Steering Heavier Than Usual

[Motorhead]

Does your car have power steering plus optioned? Maybe be another avenue to persue.

Did the OP ever confirm whether or not his car has the Power Steering Plus option? I can’t help wondering whether this is not giving the extra assistance at lower speeds.

I don’t think so Andrew, and I asked again in a later post. However, in his original post Mark seemed to imply that the problem occurred suddenly, so you’d have to assume that PSP isn’t a factor if indeed his 718 has that option.

Since his front tyre wear looks fine you’d have to assume that the geo is OK, and it seems that the Dealer couldn’t find anything wrong with the steering and suspension so my feeling is that there’s either a problem with the steering rack itself or maybe a track-rod joint or that there’s an EPAS software problem, although you’d think that a PIWIS diagnostic check should throw up an error if there’s a problem? All rather puzzling.

Jeff

 

[Markjp]

Does your car have power steering plus optioned? Maybe be another avenue to persue.

Did the OP ever confirm whether or not his car has the Power Steering Plus option? I can’t help wondering whether this is not giving the extra assistance at lower speeds.

Hi, no I don't think I answered that question, but no I don't have the Power Steering Plus option.

Mark

 

[Markjp]

I am getting a bit frustrated with my OPC. I have been chasing the Service Advisor up for a response to an email I sent on the 8th October as I wanted to know what if anything further can be done to regarding the steering weight issue and also the cost for two new rear tyres as they are approaching 3mm and OPC says Porsche recommend changing tyres at 3mm. He asked whether I would be happier if they checked the front Geometry, which I said yes. I got the feeling they might do this FOC though he didn't commit to this.

I last spoke to him on Friday and he said he would email me by the end of the day. It's now end of Tuesday and still no response.

I don't want to get the Car geometry checked elsewhere until I know what my OPC might do. But equally I would like to get the geometry checked and tyres replaced sooner rather than later.

Managed to speak to the Service Advisor at my OPC today and they are not going to do a check on the front Geometry FOC. The cost would be £148.80 for a four wheel check and a further £223.20 for any adjustments required, a total £372.00.

I won't be taking taking my Cayman to my OPC at that cost, so just need to decide whether I take it to Parr's at £300 or somewhere cheaper like AndrewT's suggestion of the Wheel Alignment Centre in Southampton.

 

[Motorhead]

Mark,

For that price I’d opt for Parr.

If you Google ‘suspension geometry setup West Sussex’ there’s plenty of choice if you want to keep the cost down especially if all you want is a suspension check, although you might just as well get it set-up properly while it’s on the bench since I suspect that the rear suspension at least will require adjustment.

Jeff

 

[JohnCRS]

I think I would want to go to someone, like Parr, who have plenty of experience of your model Porsche. They can do the alignment but might even save you money if they test it first and provide a diagnosis. If you need to spend that sort of cash, get all the expertise and information you can.

 

[Markjp]

Ok, decision made. Cayman is booked into Parr's this Friday pm for a full Geometry check/adjust.

Once done I will post an update with before and after settings.

Mark

 

[Motorhead]

A good decision I think Mark. I’m sure that Parr will do a thorough job and will discuss with you how you would like the car set-up. Their race car experience will be invaluable in this respect.

They’ll also be able to have a close look at the steering and front suspension to see if there’s anything suspicious regarding your heavy steering issue.

Keep us posted.

Jeff

 

[Markjp]

Here are the alignment settings from my visit to Parr's on Friday. They said it was all ok and no adjustments were necessary. Cost £120.

Their printer had broken down so they gave me a picture of the settings. I hope it's clear enough to read.

They also said the rear tyre tread depth was 5mm on both tyres that's for outer/inner and middle across the centre 75% which is how they measure it. My OPC as well as going down to 10th of mm's must measure further out on the tyre for inner and outer. I know 75% is the width used when measuring for legal minimum tread of 1.6mm but it doesn't give the full picture in my view. So I am still unsure whether the tyre wear would be regarded as normal or not.

