I have an 86 gxl, with PS and 150k on it. I was wondering what could be done to sharpen up the steering feel? are there bushings to replace with polyurethane ones? or other hardware for the steering to buy? Or is stiffening the front via strut bars the only way to improve steering?

I already have plans to remove the PS, both for better road feel, and to take some weight off the front of the car. I'm removing my ac and relocating my battery for the same purposes, what else can i do to improve/sharpen my steering?

 

and i dont want to convert to the manual rack, I prefer the lower (more sensetive) ratio of the power rack.

 

Rotate your front upper strut mounts for better caster.

Make it so the front inner bolt becomes the rear inner bolt on both sides. (they are indexed)

That should help your turn-in response quite a bit, and it's free!

 

A lower profile tire will help.

 

He's already bitching about 50 series ride quality... Lower will make him hate his car even more.

 

Like said in the other thread - with 36PSI in 50 profile tires you are just tip-toeing on a tiny footprint.
With 50's in front & 55's in back 28PSI is about right.
Try it - feels like you are on rails.

 

I replaced the front control arm and sway bar bushings with MComp polyurethane and it made a noticeable difference. Also....I removed the PS but wished I had not. I actually think the PS makes the steering feel better, not worse.

Todd

 

Change your alignment - if you want quicker steering, dial in some toe-out up front.&nbsp This will allow the front to respond to steering inputs faster.&nbsp Don't get too crazy, as the trade off is self-centering at high speeds.&nbsp Too much toe-out will cause the car to wander at higher speeds.


-Ted

 

any way to dial in more caster when u have camber plates?

 

Thanks for the info so far guys, but what i'm really loking for is info on ways to improve steering by replacing or upgrading parts more directly associated with the steering rack/shaft/links. I'm familiar with the concepts of chassis stiffening and using harder bushings to eliminate suspension comliance. Both of these seem to me to be SLIGHTLY indirect ways of adressing steering response, and tire/wheel is also indirect.
I dont mean to sound like an ***, and i'm sorry if i have, but i'm really lookign for info on how to improve the steering hardware itself.
-thanks -Matt

 

That's going to have to be a custom job! I know what you mean though. I actually wanted a rack with a quicker ratio but was unable to locate a stock replacement. I found some "racing" racks but they would have required custom fabricated brackets, tie rods, etc. . I always wanted my FC to steer "quicker", the things mentioned above will help without being too much of a pain to install.

Todd

 

I dunno what your intentions are, but you're trying to tackle a mole hill with a bulldozer.

Alignment will easily solve your "problem".

Even if you upgrade all the steering components, it will give you negligable improvement versus dialing in some toe-out.&nbsp Bottom line is the tires are still going to be the softest part of the equation, and this is something you really can't control - maybe we need a thread on tires with the stiffest thread wall?

MazdaComp might have some stiffer steering bushings, but don't quote me on this - this still requires a membership with racing results.&nbsp You can add a strut tower bar up front, but you won't notice too much unless we're talking weird road camber.&nbsp Hell, you might as well upgrade your entire suspension to stiffer parts...


-Ted