What else can one do to eliminate play/empty space feeling from steering wheel?I

[a_ahmed]

In a recent thread of mine I got and installed some new parts that made a world of difference in how solid, smooth and responsive my car became.. but I wonder what else I can do?

Here is the front now:

Nismo power brace, yashio factory tensionrod to subframe brace, yanack metal steering rack bushings, DC Sports STB. As well as the old stuff which is new LCA with new balljoints, whiteline bushings on TC rod and and LCA. Old endlinks and swaybar.

Going to do tomorrow, steering rack metal column bushing.

To buy still: SPL TC rod, pro tierods, fender brace.

Not sure what the result will be with the above that I have yet to get, but what else can one do to stiffen up/firm up front end. To improve responsiveness.

Things that come to mind:

Remove battery from front, fatter/lighter/stronger swaybars and solid endlinks?

I don't know what else...

While I'm at it, how about the rear. All I have is whiteline bushings on the whole rear and now DC Sports STB (which made a HUGE difference somehow).

C-pillar bar ? - megan racing one is thin and three piece, any fat one piece out there? And does it realy make that much a dif, as this is apparently a hatch weakness, i have a hatch. I heard touge factory had a c-pillar that was fat but its been discontinued. Don't know much else.

Anything else?

[tlkq]

Still have power steering?

[a_ahmed]

Yup I do. I've read in past that not having power steering would make the feel more direct, but that would make the car pretty much undriveable then... too hard to drive? I haven't driven a 240 without PS to know though... Oh and I have a HICAS rack...

I remember about a month+ ago when i went to a karting session, when i got into my 240 i thought something was broken on it as to how loose the steering wheel was haha. (a few days later i fixed that up with firmer dampening)

[dickie]

i have been messing around in my dad's truck with no power steering. after driving that thing a small car would be cake to handle without assist.

[slyedog240sx]

are you running more than a stock engine,also are you going to race the car or is it a street car?Seems like an awful lot of money in the suspension and steering if it is a stock 240.I redid all my front sus. with oe replacements and it feels tighter than a unpopped cherry.No play at all.Have you had an alignment since you replaced what you have mentioned so far.

[a_ahmed]

Engine is stock, but it doesn't really matter imho. Look at something like a porsche 914, or an mr2 mk1 or an mx-5 miata, it doesn't have to have power to be fast. I am talking about handling here not engine and drivetrain. I intend to do an LS1 though, so im prepping chassis and suspension gradually as well. That won't happen until next summer though.

Every little bit makes a difference imho and however minor I want to go all out on the little and big bits. I am overly sensitive with changes to my car and I can feel every little change... so.. what you may consider as tight and no play is play and not tight enough for me... I am just very demanding... I don't know how you can consider OEM as tight... it is so vague in feel to me..

I do intend to do another alignment been a few months since i did it last.. not a good thing, but I will do it once i get the SPL bits.. no need to do it double as I'll be getting these SPL bits in a month hopefully.

I am just asking as to know what else one can get aside from what I listed...

There was one thread where there was a list of chassis stiffening parts, however, I could not find it anymore despite doing a search...

[slyedog240sx]

i think by doing all the bushings will help the feel like you want.My thought on it though is that you can get all the adj. sus. components you want but i don't think they will increase the stability much more than stock.Yes having more alignment options will help if you were running on a track,but for a street car you will never drive it the way the sus. components you want to use were designed for.To make a long story short on the street you won't notice a big difference with them imho.If you have the money to do all this i think you can use it on other things than sus. to make a better car.just my cents.G.L. with your project.

[nwmrkt]

theres steering rack metal bushings (two peices right) and what are "steering rack metal column bushing"? Link

[a_ahmed]

I have all polyurethane bushings already though. And I have the steering rack metal bushings. The steering column metal bushing is a little circular thing that replaces the rubber piece on an s13 two piece column (its in my mail, just have to get it and install).

Google steering column bushing eliminator, i am in a rush ill post pic later.