 

[Motorhead]

Mark,

Just picked-up on this - it somehow slipped under my radar. The printout’s difficult to read but if Parr say that it’s within spec then as far as your perceived heavy steering problem is concerned it’s something to cross off the list of potential causes, and it seems that the Dealer’s tread depth measurement probably was a red herring in terms of excessive wear pattern.

I presume that Parr also checked the the front suspension and steering and confirmed your Dealer’s findings, so I’m not sure where you can go from here to address your steering problem apart from trying to get your Dealer to swop-out components such as the steering rack itself or the EPS control module, which would require buy-in from Porsche UK and maybe the factory. If your Dealer proves to be obstructive you will need to escalate the matter by contacting Porsche UK directly.

Hope you manage to resolve the issue to your satisfaction.

Jeff

 

[Markjp]

I've typed out the Geometry settings as the picture is not clear and too small.

Here's the Rear, I'll do the Front later:-

 

[Markjp]

And the Front:

 

[Motorhead]

Thanks Mark. That all looks pretty balanced and solid to me and well within spec, as has been pointed out. Although very small geometry changes can make a difference to handling characteristics and steering feel I can’t see anything there that would cause the sudden increase in the heaviness of the steering which I believe occurred when you were away from home.

Unless you’re prepared to live with it - and I’m sure that with time you’ll become desensitised to an extent - as said above I think that if your Porsche Centre remains unhelpful you’ll have to take-up the issue with Porsche UK in Reading.

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

Interesting thread.

If Parr says the car is straight then that is good, but did they drive it?

An indie who is used to driving about older cars rather than new ones will have a very good 'feel' if the car is good, bad or iffy.

My 987.2 is heavy at parking speeds, and not exactly light when going along, BUT I judge it by my Skoda Superb...

My daughter drove my Boxster coming straight from her MX5 and the very first thing she said when pulling out of the drive was the steering weight was 'very hard', but found it fine when going.

The Boxster in my case seems a heavy feel of a car compared to my 1973 911, but it depends so much on your comparison 'model'.

If Parr did not drive it on the open road, I would ask them to take you out in it for 10 mins and get their reaction, it could all be normal.

 

[Markjp]

Thanks Jeff for feeding back on the Geometry settings.

I think for the time being I will live with the steering. As you inferred, I am fast becoming used to it.

Mark

 

[Havard]

Just interested as to whether this ever got a definitive answer on the steering. I have just had steering rack failure on a 981 S.

I am aware of another member with the same issue on a 981 Boxster.

Paul.

 

[JohnCRS]

Hi Harvard. Could you let us have a few more details about ‘failure’ please. What were the symptoms, what actually failed etc. Just so that we understand the issue a bit more. Who are you using to resolve the issue. Warranty?

I am not being nosy, but such information can be useful to others.

John

 

[Bus_ter]

So interestingly I've noticed my steering has also become a little stiffer. It's not a huge difference, but enough that when I get in the car and drive my 'muscle memory' knows the difference. I forget about it, but then the next time I drive the car I feel the difference again and remember. I also have a base 718.

I'm wondering if you ever had any progress with this issue or just left it?

I found your post by searching online for the issue. This is the only hit I found, so it doesn't seem to be a common issue.

 

[Motorhead]

Simon,

Unsurprisingly the assistance for the EPAS is provided by an electric motor and on Porsches I believe that this is modulated by inputs from steering wheel angle and yaw rate sensors, road speed, stability management and the DME which are fed to the EPAS control module, so there are a lot of sources, any one of which - or in combination - potentially could cause the sort of problem you and others are describing.

I think the only way to track down the source(s) of the issue is to run some Porsche-specific diagnostics like PIWIS when the vehicle is stationary as well as when it is being driven to ensure that inputs to the EPAS module are within the expected parameters. If that’s the case then you’d have to suspect a faulty EPAS module, electric motor or maybe a mechanical fault with the steering rack itself?

Jeff