How to overcome numb steering feel
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How to overcome numb steering feel
Having driven the 06, the steering feels numb, as in lacking in feel. Just curious if anyone has any success in improving the feel.
I'll elaborate, Steering feel can be broken down in 2 categories. First is steering effort: Too much assist removes the driver from feeling the resistance on the steering wheel during turn in and does not give enough driver feedback on the forces that are applied on the front wheels.
Second category of steering feel is from vibrations that are transmitted from the road and chassis to the steering wheel itself. There are 2 subcategories in this. First is engine vibrations. Because the steering rack is bolted ,via bushings, to the frame, engine induced vibration can be transmitted to the steering rack, then to the steering column, and to the steering wheel for the driver. Feeling some amount of vibration from the wheel is good because the driver can feel what the engine is doing thru his hands thus making him feel connected to the engine. Too much vibration however, will make a driver hands feel fatigued
The second subcategory of vibration induced steering feel can be attributed to the road imperfections such as bumps, potholes, gravel, and surface irregulaities. Feeling the imperfections on the road via the steering wheel makes the driver feel connected to what the tires are undergoing and helps the driver gauge surface conditions. Since the steering mechanisms is bolted to the hub, the only things than can improve feel is the use of harder bushing for all the suspension arms. Tires (side wall stiffness) will also play a role here. I suspect Honda used softer suspension bushings on 2004+ resulting in reduced steering feel.
The solutions are simple. Implementing them may be costly and time consuming. Solution for steering effort - reduce assist by reducing voltage to the electric steering motor or make a cut off switch, only to be turned on for parking lot manuvers. Has anyone tried this? Does Honda Japan sell a manual (non-assisted rack?)
Solution for vibration feel - Use harder bushings for steering rack, and all suspension mounts, where the A arms bolt up to the chassis. Not sure if harder bushings are available from Honda.
Slightly Harder bushing will also benefit handling by reducing the rubber banding effect as the car goes thru a corner. On corner entry, the inital loading flexes the suspension bushings and when you unwind from the turn, the bushing rebounds. All this bushing movesments can changes your wheel geometry or alignment during mid turn. Not a desirable thing. Get the bushing too hard, and the ride will be too choppy. BTW, race cars use steel bushings.
Just want to see if anyone has tried any of the above to improve the steering feel.
I'll elaborate, Steering feel can be broken down in 2 categories. First is steering effort: Too much assist removes the driver from feeling the resistance on the steering wheel during turn in and does not give enough driver feedback on the forces that are applied on the front wheels.
Second category of steering feel is from vibrations that are transmitted from the road and chassis to the steering wheel itself. There are 2 subcategories in this. First is engine vibrations. Because the steering rack is bolted ,via bushings, to the frame, engine induced vibration can be transmitted to the steering rack, then to the steering column, and to the steering wheel for the driver. Feeling some amount of vibration from the wheel is good because the driver can feel what the engine is doing thru his hands thus making him feel connected to the engine. Too much vibration however, will make a driver hands feel fatigued
The second subcategory of vibration induced steering feel can be attributed to the road imperfections such as bumps, potholes, gravel, and surface irregulaities. Feeling the imperfections on the road via the steering wheel makes the driver feel connected to what the tires are undergoing and helps the driver gauge surface conditions. Since the steering mechanisms is bolted to the hub, the only things than can improve feel is the use of harder bushing for all the suspension arms. Tires (side wall stiffness) will also play a role here. I suspect Honda used softer suspension bushings on 2004+ resulting in reduced steering feel.
The solutions are simple. Implementing them may be costly and time consuming. Solution for steering effort - reduce assist by reducing voltage to the electric steering motor or make a cut off switch, only to be turned on for parking lot manuvers. Has anyone tried this? Does Honda Japan sell a manual (non-assisted rack?)
Solution for vibration feel - Use harder bushings for steering rack, and all suspension mounts, where the A arms bolt up to the chassis. Not sure if harder bushings are available from Honda.
Slightly Harder bushing will also benefit handling by reducing the rubber banding effect as the car goes thru a corner. On corner entry, the inital loading flexes the suspension bushings and when you unwind from the turn, the bushing rebounds. All this bushing movesments can changes your wheel geometry or alignment during mid turn. Not a desirable thing. Get the bushing too hard, and the ride will be too choppy. BTW, race cars use steel bushings.
Just want to see if anyone has tried any of the above to improve the steering feel.
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From: Milwaukee Area
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From: Lafayette, LA
Interesting topic. I'd like to know as well, mainly because the lack of steering feel makes it harder to tell what the car is doing. I've found this to be really detrimental when autocrossing and you need to be able to feel what the car/tires are doing so you can make adjustments in between runs. My accord 97 Accord's steering gave more feedback than this car.
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The car has been around for 5 years. I'm sure someone has tried to improve the steering feel. What about driving with no steering assist by pulling the electric steering FUSE. How does that feel like? Does it feel better at speeds above 15mph? Can you drive it at parking lot speeds.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Delaware, OH
You're right: these cars don't communicate much to the driver through the steering wheel. If you find a solution, please let us know. (And it's not just the most recent models. My '00 doesn't transmit much information to me through the steering wheel.)
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Dry Branch
The EPS is numb, even on the AP1s. Alex Pfeiffer put a conventional power steering system (from an RX7) in his drift S2000, and it makes a HUGE difference in the way the steering communicates to the driver. Sadly, on my car, the SC takes up the space needed for the power steering pump. If it weren't for that, this is a mod I'd try myself.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Lafayette, LA
Anyone try the J's Racing SPL Steering Ridge Sleeve Kit?
http://www.aj-racing.com/catalog/pro...?productid=437
There's a mention of it in this thread:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=308141
http://www.aj-racing.com/catalog/pro...?productid=437
There's a mention of it in this thread:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=308141
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I'd like to to give this topic another bump...
I'm a ex-Mazdaspeed Miata owner, and while the S has clearly higher limits, I find myself quite timidly approaching them. I'm used to much more feedback from the steering wheel, and the Miata was a joy to toss around because I knew what each contact patch was doing at all times. I find myself trying to have more "faith" in the S, rather the approaching the limits by feel.
Another thing is, I'm trying to use my rear end more - as the chassis does seem to talk to you, I'm just used to listening with my hands
I'm finding it a hard adjustment to make so far, but I have not yet been on a track.
One question I do have is, does the steering livin' up at track speeds at all?
I'm a ex-Mazdaspeed Miata owner, and while the S has clearly higher limits, I find myself quite timidly approaching them. I'm used to much more feedback from the steering wheel, and the Miata was a joy to toss around because I knew what each contact patch was doing at all times. I find myself trying to have more "faith" in the S, rather the approaching the limits by feel.
Another thing is, I'm trying to use my rear end more - as the chassis does seem to talk to you, I'm just used to listening with my hands
I'm finding it a hard adjustment to make so far, but I have not yet been on a track.
One question I do have is, does the steering livin' up at track speeds at all?