Toning down the electric steering pump possible?
 

Would be awesome if we could reduce the power sent to the electric steering pump to reduce assist, and gain more weight/feedback - anyone know if this is possible? Dont know enough about electronics to know where to start..

Could you just remove the power steering pump? Is there a power steering pump? I think the electronic assist is not hackable like the ecu.

there is no 'pump' since its essentially a manual rack with a moderately sized electric motor attached to it. If you rip apart the under-dash area I bet you could figure out how to depower the rack if you were so inclined.

Put some wider rims/tires on it--that'll get it done for you. I honestly think they tuned the steering w/ that in mind.

When you find the motor, take a little fluid out.

You would have to change the gain on the spool valve to change the feel, more than likely. Changing the power steering pump power will probably only change the saturation pressure.

In the yaris you can just pull the fuse for the electric steering motor...

Maybe possible in BRZ/FRS?

I agree! I love the way my car feels/handles with the wider rims and tires. I have way more grip, better steering feel, and can still get the car sideways when I feel the urge. Don't mess with the electric steering assist..

Just for reference, what size tires and rims do you have?

Here you go, havn't tested on the FRS, but I know it works on other Toyotas.

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&A=111532

I think wider/stickier tires will help increase steering effort. Comparatively, when I switch from wide, sticky summer tires to skinny snows with my MR2 (manual steering with Quaife quick ratio rack), the steering effort decreases drastically. Almost to the point that I wish my car had stock tires on it again, but then I remember that I'm not a sissy.

Thank you!! (How do I thank people for posts here, am I too new to be able to do so?)

This was the bit I had read previously that gave me hope for depowering the assist. Back when I had the MR-S, I could not do this as they used hydraulic racks with fluid-assist - unplugging the pump meant you were just squishing the fluid yourself.

If you have a true manual rack, turning off or detuning assist would give it quite a bit more feedback and weight, much much closer to the lotus elise or 1991-1993 NSX's steering feel.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE the feel of the steering in this car. But as I feel it reading the road and giving me messages, I can sense quite a bit of potential in it that is being muted by the electric assist.

It is SO close, though. Closest steering feel I've felt to the manual Lotus Elise was the 987.1 boxster / cayman S cars, and the BRZ comes amazingly close to those p-cars. The only difference being the weight/effort required to turn the wheel.

:O :O fantastic, thank you so much!:thanks:

It's probably the steering rack bushings.

Get some of these!