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Location:
Tasmania
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: RA40 heavy steering
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Thu, 20 June 2002 04:02
 
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Caster effects how heavy the steering is alot. Older cars such as RA40 Celicas and older, and KE30 Corollas, are set up from factory to have nearly no caster (strut is almost verticle) as this gives very light steering, and power steering is not needed. Newer cars are set up with more caster (strut on a angle) as this gives dynamic camber (all good) and increases handling and grip. But the extra caster makes steering heavy, so these cars also have power steering. Note that big cars, like a commodore, or trucks even, noticeably have lots of caster, and you can see the camber of the wheels when turned, and these cars have powersteering. Lots of caster makes the steering heavy because when you turn the wheel, you are actualy lifting the front of the car up a few mm. Caster makes the car go strait when you let go of the wheel as well, and gives more self centering action. Caster is a good thing, I have increased it on my KE55, but the steering is heavyer, that is ok.
If the car wanders about, your front wheels are probably toe-out or strait ahead. With a RWD car you want the front wheels toed-in. You don't need a full on wheel alighment to do this, you eye ball it crouching down infront of your car and adjust the steering rods so you have just a little toe-in.
If you have too much toe-in, the steering will be heavy.
If you have more caster on one side than the other, the car will tend to steer off to one side. If you increase the caster on both sides, this problem will be hidden.
Oil in thes steering box will make no difference, but make sure it is topped up anyhow. The level is ment to be 15mm from the top filler plug, with GL4 oil.
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