Steering has become lazy/light after 1200km

[Huehuecoyotl]

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!

[Chewie4299]

Originally Posted by Huehuecoyotl

tire pressure check time

Double this.

[FRiSson]

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.

[wbradley]

You lift?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by scottrichardson

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

Have you flushed the power steering fluid?

[schlomo]

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

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Have you flushed the power steering fluid?

[Ozzman]

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.

[Krimlin]

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.

[scottrichardson]

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

[Carbon420]

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LeftFootBrake]

Originally Posted by Krimlin

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.

Source, please.

[scottrichardson]

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.

[86X86]

Originally Posted by scottrichardson

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?