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

[yip]

I just installed coilovers and RE71R's and I noticed immediately that the steering felt much lighter.

[RJasonKlein]

To @BDotG: Do you have adjustable caster/camber plates installed? If so, what are your alignment numbers for front caster, camber, and toe, and rear camber and toe? A 1.8" drop is not insignificant, so have you made any effort to correct the roll center - this can definitely affect steering feel.

This post is old, so if you've already solved the issue, please let us know what you did to fix it.

[Tor]

What exactly you do you mean it "feels light"? Can you describe a situation, your actions and the response of the car in details?

[twag4]

I'm telling you, install the anti dive/caster correction kit from whiteline. Then enjoy a little heavier steering wheel, and improved correction to center- plus improved feel and feedback. You will not be disappointed. This car loses caster when lowered. That adds to the vagueness.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by twag4

I'm telling you, install the anti dive/caster correction kit from whiteline. Then enjoy a little heavier steering wheel, and improved correction to center- plus improved feel and feedback. You will not be disappointed. This car loses caster when lowered. That adds to the vagueness.

little off topic but when I go back to stock height for winters do you think the white line roll center kit will have much of a negative impact? Or are we talking about different parts lol

[ZHoward]

yes, after install kw v3 i feel much lighter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BDotG]

Originally Posted by RJasonKlein

To @BDotG: Do you have adjustable caster/camber plates installed? If so, what are your alignment numbers for front caster, camber, and toe, and rear camber and toe? A 1.8" drop is not insignificant, so have you made any effort to correct the roll center - this can definitely affect steering feel.

This post is old, so if you've already solved the issue, please let us know what you did to fix it.

I think ultimately I realized it was a combo and slightly stretched tires & wide wheels spacers (surprised it took me that long to figure that out).

I have since moved to some meaty ass tires on wider rims and the set up feels perfect.

Just had a performance alignment done and current at -1.1 camber front and -1.5 rear. Car feels planted.

[BDotG]

Originally Posted by ZHoward

yes, after install kw v3 i feel much lighter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am wondering if any of this could be attributed to less weight on the steering. My coilovers were definitely lighter than my stock struts with springs.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by BDotG

I think ultimately I realized it was a combo and slightly stretched tires & wide wheels spacers (surprised it took me that long to figure that out).

I have since moved to some meaty ass tires on wider rims and the set up feels perfect.

Just had a performance alignment done and current at -1.1 camber front and -1.5 rear. Car feels planted.

Why more camber in the rear? ?

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by BDotG

Just had a performance alignment done and current at -1.1 camber front and -1.5 rear. Car feels planted.

Again, what are the caster numbers?

The top hats that came with the coilovers could be changing the caster which would make the steering light. I've seen quite a few setups where the top hats are basically the same part, bolts go in one hole or the other or they're mirror images, if installed incorrectly they could reduce caster giving a lighter steering response, slow return to center, and general vagueness as now the power steering is too strong for the system.

If the caster number isn't on your alignment sheet then they cut corners.

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Why more camber in the rear? ?

Well that is the OE specs for the rear and about what camber bolts get you in the front, for most people tire wear takes priority over maximum grip.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Again, what are the caster numbers?


Well that is the OE specs for the rear and about what camber bolts get you in the front, for most people tire wear takes priority over maximum grip.

Ahh makes sense. I am planning on running -2.5 and -1.5 this spring

[JDKane527]

How is the camber set at the top mount and the hub?
You may be observing reduced steering effort due to a reduction in absolute scrub radius.

I followed Racecomp Engineering's recommendation and have my dampers mounted so the front strut is as vertical as possible by maxing out negative camber at the hub for improved SAI.

If the kingpin axis intersection point is outboard of the center of the contact patch it is negative, if inside the contact patch it is positive. The term scrub radius derives from the fact that either in the positive or negative mode, the tire does not turn on its centerline (it scrubs the road in a turn) and due to the increased friction, more effort is needed to turn the wheel.
...
The greater the scrub radius (positive or negative), the greater the steering effort and the more road shock and pivot binding that takes place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrub_radius

Good bit of info here on caster, SAI, and camber:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48107
@CSG Mike or @Racecomp Engineering can shed some more light on this.

[CSG Mike]

Teflon thrust washer + spherical top + camber reduction via camber plate = formula for lighter steering.

Sounds about right

[twag4]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

little off topic but when I go back to stock height for winters do you think the white line roll center kit will have much of a negative impact? Or are we talking about different parts lol

Not the roll center correction kit, I have it too. And yes the car would need realigned with either kit when ride height is changed. Even without either kit it needs realigned when ride height is adjusted that much. The anti dive/ caster correction kit is the front control arm bushing in the front location of the arm that has an offset hole that adds caster to the front wheels. The roll center correction kit brings the roll center closer to ground level. Some argue that it isn't necessary, but I can testify that the sum of all of the above parts, plus energy suspension rear bushings in all locations that don't already have pillow ball/cross axis bushings, is an even more amazing and responsive car.