power steering improvement

[ever88]

Hello all

after some time spent away with other cars I have recently purchased my third 944 Turbo

very pleased with it but after ownership of newer cars I do feel that the power steering could be lighter.

I know that there will be many who are happy with the way there car is as standard but my question is,

what can I do to make the steering just a little lighter?

do I get a smaller pulley to make pump spin faster, fit a larger capacity pump, or something else?

if you could help me with thios one I shall be most grateful

Paul

 

[Lowtimer]

I am sure there are others here with far more practical engineering knowledge of hydraulic PAS systems than I have, but until they chip in I think the first factor you would have to consider is the valving to increase the fluid flow to the system for a given input. Only then would the question of the pump capacity or system pressure possibly become an issue (given normal Porsche over-engineering I doubt that a modest change i nvalving would leave the standard pump wanting, providing it is in good nick).

Of course all that would be a last resort after having gone through the system to eliminate other sources of tightness and friction, which I assume you have already done. You don;t say what wheels and tyres you are on but another way of lightening the steering and improving the feel somewhat can be to down-tyre a bit. Personally I think a late Turbo is slightly over-tyred for normal road use and prefer the feel on the slightly narrower S2 wheels.

I am sure you already know this but you could also look at some geometry tricks and a call to Centre Gravity might be worth while to see if they coul recommend any geo tweaks that would help lighten the steering, e.g. a castor reduction, without disrupting the handling too much.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

What Lowtimer said. I'd agree that the first thing is what wheels are you on? Followed by checking tyre pressure as an obvious thing. Then, geometery and the condition of all the PAS system.

The steering is heavier on a 944 than on modern stuff, it's particularly noticeable when my other half occasionally drives mine after her Legacy. Japanese cars are so over-assisited it does come as a shock. But, she settles into it within a few miles, so I'd think yours is possibly heavier than it should be.

 

[sulzeruk]

Best course of action is to drain the pump and system, rebuild the pump and put new fluid in. You will notice a difference. Most cars are still on their original pump so worth doing the seals in the pump, a cheap and easy DIY job.
Alasdair

 

[DivineE]

I know you've had them before but I would repeat above that the system working correctly is not unusually heavy or strenuous to operate. Chances are pretty strong that its not functioning entirely correctly as this is a week point on the 944 anyway (easy to rectify). I had a very low mileage and extremely well kept turbo at one point and the steering on that was really noticeably lighter than I've had on any of my other cars (including current). It's not like a modern system with no feel but it should certainly not be a strenuous car to steer if functioning correctly.

 

[sawood12]

I wouldn't mess around too much with the stock system. If you were able to increase the pressure in the system then you might be doing damage to the pump. These things operate at pretty hight pressures and what you may think is a modest increase in pressure might cause a detrimental affect on the pump. As others have said - make sure the original system is working as best as it can and make sure your suspension and steering geometry is all as it should be, as well as making sure your bushes are all in good nick. It'll never be as light as a modern car (which are over light in my view to the detriment of the steering feedback) but you may get improvements from where you are now. Just doing a fluid change makes a difference.