How to get heavier steering? Pull EPS fuse?
#1
How to get heavier steering? Pull EPS fuse?
Since getting my rx8 in '07 I've only two minor quibbles:
1) Seating position a bit too high (cloth, adjusted all the way down)
2) Steering is a bit too light and isolated.
I've come to prefer the heavier feel of my wifes '08 bmw 328i sport pack.
I'm all stock with the Dunlop 8090 oems. Thought about wider wheels or stiffer tires, but tried bumping tire pressures up to 40psi and steering still felt light so I think it is mostly the EPS. I've even thought about pulling the EPS fuse and seeing what that feels like. But maybe there is some way to reprogram the EPS control module.
Anyone have any suggestions?
1) Seating position a bit too high (cloth, adjusted all the way down)
2) Steering is a bit too light and isolated.
I've come to prefer the heavier feel of my wifes '08 bmw 328i sport pack.
I'm all stock with the Dunlop 8090 oems. Thought about wider wheels or stiffer tires, but tried bumping tire pressures up to 40psi and steering still felt light so I think it is mostly the EPS. I've even thought about pulling the EPS fuse and seeing what that feels like. But maybe there is some way to reprogram the EPS control module.
Anyone have any suggestions?
#3
justjim
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
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First raising the tire pressure up front will lighten the steering feel not make it "heavier". You would have been better served to drop a pound or two up front if you want heavier steering. I don't know but I'm pretty sure pulling the fuse isn't going to make you like the steering more. It could be that you could get a better steering feel with an alignment. Perhaps your RX8 is badly in need of an alignment front and rear. I purposely have zero toe but you might want some factory spec toe for directional stability. You would probably best be served by driving your wife's BMW and letting her drive your Mazda. Of all the complaints about the RX8 I've heard this is perhaps the most odd. Personally I find the steering on my RX8 to be about ideal but that's just me.
Last edited by justjim; 01-14-2010 at 09:30 AM.
#4
Not sure what "serious corner" would be. Never been through the corkscrew if that's what you mean, but I've been on a few canyon runs of course.
In some ways the steering is excellent of course, it is very precise and it does seems to have better feel in hard corners. I just like the steering effort to be higher, it gives the beamer a nice meaty feel.
I'm sure with the fuse pulled it would be too heavy, especially at parking lot speeds (used to have a non-PS fiero and that had much smaller tires).
What about people who put 255/40s on 9" wide wheels? Is the steering heavier?
In some ways the steering is excellent of course, it is very precise and it does seems to have better feel in hard corners. I just like the steering effort to be higher, it gives the beamer a nice meaty feel.
I'm sure with the fuse pulled it would be too heavy, especially at parking lot speeds (used to have a non-PS fiero and that had much smaller tires).
What about people who put 255/40s on 9" wide wheels? Is the steering heavier?
#9
#10
Metatron
iTrader: (1)
A while back, Comsumer Reports did an article about the automotive advances made in the last decade, and it ended with a summary that their ideal car would have "....the ride of the BMW i-forget, the lights from an Audi whatsit, and the steering from an RX-8..."
They called it like they saw it - the best steering feel of any car in the last ten years.
Just because your BMW feels heavier, doesn't make it the de-facto standard, sorry.
They called it like they saw it - the best steering feel of any car in the last ten years.
Just because your BMW feels heavier, doesn't make it the de-facto standard, sorry.
#11
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
damn it, Stealth beat me to it.
don't pull the EPS, I had my PS go out and driving the car like that is terrible.
don't pull the EPS, I had my PS go out and driving the car like that is terrible.
#12
A while back, Comsumer Reports did an article about the automotive advances made in the last decade, and it ended with a summary that theirideal car would have "....the ride of the BMW i-forget, the lights from an Audi whatsit, and the steering from an RX-8..."
They called it like they saw it - the best steering feel of any car in the last ten years.
Just because your BMW feels heavier, doesn't make it the de-facto standard, sorry.
They called it like they saw it - the best steering feel of any car in the last ten years.
Just because your BMW feels heavier, doesn't make it the de-facto standard, sorry.
Other aspects of the BMW bug me, the throttle response is muted and sometimes hard to predict (automatic), I've driven a manual and the shifter and clutch felt horrible, totally disconnected. And of course the BMW isn't as neutral in the turns (no LSD). But the turn-in is awesome, especially with just a dab of brakes...
#15
What mawd bug?
iTrader: (3)
The 2009 Audi A4 S-line has heavy steering too. I think it's abit of a PITA..
It's not OVERLY heavy, it's got some computer **** going on so if you're going faster it's heavier, I guess to limit people from being retards at high speed.. It's interesting, and makes the sedan feel sporty, but I prefer the RX-8 by FAR.
I'm sure the BMW has something similar to this..
If you want light steering, drive a 300C with the hemi, accelerate, and try to corner.. It's like floating a steering wheel on a soft pillowy bed of death.
It's not OVERLY heavy, it's got some computer **** going on so if you're going faster it's heavier, I guess to limit people from being retards at high speed.. It's interesting, and makes the sedan feel sporty, but I prefer the RX-8 by FAR.
I'm sure the BMW has something similar to this..
If you want light steering, drive a 300C with the hemi, accelerate, and try to corner.. It's like floating a steering wheel on a soft pillowy bed of death.
#16
Was your ex-NA a PS or non-PS? I've driven one (a friend's) but I'm not sure which...nice steering regardless.
#17
Registered Toker
iTrader: (2)
Fair enough, I don't claim the BMW steering is objectively better. I just personally prefer the heft. Not bashing on the RX8, just a minor quibble, and I can see how others could find the the BMW steering cumbersome. But if you haven't driven a 3-series w/ sport pack you should check it out just to see the difference.
Other aspects of the BMW bug me, the throttle response is muted and sometimes hard to predict (automatic), I've driven a manual and the shifter and clutch felt horrible, totally disconnected. And of course the BMW isn't as neutral in the turns (no LSD). But the turn-in is awesome, especially with just a dab of brakes...
Other aspects of the BMW bug me, the throttle response is muted and sometimes hard to predict (automatic), I've driven a manual and the shifter and clutch felt horrible, totally disconnected. And of course the BMW isn't as neutral in the turns (no LSD). But the turn-in is awesome, especially with just a dab of brakes...
#18
I still say that even with PS it gave me tons of steering feel compared to my 8.
#19
started with PS, eventually pulled the belt. Loved it without the belt. The car was light enough to turn at parking lot speeds without too much effort. I believe a true non-PS miata has different ratio in the steering box, but I've never driven one.
I still say that even with PS it gave me tons of steering feel compared to my 8.
I still say that even with PS it gave me tons of steering feel compared to my 8.
#21
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
I find the RX8's steering to be heavy enough as is, of course to a point where it is a good thing and nothing less. Even my cousin's stock Evo IX MR Special Edition has lighter steering with 235 wide factory tires. Are you used to driving manual racks or something?
#22
I find the RX8's steering to be heavy enough as is, of course to a point where it is a good thing and nothing less. Even my cousin's stock Evo IX MR Special Edition has lighter steering with 235 wide factory tires. Are you used to driving manual racks or something?
I also found this great article:
http://www.autospeed.com.au/cms/A_2390/article.html
The torque sensor is located where the steering column meets the rack on our car and is pretty accessible so this is a potential long term solution.