Alignment & General Steering Question

[Tidybuoy]

My 944 is new to me as I have only had it for a month. The car only has 18k miles and is in near perfect condition.

I'm wondering how the steering should feel. I just put new tires on and it steers straight but to me, it does not feel like it returns to center quick enough and the car feels to me like it has a bit of over-steer (I may have my terminology wrong but I mean that it sometimes feels like it turns too much - especially at high speed). Definitely at high speed (100mph) I don't feel like it is safe, and I feel like I could whip the car around a turn and cause it to spin out. It also feels like there's too much flex in the sidewalls.

I put Bridgestone Potenza tires on it and I am planning on getting an alignment very soon. And, just to piss more money down the drain, I just found a set of 16" Phone Dials so I guess I will be buying new tires again.

Anyway, if anyone can give me recommendations on tires as well as how your car feels regarding steering - I'd love to hear it.

Vern

[Eldorado]

you mention an alignment but never actually say you got one... did you?

front AND back?

[67l60]

the bigger tires will increase the problem

my 86 has 17s on and it follows every rutt in the road
butt hey its a sports car

[Tidybuoy]

No, I haven't had an alignment done yet but I intend to schedule it for next week.

Since my car only has 18k miles on it, I thought it was pretty much in alignment but I wanted to know if the norm is for the car to center itself on the road. For example, if I'm driving down a smooth flat road at about 20 mph, if I turn the wheel about 1/2 inch the car will turn but when I let go of the wheel it keeps turning. On my other car, the car wants to return back to driving straight.

I just wanted to find out what is normal before I bring it into the shop. Since the car is brand new to me, I have no idea how it is supposed to drive.

Thanks...................Vern

[67l60]

you dont have a manual steering rack do you
it has a power steering pump ? right

[87924gt]

The low mileage could be the problem, but only with the shocks and struts as far as ride and handling goes. They could be original equipment and have pretty much sat still for all these years. You might look into a complete set of Koni yellow adj. I've only use Konis on my Porsches, so I'm a bit biased.
Steve Ed

[Tidybuoy]

Thanks!

The shocks and struts are definately original. The car does have power steering.

I'm a littl biased towards the Koni's as well. I have Koni's on my 914 and it rides very well (albiet like a go-kart). I have Bilsteins on my old BMW e28 and it is way too harsh for that car - I hate them. I also had a set of KYB's on the 914 for a while and the ride was soo harsh I thought the mirrors were going to break (won't do that again).

I think my problem is probably a combination of alignment and shocks/struts. I feel like my BMW 528e will hold a corner better and I know that is not right.

Good thing it's only money. Now if only I could find me a sugar mama.