To light steering

[flash951]

Hi,

My steering feels way to light/loose... and the car feel unstable because it changes steering directions very easy, specially in high speed.

I have new bushings in the steering rod, and have no slack in the steering wheel it selves.

Is this a matter of 4 wheel adjustment, camber, caster, toe?
What else could be the problem, front wheels to parallel, aligned?

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Usually the complaint is that the steering is too heavy.

So thinking in reverse....are the tire pressures too high, are the tires old and the compound is hard, or are the tires brand new and are riding on a small contact patch.

Increasing caster angle increases steering effort, i.e. move the strut top towards the rear of the car. If you mark the initial conditions, and it doesn't help you can move it back. If you do like the result you could have a shop measure the alignment and fine tune your changes.

OTOH Toe way out of whack can make the car feel very unstable, which you may be describing as light steering.

[jmohn]

Could be toe on the front wheels.

Typical toe (IIRC) is approx. 3/16" total toe IN.

If wheels are toed out, even slightly, the car will feel unstable and "darty" and "turn-in" very quickly; autocrossers like it; me - not so much.

You may want to get the alignment checked.

Jerry M
'78 SC

[CCM911]

I also had that light feeling in my steering when I was running a set of older Low End Dunlops. I upgraded to Potenza's and the steering feel improved.

A cheap way to see if this is your issue is to find another friend with a 911, and then switch wheels so you can test.

This is a cheap option requiring only some time.

[DRACO A5OG]

changing the bushings may have thrown the caster off, if caster is too forward (positive) then it will feel lighter and dart at speed.

[80-911SC]

just checking but do you have a tail on your car ???? and if so do you also have a splitter in the front ???

If tail and nothing in the front you should feel awful light ......

Steve

[450knotOffice]

Have the alignment checked - specifically toe angles for the front and rear wheels.

Assuming the toe angles are within spec, then what I'd say is welcome to the the light steering (at highway speeds) of the rear engine 911. This is one of those characteristics well known to 911 drivers.

[DRACO A5OG]

what are your tire pressure reading when cold?

I notice lighter feel when I raise the tire pressure.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by flash951

Hi,My steering feels way to light/loose... and the car feel unstable because it changes steering directions very easy, specially in high speed.

Hope you find out what's causing it to feel "too light" so we can lighten up our "too heavy" steering that most of us seem to suffer.



Cheers,

Joe

[Wil Ferch]

Just a side note on toe-in.....I never like quoting toe as ... "total toe is XXX inches".....because we always need to ask....where is it measured?. Outside radius of tire?.....outside radius of rim?. If stated in minutes or fraction-of-degrees.....it doesn't matter and is always "correct" as to "intent". Otherwise, you could be "off" by 100% if you meant tire diam and got rim diameter...or vice versa.

[euro911sc]

I have set my toe to 0, -2 camber, and min caster (caster must be equal on both sides!). Steering is very light. Car is very nimble. Now I have to settle the rear end... I have found that caster and toe have a very large effect on steering 'lightness'. The front end alignment is VERY easy to play with. I would sugest picking up a few of the tools (jack stands, pipe, string, tape measure, plumb bob, calculator/smart phone) and experimenting until the front feels how you like it instead of paying $80 every time you want to change something.

Don't screw with the rear... its a REAL PITA.

+1 for calling toe in degrees instead of total toe distance. That is how its spec'd in the book anyway

-Michael

[flash951]

What is the specs for 1971 car?