[a_ahmed]

This is what the column bushing eliminator is:

[nwmrkt]

This is what the column bushing eliminator is:

ah yes, nice thanks. Would you mind pasting your full suspension mod list? Sounds like your going all out and i would like to see what your doing so i can plan my stuff out too. thanks!

[a_ahmed]

ah yes, nice thanks. Would you mind pasting your full suspension mod list? Sounds like your going all out and i would like to see what your doing so i can plan my stuff out too. thanks!

I already basically mentioned it but okay...

It's a 91 S13 hatchback

-Front and Rear DC Sports CS-2 STBs.-All whiteline polyurethane bushings on everything-New front LCA with white polyurethane bushings-New hard race endlinks with whiteline polyurethane bushings-HICAS front rack and rear swaybar-Whiteline subframe polyurethane spacers (sucks, i want to replace the full bushing with solid alum)-Nismo Power Brace-Yashio Factory tension rod/brace to subframe brace-Yanack steering rack metal bushings-FR Sport steering column metal bushing-KYB AGX + Stech springs front 4/4 setting dampening rear 8/8 setting dampening-Fully stripped car except dash and door sides, other weight shedding too such as no A/C, no cruise control (wiring, unit and computer taken out), no front bumper support, no radio/cd, no speakers, No HICAS (computer, electronics everything), HICAS eliminator (i want a hicasless subframe though) soon i want to remove the heater unit too, some other stuff too.-Moog inner and outer s14 tie rods. (sucks, waste, unadjustable 'heavy duty' oem replacment, can not take abuse of uprated suspension/racing).-5 lug conversion front and rear

That's I think all, not sure.

The next on the list right now is to get SPL pro inner and outer z32 tie rods, SPL fender brace (unles there's a lighter/stronger/better one), and SPL pillowball TC rods. As well as rear wheel bearings as I need them, the 300zx ones are worn out as they are the same ones I got when I did the 5 lug conversion. This is all I'll most likely do before the car gets stored for the winter/salt season hah.

Next it's largus front and rear swaybars, all rear pillowball SPL arms, Non-hicas subframe reinforced... I need/want a stronger subframe, alum bushings.

Then after that get koni shock/coilover combo. Oh and I suppose the c-pillar bar is one thing I'm forgetting.

Ultimately also stitch welding and cage... but that'll be last. Maybe the stiffening foam.

More weight shedding... fenders, bumpers, hood and lexan windows. Some other weight shedding under hood and inside.

That's pretty much how things are sorted so far... and my line of thinking of what I will do next after each thing.

Also ultimately functional wing front and rear... underbody front and rear + diffuser... i have some serious plans... hehe.

I am also curious on steering quickeners... i have yet to drive a car with one... that might help, as i dont like to turn my car's wheel so many times.... i've considered aftermarket steering wheels too but i dont know...

I really want to go all out and hardcore on this car...
Modified by a_ahmed at 12:26 PM 8/23/2007

[bone_stock_240]

It is super easy to manage even with no powersteering. I was reading somewhere that for drifting, it is definately preferable to have it though. The only thing powersteering helps with is low speed turning. Once you are actually moving, it makes close to 0 difference as far as ease in turning the wheel is concerned. Only the wussiest of wussies would not be able to handle it

[a_ahmed]

It is super easy to manage even with no powersteering. I was reading somewhere that for drifting, it is definately preferable to have it though. The only thing powersteering helps with is low speed turning. Once you are actually moving, it makes close to 0 difference as far as ease in turning the wheel is concerned. Only the wussiest of wussies would not be able to handle it

Well maybe so, but I haven't driven a 240 without one. I've driven a bunch of old cars without them. I'll think about it. I plan to run wide tires front and rear though.

Anyways I discovered a problem that I wish I would get some help with.

When I turn full lock and close to full lock at low speeds I feel a shake of sorts in steering wheel, like some kind of shaky loosness. Like a bunch of hops or jumps or skips

This is something I just noticed now so I'm going to assume it has to do with the new parts, but it could have very well existed before (without my knowledge) as now things are more direct in feel with the new parts, so perhaps before they were dampened with the mushy parts.

Could it be steering rack? Something with it? Power steering? My power steering unit is from a 95