Improving Steering Feel?
 

I have a 2000 S2K that is stock with 39k on the ODO. Car was aligned at around 30k and has always had bad steering feel.

I am wondering if there is anyway to get the EPS to transmit more road feel? I love the car but am about ready to move on. The front end on this car has always been vague as far as road feed back off center. Weight is good but very little feedback as to what the front end is doing when pushing it. It really affects driving the car how it was designed to be used when the front end is vague.

I grew up driving E30s and other older EU sports cars include M3 M5 M6 and P cars. Everytime I go back and drive hydraulic rack cars again my S2000 steering feels numb. It seems the EPS damps all of the high frequencies through the column.

Is there anyway around this with mods? It’s a great sports car but the steering feel is imho pathetic. I’ve had the car about 10 years at this point and am looking at maybe just getting something else if this can’t be rectified. I only have one slot in my garage for a sports car really and have been looking at maybe a Cayman or something with a hydraulic rack.

Get it aligned and make sure you have the right size and type of tire - choose one that enhances steering feel.

If you still dislike it, sell it. Trying to "fix" it is going to turn into a snowball of issues.

Stock tire sizes?

No wheel spacers?

What suspension?

It is possible to modify the amount of assist from the power steering. Some have disabled it altogether, some have reduced it (via electronic hack). Reducing assist increases feedback.

Would it be enough? Maybe. Or maybe something is wrong with your car, that fixing would make all the difference.

This car is known to have less steering feedback than the masters of that art, BMW. But what you're describing sounds more like something ain't right.

A drive in another S might help.

Spoon rigid collar

Maybe, the tires are old. On this car, it makes a difference.

Same steering issue for all of your 10 years with the car? What tires are on the car and when were they made? OEM tire sizes?

-- Chuck

EPS is variable support - high at low speed, and less at faster speed - I think by 30 mph it is completely inert, meaning the lack of road feel is more because of the "indirect" design of the rack.

I know some people swapped RX-7 hydraulic racks in, for things like drifting, but for road feel, reducing the camber and going to narrower tires helps. Also, go with "rounded" shouldered tires vs squared and you'll feel the road better.

I think part of the feel is also tied to the S2000's F1-inspired geometry. Steering wheel feedback is not so important in F1 compared to brake and yaw feedback?

Lowering it and getting it aligned afterwards can help.

Lack of steering feel is one of the many quirks about this car. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

I agree with everyone else's suggestion to just avoid trying to "fix" this issue. I think tires do make a huge difference--so if you aren't already on some grippy 200TW tires, try that.

I’ve read anecdotal evidence that the spoon rigid subframe collars, solid steering rack bushings and an x brace will also improve steering feel. Havent tried them personally