Chevy-SS

Is it possible to somehow reduce steering effort? I would like steering effort reduced by about 20%. I am used to driving older cars and trucks, with LOTS of steering assist. A lot of those older vehicles probably had way too much steering assist, lol, but I think the Vette does not have enough assist. It takes a little too much effort to work the wheel while driving, IMO................ Car is a 2004 C5.

NOTE: I realize it has the Variable Effort Steering (VES) system, or MAGNASTEER IIŽ variable assist steering and this is supposedly for my own safety: yada, yada, yada. I simply want less steering effort.

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verano29

Hit the gym

Lancer033

less caster in the alignment should help some, but i'd say hit the gym more because the vette isn't/shouldn't be that hard to turn. You sure everything is working fine?

ALLEGRO

When I still had my Run Flat's, I cannot imagine having more assist. That thing would have been all over the place in a bumpy turn.

Dave Sweatt

The steering's numb enough as it is. I wish it had MORE feedback, not less.

lucky131969

Why not just put on a drag pak? That will make it steer and handle like an old car......

Chevy-SS

Well, you guys are tough. I grew up on cars and trucks that had tons of assist. That's the way I like it. I use a 30-pound weight at home here to work out with (plus Nautilus machines at the gym), so I know my arms are plenty strong, lol.

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dougbfresh

Put on a BIGGER steering wheel like the old cars had!

AJay

I think there is something with alignment that affects steering resistance. I just had an "incident" with my car whereby I slid into a concrete curb and bent my front wheel and damaged the wheel bearing. Insurance paid for a new wheel, tire, bearing and alignment but since getting the car back it steers MUCH harder at slow speeds. I plan to take it back to have it checked out. I go to the gym but it still steers too hard for me. Especially having gotten used to the way it was supposed to be.

Drewstein

Go to the gym or get another car. Old ladies can handle them so you should be fine.

My bet is something's wrong with the car or power steering.

mathia

Get an alignment done and have them take out some caster. I've had a few different alignments on my car over the years and caster makes a noticeable difference in the steering effort, particularly at speed when the variable assist dials back the power steering.

Brice

+1 it's a sport car.

the C6 is softer btw

Choreo

Mine became very hard to steer after the dealership installed my last steering rack. I did a vacuum purge on the system and steering improved about 20%. You may have air in the system?

The dealership told me they had done a vacuum purge during the re-install and that the only way they could improve the steering effort would be to order/install yet another steering rack to see if that would fix it. They said that air in the system would not cause it to steer harder. I took the car home - put a vacuum on the Power Steering filler neck according to directions I found here on the forum and that fixed it for me. You could actually hear the gurgle as the air was removed at one point. Took about 5 minutes.

Quick Silver Z

Has anyone tried Doug Rippie's Steering Rack Bushing?

"These DRM Steering rack bushings will increase steering feel. The solid bushings will increase steering feel and get rid of unwanted slop in the rack. The bushings are made from aluminum and are plated black for a long lasting finish. Like all of our products the idea and design came from racing and they work."

Bill Dearborn

The magnasteer increases steering effort as the car goes faster. The system operates by electrically boosting the assist at slow speeds while there is only hyraulic assist at medium speeds and at high speeds the system electrically adds resistance so the effort is harder. Usually if something fails in this area the steering stays light as a feather from slow speed to high. I had this happen to my 97 and since the car's steering response is very quick at high speeds you really want the extra effort or you would be changing lanes every time you sneezed, coughed or passed gas. At 140+ you want the steering effort to get harder rather than easier.

If your steering is excessively hard at slow speeds or when parking the car then there probably is something wrong with the rack or the power steering pump. You should be able to turn the steering wheel with your fingers while parking the car.

Bill

Chevy-SS

Yep, yep, no argument with this. I'd WANT steering effort harder at 140, but I don't want it harder at 50mph.

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Bill Dearborn

At 50 the steering effort isn't very heavy. If the alignment is set right with lots of caster the steering will take a little more effort to initially move off center (which is very good).

Bill

Chevy-SS

Bill, thanks. I like lots of caster, maximum caster is my friend. I like a vehicle to track straight. But I am used to older cars, where steering effort is almost non-existent. I am not trying to duplicate those cars. Just trying to see if there's easy way to lighten it a little on the Vette.

If not, no big deal.

thanks, Dave

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Uncle John

A good blower should raise the front wheels and thereby reduce steering effort.

Got uid0

No you do not want that on a sports car unless of course you wish to easily wreck it.

You should be able to turn the wheel withe one finger and thumb, if not you have a power steering / rack issue.

I too had a very stiff steering wheel after an install from the stealership. They fixed it