Uneven steering feel

[prebordao]

The cornering feel I get from my car is different on left and right corners.
When cornering left I feel I have to pull harder on the wheel, it's like the self-centering effect is stronger on left-hand corners.

Tire wear and pressures are the same side to side.
Could this be likely a steering alignment issue or uneven shock wear ?

[stlrj]

An alignment is always the starting point for steering and handling issues. Without the alignment results, we would just be wasting your time.

[Wil Ferch]

Might also check some "Assumptions"....like is the wheelbase exactly the same on the right side and left side of the car? Some cars I've checked had some surprises !

[aston@ultrasw.c]

X2 on getting the alignment numbers.

In my experience, big tire/service shops in the US have accurate alignment racks but they "Can't do porsches!"

Once I explain that I don't want them to make any adjustments, I just want the data they get with the program.

[Flieger]

Shocks would not do that. I would think alignment first and corner-balance second.

[porschenut]

I concur; alignment and corner balance.

[prebordao]

Thanks guys, alignment will be for a start.

[DRACO A5OG]

Corner Balance is a must for optimum cornering

[prebordao]

I know there are many posts discussing this, but in a nutshell what is that corner balance aims to achieve ?
And you do it by tweaking the shocks, suspension heights ?

[Flieger]

Ride heights.

It is like making a chair with one leg shorter than the other- not stable.

You want to distribute the weight "equally" among the tires since that gives maximum grip and the most consistant handling.

There are a few balances to shoot for:

1. Equal front weights- best threshold braking, good for dive-bomb passes while racing.
2. Equal diagonal weights- some say this gives the most consistent handling between left/right turn transitions.
3. Correct "percentages". This means that (for example) the front has 40% of the weight, and the right has 40% of the weight, so the front right weight is (2500 pounds / 4 tires ) x .4 x .4

You cannot usually get all of these at once since the mass distribution is not 50/50 front/rear- unless you have a really heavy battery, or 50/50 right/left- unless you have a passenger.

[prebordao]

And what can be done to adjust the weight distribution ? How it is done ?

[Flieger]

Ride height settings.

You screw the front adjusters up or down to change the "neutral" position of the torsion bar, and so therby how much it is strained at the ride height you want. In the rear, you need to re-index the torsion bars or else use the adjustable spring plates.

One corner gets "set" for a higher ride height and the other for "lower" and then you end up with the same total height, but different loads on the springs. You also might get uneven fender clearances.