loose steering feeling after track days..

Nism0370 · 12-29-2012, 07:25 AM

I feel like my steering is a bit loose after my last track day. The wheel is not nearly as reponsive as it used to be. The car drives straight when my hands arent on the wheel but I can whip the wheel 90degrees from one side to the left and right and there is a mushy floaty feel with minimal turning reponse, no more tight handling feeling. Also wheel vibration and road feedback seems poor. I have proper tire pressure in michelin pilot ss tires and swift springs on nismo shocks. I haven't checked power steering fluid but I can easily move the wheel at a complete stop with no noises so im not suspecting that. I've done a search online and seem to come up with tie rod ends, center link, alignment slipped swaybar loosened, etc.. any ideas? Car has 6700 miles but has seen some tough love @ the track. What do you think? Any ideas? Thank you...Happy Holidays

SouthArk370Z · 12-29-2012, 09:02 AM

"Mushy" sounds like low fluid or bad control system to me. Worn suspension parts usually produce "hard" symptoms (clunks/thuds, dead spot in steering, &c)

SS_Firehawk · 12-29-2012, 09:20 AM

Check into a power steering cooler.

cheshirecat · 01-02-2013, 07:33 AM

Sounds like you need to flush out the fluid, OP. A power steering cooler upgrade isn't that expensive, may want to look into it if you're thinking about more HPDE's that resemble this last one you went on.

mults · 01-03-2013, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nism0370

I feel like my steering is a bit loose after my last track day. The wheel is not nearly as reponsive as it used to be. The car drives straight when my hands arent on the wheel but I can whip the wheel 90degrees from one side to the left and right and there is a mushy floaty feel with minimal turning reponse, no more tight handling feeling. Also wheel vibration and road feedback seems poor. I have proper tire pressure in michelin pilot ss tires and swift springs on nismo shocks. I haven't checked power steering fluid but I can easily move the wheel at a complete stop with no noises so im not suspecting that. I've done a search online and seem to come up with tie rod ends, center link, alignment slipped swaybar loosened, etc.. any ideas? Car has 6700 miles but has seen some tough love @ the track. What do you think? Any ideas? Thank you...Happy Holidays

How much tread is left on the Michelins? Sounds like the track may have worn the tires to the point where some of the grip is gone. Even though the car has 6700 miles, the tires may be on their way out.

Nism0370 · 01-04-2013, 02:48 PM

The power steering fluid is on the Min. line cold and the tires are fairly new, only a few track days on them...plenty of tread left. I'm going the jack the car up tonight to double check all the joints the shocks and swaybar links, etc. and tomorrow I'm going in for an alignment check and fill power steering fluid. I'll report back with my progress! Thank you for all of your help

12-29-2012, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nism0370 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DE Posts: 99 Drives: 09 GTR/11 Nismo Rep Power: 14	loose steering feeling after track days.. I feel like my steering is a bit loose after my last track day. The wheel is not nearly as reponsive as it used to be. The car drives straight when my hands arent on the wheel but I can whip the wheel 90degrees from one side to the left and right and there is a mushy floaty feel with minimal turning reponse, no more tight handling feeling. Also wheel vibration and road feedback seems poor. I have proper tire pressure in michelin pilot ss tires and swift springs on nismo shocks. I haven't checked power steering fluid but I can easily move the wheel at a complete stop with no noises so im not suspecting that. I've done a search online and seem to come up with tie rod ends, center link, alignment slipped swaybar loosened, etc.. any ideas? Car has 6700 miles but has seen some tough love @ the track. What do you think? Any ideas? Thank you...Happy Holidays __________________ 2011 Nismo-Swift springs, Stillen G3, F.I. LTH and CBE, SS lines, Motul 600, Carbotech pads, Setrab 25R oil cooler, Uprev Tune 323 whp 2009 GT-R Gun Metal Grey-AAM GT650-R 540awhp

12-29-2012, 09:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	"Mushy" sounds like low fluid or bad control system to me. Worn suspension parts usually produce "hard" symptoms (clunks/thuds, dead spot in steering, &c) __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

12-29-2012, 09:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
SS_Firehawk Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,142 Drives: 13' Magma Red Nismo Rep Power: 7335	Check into a power steering cooler. DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ Old Car:GTM TSC'd 550whp / 410lbft tq @ 11.88PSI New Car: Under Construction

01-02-2013, 07:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 293	Sounds like you need to flush out the fluid, OP. A power steering cooler upgrade isn't that expensive, may want to look into it if you're thinking about more HPDE's that resemble this last one you went on. DEpointfive0 likes this.

01-04-2013, 02:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nism0370 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DE Posts: 99 Drives: 09 GTR/11 Nismo Rep Power: 14	The power steering fluid is on the Min. line cold and the tires are fairly new, only a few track days on them...plenty of tread left. I'm going the jack the car up tonight to double check all the joints the shocks and swaybar links, etc. and tomorrow I'm going in for an alignment check and fill power steering fluid. I'll report back with my progress! Thank you for all of your help __________________ 2011 Nismo-Swift springs, Stillen G3, F.I. LTH and CBE, SS lines, Motul 600, Carbotech pads, Setrab 25R oil cooler, Uprev Tune 323 whp 2009 GT-R Gun Metal Grey-AAM GT650-R 540awhp

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