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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2004
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damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 01:35
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Well im slowly ironing all the bugs out of the sprinter.
Ive rebuilt the steering rack, genuine toyota bush, new rack ends, tie rod ends, rack boots. And plenty of new grease. I have replaced the steering knuckle (2nd hand) the one that connects to the rack. And it was better than my previous one that was very stiff.
However i still have damn heavy steering. Wheel allignment has been performed to orignal specs.
Whiteline springs
There are currently no RCA's on there
Standard front struts
Ive got a couple more ideas on what i will replace/adjust next, but just wanted anyone else's expertise in this area.
So anyone got input on how they fixed the heavy steering in their sprinter?
Regards, Chris
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Registered:
October 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 01:40
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I had to get stronger. 
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 01:44
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| xolent wrote on Sun, 12 June 2005 11:40 |
I had to get stronger.
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lol, ok well ive driven many other sprinters, and mine is still much heavier then those, so its definitly something to do with my car.
note: obviously my car doesent have power steering, and either have others ive driven 
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Location:
Campbelltown
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 01:44
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get new struts, and new tyres that will help, other than that just grin and bear it, put more air in the front tyres. Personally the steering on my rona should be heavier, no ps too and more weight over the front wheels. I find it a breeze to turn the wheel even at parking speed. I have driven my sis's ke70 and would say that her steering would be slitghly hevaier than mine, but her tyres rarely have the proper air in them plus it has worn shocks and springs, but wouldn't really say its heavy.
Maybe its not really that heavy you just need to get used to it.
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Location:
tallahassee FL usOFa
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 02:09
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wide tires and/or big offset and/or the strut mount bearing.
also "Ive rebuilt the steering rack"
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 02:21
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tyres are about 1000k's old and have correct pressure or a little more in them.
rims are only 5.5inch wide. the "i've rebuilt the steering rack" referes to the fact that it was done in a friends garage, with a qualified mechanic pretty much doing all the work for me  .
I think it might be the uni joint...
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Registered:
October 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 05:12
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i ran my tires with 37 psi, was a miracle how much of a difference it was.
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Banned user
Location:
Liverpool NSW
Registered:
March 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 05:48
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| xolent wrote on Sun, 12 June 2005 15:12 |
i ran my tires with 37 psi, was a miracle how much of a difference it was.
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same here, made a huge difference
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Location:
Campbelltown
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 05:49
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yeah tyre pressures help alot i run mine at 38psi
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Perth, WA
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 07:02
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if your running a lot of castor the steering will be heavier.
if your car is lowered u could be experiencing bumpsteer
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Location:
Carlingford, Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 08:24
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caster can be the big killer with steering weight
mine is so damn heavy
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Location:
Melb
Registered:
December 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 11:25
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do any sprinters come with power steering? if not can u put in power steering is it better or worse cause its a small car?
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Location:
NSW, East Coast
Registered:
July 2003
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 13:57
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| Supra8u wrote on Sun, 12 June 2005 21:25 |
do any sprinters come with power steering? if not can u put in power steering is it better or worse cause its a small car?
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Yes they do have powersteering available, and no i dont think its really worth it.
In the car that i have driven with powersteering it was way to light, i dunno just my preference i guess.
Cheers
Steve
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 23:23
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i run the tyres on 40psi usually, to no avail.
the castor is fine.
im sure its something getting old and stiff, i keep thinking the knuckle, casue when i replaced it, it did heaps (to fix the heavy steering i had), and now its not so good.
Basically u have to turn the car, and then unturn it, like the steering wheel hardly spins back the other way unless u make it.... its that bad.
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Location:
Sydney NSW
Registered:
July 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Sun, 12 June 2005 23:37
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The steering should "self centre" (ie come back to centre) by itself under normal driving conditions, so it sounds like something in your steering is seriously constipated. Wider tires/offset will create more drag, making it a little harder to self centre at low speeds, but it should still go straight ahead when you let go of the wheel on the freeway . After all, this "self centering", allowing the wheel to spin freely in your hands, is a common technique used in drift.
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Location:
tallahassee FL usOFa
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Mon, 13 June 2005 13:08
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the uni-joint would have been very noticable when you removed & replaced the rack, so i don't think you could've missed it.
the ball joint on the bottom, and the bearing in the upper mount are all there is, besides what you've worked on.
i think you've got the rack to pinion gear adjustment too tight.
there is a "pad" that holds the rack against the pinion.
on an old rack with some wear, that has to be adjusted so that the relatively UN-WORN places on either side of center to the end will move freely, and not adjusted for only the center position.
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Tue, 14 June 2005 04:10
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Could be caster. RCAs should make a difference if the whiteline springs are lower than stock.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
sydney.au
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Tue, 14 June 2005 05:31
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more camber and castor
should do the trick
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Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Tue, 14 June 2005 05:41
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| ae86drift wrote on Tue, 14 June 2005 15:31 |
more camber and castor
should do the trick
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??? Increasing castor increases steering effort.
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I supported Toymods
Location:
sydney.au
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Tue, 14 June 2005 05:50
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seemed to help my car
although my car has quite modified front suspension
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
May 2004
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Wed, 15 June 2005 00:52
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| allencr wrote on Mon, 13 June 2005 23:08 |
the uni-joint would have been very noticable when you removed & replaced the rack, so i don't think you could've missed it.
the ball joint on the bottom, and the bearing in the upper mount are all there is, besides what you've worked on.
i think you've got the rack to pinion gear adjustment too tight.
there is a "pad" that holds the rack against the pinion.
on an old rack with some wear, that has to be adjusted so that the relatively UN-WORN places on either side of center to the end will move freely, and not adjusted for only the center position.
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thanks man, will investigate this on the weekend, thanks for ur help.
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Location:
Campbelltown
Registered:
November 2003
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Re: damn heavy steering
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Wed, 15 June 2005 12:05
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seems like i spoke too soon, my new wheels are now heavy as on the steering still fine to drive but like ten times stiffer than before, but they are the same width lol. Will go put air in them on the weekend and see what there at but don't look like their flat so wait and see i guess.
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