light steering

[pook]

I drive a 2001 Boxster S 40000k , the steering feels very light when doing
over 90/1oo mph. Is this the way Boxsters drive or is this a tyre issue?

[Highlow]

Mine is the same.

[Meir]

same here.
was starting to think something is wrong with my front suspension or the steering system. it is very annoying and not very "sporty" feeling IMHO.

[san rensho]

What do you mean by light? Mine feels firmly planted. Try running even tire pressure all around, in the 34-38 psi range. Boxsters handle like crap with the recommended differential of 7 psi front to rear, which gives way too much understeer.

I've been running 36 front, 30 rear and the car turns much better, really gets rid of some of the understeer. Try running 36 all around, the car really handles much better.

[pothole]

Boxster steering is over assisted at all speeds, I'm afraid.

[Meir]

Thinking about installing an under pulley.
Think it will affect the steering (less RPM on the pump)?

[pothole]

I asked that question and was told that it doesn't make an noticeable difference to steering weight. Haven't tried myself.

Completely removing the assistance is an option. Will be a bit grim parking, but could be really nice on the move.

It's something I'm considering, anyway.

[thstone]

I haven't noticed any particular lightness in the steering at over 100mph. Last weekend at the track I estimate that I did ~200 runs at over 100mph (twice each lap for ~100 laps cumulative). Car was firmly planted and rock solid. Front straight top speed was around 122mph and back straight top speed was around 115mph.

Like San Rensho I run the tire pressures the same all around so you might give that a try (easy and super cheap).

(I hope that it doesn't sound like I'm exaggerating, here is how I came up wth that number: six 30-min sessions over the weekend (plus two shorter sessions that I didn't count) = 180 mins track time divided by 1:45 ave lap time = 102 laps x 2 runs over 100mph per lap = 204.)

[Topless]

I spent the weekend at the Fontana Roval with top speeds approaching 130 mph and apexing turn 2 at 125 mph. No lightness to the steering. I have felt what you mean though. In a stiff 30kt crosswind about 30 deg off the nose at speed I felt like the front of the car was lifting a bit. I lost turn in confidence and simply slowed down as I had no desire to put it on the roof. We have no real aero downforce in a stock Boxster and a crosswind may be unseating the car at 100 mph.

Time for a chin spoiler and rear wing?

[pothole]

Originally Posted by thstone

I haven't noticed any particular lightness in the steering at over 100mph. Last weekend at the track I estimate that I did ~200 runs at over 100mph (twice each lap for ~100 laps cumulative). Car was firmly planted and rock solid. Front straight top speed was around 122mph and back straight top speed was around 115mph.

I would agree that lightness at speed isn't a particular issue. But in general, it is over assisted for my taste. The steering weight in something like a 968 is perfect - and much heavier than a box.

[Meir]

someone needs to invent a mod that cancel the power steering at high speed

[stephen wilson]

My guess would be aerodynamic lift, the car actually is getting "light", combined with the fact that steering inputs are "amplified" at higher speeds.

[jayspeed999]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

My guess would be aerodynamic lift, the car actually is getting "light", combined with the fact that steering inputs are "amplified" at higher speeds.

Going back to this REALLY old thread, I'm having the same issue with my 2001 "S". I also agree that it feels like an aerodynamic lift. Not a great feeling. I wonder if the spoiler extension at 75MPH has anything to do with it.

[VBoxster]

Mine feels scary light during lane changes above 85 mph. Also a 2001, I figured it was time for a suspension refurb.

[steved0x]

When my suspension was all original, around 110,000 miles, I noticed the car felt floaty and light when turning near 100 MPH. Bishop bend at Sebring is one example I can think of with turning at high speeds with no braking. After refreshing my suspension with new struts, rubber parts, etc... the car feels very solid, right before Thanksgiving I spent 3 days at Sebring and got 13 sessions, maybe 75 laps total, car felt solid and had my two fastest runs through Bishop at 106 mph and 108 mph. Car also feels solid at 128 mph heading into the braking zone for T1 at Roebling where I brake down from 126-128 down to about 80 for the turn in and apex around 70.

My front alignment was the same across all times, zero front toe and around .16 degree total toe in the back. rear from -1.6 to -1.9 and front either -1 (before GT3 LCA) ranging from -2 to -2.5 after.

Maybe it is worn struts giving the floaty feeling?

[jayspeed999]

Originally Posted by steved0x

When my suspension was all original, around 110,000 miles, I noticed the car felt floaty and light when turning near 100 MPH. Bishop bend at Sebring is one example I can think of with turning at high speeds with no braking. After refreshing my suspension with new struts, rubber parts, etc... the car feels very solid, right before Thanksgiving I spent 3 days at Sebring and got 13 sessions, maybe 75 laps total, car felt solid and had my two fastest runs through Bishop at 106 mph and 108 mph. Car also feels solid at 128 mph heading into the braking zone for T1 at Roebling where I brake down from 126-128 down to about 80 for the turn in and apex around 70.

My front alignment was the same across all times, zero front toe and around .16 degree total toe in the back. rear from -1.6 to -1.9 and front either -1 (before GT3 LCA) ranging from -2 to -2.5 after.

Maybe it is worn struts giving the floaty feeling?

Hmm, I will check them out now...

[stantheman1]

speaking purely hypothetically, of course, if I ever were to have driven my 2001 S at say, oh, 120-135 mph on public roads, I believe I would have found the steering just a touch light, but not loose at all on the road.

[lkchris]

A lot of Boxsters are missing the little plastic spoilers in front of the front wheels. Easily knocked or scraped off.