1984 911 hard steering

[TCRealtor]

Lots of muscle power is needed to control the steering of this car. It has 130K+ miles on it. Any suggestions to reduce steering effort?

[76FJ55]

Is this primarily at low or high speed? if you jack the front off the ground is there still resistance to turning the wheels? what size tires are you running? what tire pressure? does it track straight, or does it take effort to hold it in a straight line?... any more details to go on?

[917_Langheck]

These cars a very easy to steer, so yes, you need to provide context to understand why you think it's difficult.

[quattro4]

stock steering wheel?

[GH85Carrera]

Are your front tires the stock size?

My 85 came with 15 inch wheels and 185s up front. The steering was pretty easy in a parking lot.

When I could no longer find a decent sports car tires for then, I had to go to 17 inch Euromiester rims and now I have a LOT more rubber on the ground with 225/45 17s front and 255/45 rears. The steering in a parking lot is pretty heavy. Once I am moving more than a few MPH, it is easy. At any road speed it is light and laser beam precise.

It has a ton more cornering grip, but it does affect the acceleration with the extra mass to spin up.

[john walker's workshop]

Inspect the shaft support bushing with the internal needle bearing, down in the smuggler box. The bearing tends to seize.

[Crow911]

Just went through this with my 1986 Carrera with 170k miles. There is a bearing in the smugglers box sealed in a rubber bushing which supports the steering column there. This bearing is exposed to the elements and will rust over time. Mine finally failed when the needle bearings became so rusted they fell out of their carrier. Part is around $80 but is a PIA to replace. Removal of air blower required in order to loosen top u-joint of steering column to remove lower column. After everything back together, I had to re-align the front wheels to get the steering wheel centered again.