Light steering.

[Sundowner]

Hi,
I'm quite happy with my Sprints steering, BUT.....
As expected, the steering is heavy at slow parking speeds, then, in the straight ahead position, it gets progressively lighter as the car increases in speed. To the point where its, well, a bit worrying at about 60mph. Now, this is only directional, as I get really good road surface feed back, at all speeds, and when its weighted in corners, its a fantastic feel.
The "Toe-in" is as per the book and was re-aligned recently. I have new-ish 175/70x13 Yokohama A Drive tyres all round, and as the car is about 95% factory stock I run about 22 or 23 PSI in them. The car rides very well. Some of you will argue this is too low, but if I increase the PSI the steering gets even lighter and I'm happy with that pressure.
So, what do you reckon? Is this straight ahead lightness a problem or is it the nature of the beast?
If you feel this is a problem, is there an easy remedy that doesn't require removing the rack?
Thanks & Cheers,
Rob

[Galileo]

Hmm, I know you say that you have had the front geometry checked but an overly negative caster angle would normally be the culprit for poor self centering and straight ahead wandering but give good cornering.

[Sundowner]

Thanks for answering Galileo,
The steering self centers just fine and the car doesn't wander, it just feels vague & light when going straight ahead. I feel like I'm aiming it, rather than steering it, until there's a bend, when it feels fine. Likewise, road "feel" (feedback) is good too.
But since your post, I've pretty well decided to have it aligned again anyway.
Thanks again,
Rob
PS; My 2 moderns both have electric power steering, (fabulous steerers) and I've been doing a lot of miles recently. Maybe its my personal adjustment from one to the other that's really the problem, not the car. Especially when considering that my concern came right after I had driven the Sprint for the first time in about a month.

[sprint95m]

This is just about impossible to answer definitively, there are just so many variables in the equation, so to speak.

From my experience,
I doubt it will be just one thing, I suspect a combination of factors.




Ian.

[tony g]

Rob, you do have the front spoiler fitted dont you?

Tony

[yorkshire_spam]

Any play in the rack mounts?

[Mahesh]

I can relate to what is said on this post, as mine is the same.

I have the front spoiler, and a solid rack mount, but in a straight line above 69 mph ( ) the car floats on the front wheels.

Any lane changing or cornering has a positive feel, but on the motorway
you think there is play in the rack until you move the steering wheel and the car responds as instructed.

If it had a rear spoiler I would blame it.

[Sundowner]

I have the front spoiler, and a solid rack mount, but in a straight line above 69 mph ( ) the car floats on the front wheels.

Any lane changing or cornering has a positive feel, but on the motorway
you think there is play in the rack until you move the steering wheel and the car responds as instructed.

Yes Gents,
I have good solid rack mounts and a front spoiler.
What Mahesh has written above exactly describes my cars habit.
I initially posted in the hope that it was a common problem with an easy fix. But as I mentioned earlier, I'll check the alignment again and if that doesn't show anything wrong, I guess I'll just have to get used to it.
Thanks again for all your replies.
Cheers,
Rob

[GTS290N]

I have no issues in my 1850 running 175/70 Falkens at around 28 psi - try bumping the tyre pressures up?

[tony g]

Yep 28F and 30 R for me with no adverse affects (I'd missed your pressures in the post Rob)

Tony

[PaulB]

Check to bulkhead bush. Friend had this problem and we eventually tracked it down to the bulkhead bush.

Also checks for cracks in the front vertical links.