Steering sluggish, reluctant to return to center (already bumped up caster)

[skydragoness]

So ever since I upgraded from the stock wheels to 16" and 225 width tires (all around). I have noticed after my first autocross w/ them that the characteristic 'spin to center' that rwd cars do---my car is much less reluctant to do. For example, when approaching a turn you turn the wheel and then when you pass the apex and exit the turn you have to kind of 'nudge' it back to center as you try to straighten out. The steering wheel feels pretty stiff when you nudge it back to center. P/S levels are normal, no leaks (that I know of) and no whine.

So i took it to a reputable alignment shop that all the Miata SCCA guys said to go to. The alignment tech was knowledgeable and I expressed my concern about the steering feel and he bumped up the caster settings ( i have SPL t/c rods) from 6.00 to 7.00 each side (still within oem spec). I haven't taken it on any backroads yet or done any u-turns but it seems the same. It's sluggish in both directions, and while I don't have to nudge it anymore its still slow about getting back to center.

So is it my steering rack that's bad? Or the p/s pump? My previous S13 never had this issue. So I'm at a loss for what signs to look for when a p/s system goes 'bad.'

[naed240sx]

So is it my steering rack that's bad? Or the p/s pump? My previous S13 never had this issue. So I'm at a loss for what signs to look for when a p/s system goes 'bad.'

Is it always sluggish or just during autocross?

At drift events my P/S gets very very hot and stops operating well.

[Kenrik]

Is it always sluggish or just during autocross?

At drift events my P/S gets very very hot and stops operating well.

Hmm never had that happen did you switch out your p/s fluid?

P/S is very importaint when drifting though, I know a few times where if I did not have it I would have smacked a wall at a very high rate of speed.

[naed240sx]

Hmm never had that happen did you switch out your p/s fluid?

P/S is very importaint when drifting though, I know a few times where if I did not have it I would have smacked a wall at a very high rate of speed.

No, I haven't. But it has happened in both of my cars. Our courses are often very technical and require a ton of quick steering inputs. Heats it up quick.

My friend blew his rack completely all at once.

[skydragoness]

Its sluggish all the time now. The steering is pretty stiff, its not awful and its not dangerous, but it's definitely not nimble or as responsive as it used to be.

Is changing p/s fluid even necessary? I don't even think Nissan recommends p/s flushes, at least that's what I heard from a tech-friend of mine. But he may be wrong. I don't have any leaks, the hoses going to the reservoir was oozing last year but it stopped since then. Exar-kun recommended I get a p/s flush anyway and it will probably expose leaks that I didn't know about and perhaps I could get that adressed. I have an autocross I really want to go to on the 16th that's supposed to be badass and I don't want to miss it.

Naed: Did your friend go with a Nissan OEM rack or an aftermarket, and if he went w/ the latter what brand did he get? I've seen some complete racks (w/ gear linkage and 7yr warranties) go for $250 w/ a $50 core charge.

[naed240sx]

Its sluggish all the time now. The steering is pretty stiff, its not awful and its not dangerous, but it's definitely not nimble or as responsive as it used to be.

Rack is probably going out, or the pump is having issues.

Naed: Did your friend go with a Nissan OEM rack or an aftermarket, and if he went w/ the latter what brand did he get? I've seen some complete racks (w/ gear linkage and 7yr warranties) go for $250 w/ a $50 core charge.

Can't remember. He ended up with a pretty solid setup though. He used a cooler as well to keep temps down, and keep it working well.

[skydragoness]

Can't remember. He ended up with a pretty solid setup though. He used a cooler as well to keep temps down, and keep it working well.

Sounds good. It would be nice if someone made an electric p/s system for the 240 probably would be an arm and a leg though.

is it just a custom cooler?

[cdlong]

what's the offset of the new wheels? changing the offset significantly can change the steering characteristics. try switching back to stock and see if that fixes it.

just for good measure, jack the front end up and check for bad tie rod ends and binding. probably not the issue, but you never know.

i found it, 16x7+32 is nothing, nevermind about the offset thing. it could be a weak pump. i don't know how to check for it though.
Modified by cdlong at 10:34 PM 7/10/2006

[skydragoness]

Yeah my bf and others think its the p/s pump. Fortunately we have a couple of 240 pumps lying around. Tommorow we're going to put my car up in the air and eye-ball it. I doubt tierods are an issue, the inner and outer are Tein and they're only about 1.5 yrs old.

[win2456]

Were you able to figure out the problem? I'm having the same issue on my '95 240sx.

I don't race on track, drift or autocross... I've just run into this problem driving on the streets after getting new tie rods.

It would be really helpful to know if a solution was found... thank you!

[NisanS13turbo]

Were you able to figure out the problem? I'm having the same issue on my '95 240sx.

I don't race on track, drift or autocross... I've just run into this problem driving on the streets after getting new tie rods.

It would be really helpful to know if a solution was found... thank you!

I belive from reading and doing some homework, if you have aftermarket tension rods then you need to get it align to atleast oem spec (6-7) or have it set at 8. Not more. If your having the problem with stock tension rods then your rod busings are probably squirting white sperms, causting your stock tension to play while cornering and bracking. Hope this helps.

[Q45tech]

Did you measure the rack pinion preload and adjust the pinion depth......careful 30 degrees can go from loosey goosey to binding.

http://www.import-car.com/TechTips306.pdf