Since our power steering is electrical with computer control, has anybody reprogrammed the computer for less boost? Does anybody know about what would be involved? Any computer experts who could do it?

 

Why would you want to make it harder to steer?

 

To my knowledge, no one has even tried yet on the S2.

The two methods would be via the torque sensor that provides the feedback from the rack (for how much assist is needed) or through the control unit itself.

I've asked before, if someone is willing to spring for an EPS control unit (new or from a yard) I will be willing to look into modifying it. I suspect it will take relatively little to modify it, I'm just not willing to prototype on my only EPS unit (what I'm using!) or spring the money for one to modify.

 

For more sensitive feel of the road.

 

would it be easy to pull the plug on the power assist, and thereby get an idea of what the benefits of more steering feel are?

 

I was under the impression that EPS was only on during low speeds; namely, parking, U-turns, etc.. At high speeds there is no steering assist.

I agree that the steering does feel kind of numb.

 

You may find what you are looking for with a fatter front tire.

 

If you want to increase the resistance so that it requires greater effort to turn the steering wheel, one alternative is to have an alignment done with more positive caster. Increasing positive caster will makes the steering wheel feel stiffer and the car will also feel stable at higher speeds because the steering will have a tendency to self center. I think this is the main reason why the UK alignment settings have such a high caster setting, their press ripped the car for having little steering feedback.

Keep in mind that static positive caster turns into dynamic negative camber. To offset this, you may want to slightly reduce the static negative camber. Hope this helps.

 

Don't want to bash your idea, but it seems that reducing steering power assistance will only make the wheel harder to turn, without yielding any additional information as to what the front wheels are doing.
Steering "feel" lies in the design of the steering assy (rack and pinion good, recirculating ball, bad), the geometry of the steering links (how they move during compression rebound etc, the type of bushings used to mount the rack etc.

I'd imagine you would generate more steering feedback by removing as much rubber as possible between your steering wheel and the wheels. How is the rack mounted? In rubber bushings? If so, find harder ones. What about the seering rods? Any rubber there? Look into replacing any rubber bushing by steel joints such as Heim joints. I'd wager the guys and gals down in "Racing & Competition" forum
would know about this.

Anyway, hope this helps. If you actually do go into this, keep us posted! thks

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JaminBen
[B]Don't want to bash your idea, but it seems that reducing steering power assistance will only make the wheel harder to turn, without yielding any additional information as to what the front wheels are doing.