha

After driving the car, I can say with a good degree of confidence that it feels almost as good as the RX8 as far as feel and 'weight' go. Im of the opinion that the RX8 turns in quicker though.

Believe me, comparing this car to an RX8 is quite the complement, for all the failure in marketing and engine life that the RX8 is attributed with, its still one of the best handling cars under $40k.

I'm afraid the Elise may be the last car offered with manual steering. Sub-3,000lb cars really don't need it IMO. As long as the EPS doesn't feel like it does in modern Corollas I'll be OK.

The steering most likely feels "light" to those drivers because of skinny tires, lightweight car, and not having the engine sit in front of the wheels. Once everybody throws on their wide and sticky summer tires, you'll appreciate the power steering when it comes to low-speed traffic and parking.

Regards,

Paul Hansen
www.avoturboworld.com
www.facebook.com/BRZSportsCarClub

This... I got a Corolla courtesy car a couple of days ago, very strange feeling. :S

Though I can almost guarantee that Toyota have "fixed" this for the GT86, as I haven't heard a single complaint from any of the reveiws about the EPAS being bad. Not to mention EPAS is also used in the LFA (though obviously a different version), and that's supposed to be plenty good to drive! :party0030:

This is what you want: http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&A=111532

Agree 100%

My MR2 has no power steering and while it's fine at higher speed, it's a bit crap at low speeds

Oh my god people if you haven't driven the car don't comment on how the steering is "light" or how all electronic assist programs are horrible....unless your previous daily driver is completely unassisted or a go kart you are probably going to love the steering's weight. Any sloppiness is from the high sidewall stock tires. Just like what AVO said. No, it isn't going to feel like an unassisted rack and pinion, unless it's an unassisted rack and pinion.

Anyway, for OP, it sounds pretty sketch. I think there's a lot easier ways to improve feel, such as poly bushings, lower profile/harder sidewall tires, more front camber, a strut bar. Sometimes to improve one thing you have to improve everything around it.

I agree sticky tires make the oe setup feel
'right'

:threadjacked: I'm more concerned with the light gas peddle feel, if you go boosted and hit a few bumps at slow speeds your in for a jerky ride....manual of course.You go with wider tires the steering is perfect.

My old echo didn't come with power steering, and it was real heavy once I put the summer wide wheels and tires on it. My yaris has the power assist, and I hear its as simple as removing the fuse if you want to feel what its like.

Check the fuse box perhaps it can be done with the FRS/BRZ (don't have mine yet)

Hey all - just came across this thread via a google search. I recently posted about my brand new 86 having very light steering all of a sudden. To the point where it has little resistance or driver / road feedback. I also feel as though there is lag between me turning the wheel and the car actually responding. Finally, I feel I have to turn the steering wheel way too much for the resulting steer amount. One day it was fine, the next day it was lazy/light and vague.

I have tried various tyre pressures, all no affect. It honestly feels like the EPS system is messing up. It feels like it is giving me assistance to stop the wheel from being heavy, but it's not actually assisting in turning the car's wheels.

Came from a 260z. Being sub 3k lbs, the steering was fine. Not that the 350 chevy small block had anything to do with it. If only I had waited for a manual trany.

The FR-S' power steering is fine. And yes it is parasitic, but you wouldn't notice a difference. Why? because the alternator only outputs a fraction of power that the engine can produce. Why didn't they go with a hydraulic steering pump? That would suck the power out of that little engine. Why did they choose the electric power steering? Because it didn't take too much power away from the engine.

You can test whether the electrical power steering, AC unit, rear defroster, and what not are sucking power away from the engine. Let it idle, move the steering wheel back and forth. Does the rpm dip? when you turn on the AC unit, does the rpm dip? when you turn on the rear defroster, does the rpm dip?

Most of those will be yes, but negligible when you are red lining it.

If I took the motor that does the power steering assist, I could tell you how much it is really sucking from the engine.

You might want to look at your control arm and/or steering rack bushings.

check sway bar end links please

I arrived at this discussion because being that my brz is a track car and I routinely drive over 100mph...that's where i feel like the car is a bit twitchy. Even though i have both hands on the wheel anyway, I feel like I HAVE to keep both hands on. Ive done a lot of suspension work and the car has amazing turn in but im pretty sure taking all that flex out of the rack and front suspension is actull contributing to the twitchiness....Needs to be heavirr.