Heavy steering - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

f.james · 03-29-2020, 04:58 PM

I have a 2015 scion frs. The issue I'm having is hard for me to explain. It is hard to turn the wheel, almost a heavy feeling. I know these cars do not have power steering fluid so I'm not sure where to start to figure out the issue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

humfrz · 03-29-2020, 05:08 PM

WELCOME to our forum, there f.james -

Does your car show you any codes (lights)?

First off, I'd suggest you check the air pressure in your front tires.

Next, check under the front end of the car and make sure nothing is binding the steering.

Then, I would suggest you check the fuse that controls the power steering mechanism.

If all looks OK, it might be time to take er into the shop.

Others will be along shortly with some more help.

f.james · 03-29-2020, 05:15 PM

No lights on dash, I just aired up all my tires the other day. I have already checked the fuses and that checks out fine as well. I have not checked to see if anything was physically binding the steering so that's what I will go ahead and do. Thank you.

DarkPira7e · 03-29-2020, 06:06 PM

What wheels/tires do you have, specifically what size and make/model of the tire.

f.james · 03-29-2020, 06:10 PM

I'm completely stock

gravitylover · 03-29-2020, 07:00 PM

Heavy like there's no electric assist or like it's something mechanical? Check the fuse if you think it's electrical.

f.james · 03-29-2020, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gravitylover

Heavy like there's no electric assist or like it's something mechanical? Check the fuse if you think it's electrical.

I checked the fuse already, and it was all good. So I'm guessing mechanical.

DarkPira7e · 03-29-2020, 07:04 PM

Wouldn't hurt to have a technician overlook your suspension components; if you hit any huge bumps or curbs lately, something could be damaged.

Ernest72 · 03-29-2020, 08:13 PM

I have not looked at the steering in these cars but if there is a steering linkage connection from the steering column to the rack, that can bind. You could try locating it and spraying some lube on it. This worked on my 04 WRX which was binding. But eventually it came back and I swapped it out for the STI version and it worked perfectly. Good luck.

EAGLE5 · 03-29-2020, 09:58 PM

How heavy? If the car is off and the steering is unlocked, is it the same difficulty of turning?

Dake · 03-30-2020, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest72

I have not looked at the steering in these cars but if there is a steering linkage connection from the steering column to the rack, that can bind. You could try locating it and spraying some lube on it. This worked on my 04 WRX which was binding. But eventually it came back and I swapped it out for the STI version and it worked perfectly. Good luck.

There's just the one exposed U-joint down inside the engine bay, but I suppose it could go bad. Otherwise it's in the rack itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

How heavy? If the car is off and the steering is unlocked, is it the same difficulty of turning?

This would be my next check too - jack up the front end to get the wheels off the ground, turn the key to accessory so the steering wheel doesn't lock and and turn the wheel. It should move freely. If it still binds, it is likely something mechanical.

You should also be able to just grab the tire and turn it from side to side.

If that moves freely, you could try starting the car (make sure brake set, wheels chocked, in park/not in gear) and turn the steering wheel. That would be engaging the power steering motor, and if it starts binding, you'd suspect it's instead electrical.

ls1ac · 03-30-2020, 11:38 AM

Did you buy new? did this just start? standing still and or moving?

EAGLE5 · 03-30-2020, 08:15 PM

Sigh. If steering effort is the same on and off WITH THE TIRES ON THE GROUND, the problem is electrical. If steering effort is different, it could just be higher effort than expected.

Dake · 03-30-2020, 10:08 PM

What's with the sigh?

03-29-2020, 04:58 PM	#1
f.james Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Drives: 2015 scion frs Location: TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Heavy steering I have a 2015 scion frs. The issue I'm having is hard for me to explain. It is hard to turn the wheel, almost a heavy feeling. I know these cars do not have power steering fluid so I'm not sure where to start to figure out the issue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

03-29-2020, 07:00 PM	#6
gravitylover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: 2013 BRZ Premium 6MT White Location: SE NY Posts: 1,503 Thanks: 1,218 Thanked 669 Times in 474 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Heavy like there's no electric assist or like it's something mechanical? Check the fuse if you think it's electrical. __________________

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03-29-2020, 05:08 PM	#2
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,868 Thanks: 28,790 Thanked 31,816 Times in 16,425 Posts Mentioned: 708 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	WELCOME to our forum, there f.james - Does your car show you any codes (lights)? First off, I'd suggest you check the air pressure in your front tires. Next, check under the front end of the car and make sure nothing is binding the steering. Then, I would suggest you check the fuse that controls the power steering mechanism. If all looks OK, it might be time to take er into the shop. Others will be along shortly with some more help.

03-29-2020, 05:15 PM	#3
f.james Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Drives: 2015 scion frs Location: TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	No lights on dash, I just aired up all my tires the other day. I have already checked the fuses and that checks out fine as well. I have not checked to see if anything was physically binding the steering so that's what I will go ahead and do. Thank you.

03-29-2020, 06:06 PM	#4
DarkPira7e Rust bucket enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: 2013 Turbo Firestorm FRS Location: Vermont Posts: 3,934 Thanks: 3,200 Thanked 4,095 Times in 2,045 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What wheels/tires do you have, specifically what size and make/model of the tire.

03-29-2020, 06:10 PM	#5
f.james Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Drives: 2015 scion frs Location: TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'm completely stock

03-29-2020, 07:04 PM	#8
DarkPira7e Rust bucket enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: 2013 Turbo Firestorm FRS Location: Vermont Posts: 3,934 Thanks: 3,200 Thanked 4,095 Times in 2,045 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wouldn't hurt to have a technician overlook your suspension components; if you hit any huge bumps or curbs lately, something could be damaged.

03-29-2020, 08:13 PM	#9
Ernest72 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Drives: 16 Silver BRZ, 04 Silver WRX wagon Location: Rockland county, NY Posts: 1,411 Thanks: 182 Thanked 768 Times in 439 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have not looked at the steering in these cars but if there is a steering linkage connection from the steering column to the rack, that can bind. You could try locating it and spraying some lube on it. This worked on my 04 WRX which was binding. But eventually it came back and I swapped it out for the STI version and it worked perfectly. Good luck.

03-30-2020, 10:08 PM	#14
Dake Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: FR-S Location: Houston Posts: 1,056 Thanks: 464 Thanked 819 Times in 414 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What's with the sigh?

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