General LSX Automobile Discussion - 99 WS6 Heavy Steering??

I was just wondering why is it that my steering is so heavy on this car and what can be done to change this? Its a 99WS6 with 21,400mi. on the odometer, the car is all stock.

Its just annoying and pretty uncomfortable to deal with the heavy steering all the time and is there a fix for this?

That is just how the cars are, sports car. Dunno what to tell you unless something is broken. I'd have to drive your car to know for sure. :chug:

no fix. thats the way f-bodies are built.

see if your leaking any power steering fluid or if your low on fluid, my is not that hard to steer

I've noticed automatics are a bit tougher to steer than manual cars, more to do with our higher rpm at idle than anything else.

I dont know what to say, i mean the car is basically a new/old car, everything atleast to my knowledge, is the way it is supposed to be. Its the firs thing I noticed when I bought the car how heavy the steering was, sometimes its more comfortable to steer with both hands incase you need to turn the steering whele real quick for whatever reason.

I wish theres a fix for this, its not too enjoyable to drive.

i really dont get what u mean heavy you know the car has 275/40/17 on the fronts there heavy .....but its not annoying ,there not road racing cars there straight line cars lol...

I dont know what to say, i mean the car is basically a new/old car, everything atleast to my knowledge, is the way it is supposed to be. Its the firs thing I noticed when I bought the car how heavy the steering was, sometimes its more comfortable to steer with both hands incase you need to turn the steering whele real quick for whatever reason.

I wish theres a fix for this, its not too enjoyable to drive.


The reason the steering in a WS6 feels so "heavy" is due, in part, to the fact that they have 275s (tires) in front. It's just the nature of the beast.

I dont know what to say, i mean the car is basically a new/old car, everything atleast to my knowledge, is the way it is supposed to be. Its the firs thing I noticed when I bought the car how heavy the steering was, sometimes its more comfortable to steer with both hands incase you need to turn the steering whele real quick for whatever reason.

I wish theres a fix for this, its not too enjoyable to drive.

In all honesty, that's just how many sports cars are. They don't have light, floaty steering. They have heavier, more precise steering. If nothing is broken, maybe you should have given the car a more extensive test drive to see if it is for you?

I dont know what to say, i mean the car is basically a new/old car, everything atleast to my knowledge, is the way it is supposed to be. Its the firs thing I noticed when I bought the car how heavy the steering was, sometimes its more comfortable to steer with both hands incase you need to turn the steering whele real quick for whatever reason.

I wish theres a fix for this, its not too enjoyable to drive.

sounds like your power steering pump is not working right. I have an underdrive pulley which requires me to increase steering effort a little bit, and it's still not that bad.

The reason the steering in a WS6 feels so "heavy" is due, in part, to the fact that they have 275s (tires) in front. It's just the nature of the beast.


Hes right, thats alot of rubber grabbing pavement. Check your tire pressure as well. Lower pressure increases the contact patch and can make it feel like its dragging. The pump could be putting out less pressure, but if this is your first f-body, then you wont be familiar with the feel. Take it to a dealer andlet them drive it. Or find another one for sale on a used car lot, take yours over so they think your serious, and take it for a spin around the block. Tell them thanks by no thanks, hop in yours and drive the same route. Then you will have experienced 2 back to back, and you should be able to make a good comparison.

I swap between 215, 245, and 275 on front and the only thing that changes is the way the car wants follow the grooves in the road.

The other 3 LS1 cars I drove recently had 295, 275 and 245, a 99, 02, and 99.

The 99 with the larger 295 had easy steering like my 98. The 02 and 99 had stock tires, 275 and 245 respective and both were really stiff. I'm thinking maybe it's a power steering issue with regards to old fluid.

i have had 4 fbodys now all being 4th gens from 94, 95, 96 and now a 02 with all sorts of different setups and never have i once thought this isnt comfortable to drive because its steering is heavy..not calling you a liar but more insinuating that maybe something is broken and you need to have it looked at...either that or hit the gym lol...

hope this helps

mike

I know what he's talking about...My WS6 and SS feel the same, while the wife's WS6 is a pig to steer. It darts like a Mofo, too. Wish I could tell you what the solution is.

I just got back from driving a friend C6 Z06 and his steering is 10 times lighter and easier to manouver, I also drove a C5 Z06 as well, and again, better and lighter steering then my WS6.

I may change the power steering fluid and see how that goes.

There is no comparison between a 4th gen fbody and a 6th gen y body...

:supergay: take your purse off :) I went from driving a 2000 z28 to a 04 comp g and it was crazy how easy it is to turn that steering wheel. Now that i have an Fbody again i know what you are saying. what kind of a car did you drive before this? was it a FWD? they seem to be a lot easier to steer IMO

I drive the M6 and can steer the car with no effort from 1 hand.
However when I was looking to buy a Trans Am I went out and looked at one that had awful steering, I actually almost ran it into a curb because the steering was so bad and damn near impossible to turn.
Something has to be wrong, these cars are not difficult to turn when all is working.

I drive the M6 and can steer the car with no effort from 1 hand.
However when I was looking to buy a Trans Am I went out and looked at one that had awful steering, I actually almost ran it into a curb because the steering was so bad and damn near impossible to turn.
Something has to be wrong, these cars are not difficult to turn when all is working.

It seems like goin from all the reviews and opinions on here that its a mixed feeling. A lot of you are saying that some have light steering while others have the same issue as I do. I am not saying its a catastrophic issue and that it HAS to be changed out because I cannot drive the car, im just asking to see if anyone else has encountered the same deal (which it looks like they have) and how and if it can be resolved.

Yes, the car I had before this was FWD, this is my first RWD car.

Up hit or downhill its not Fun. I went from 245/50/16s to 275/40/17s The tires feel every grove in the road.

I think old fluid may be the case here, after messing with 4 different cars, 2 were stock with STOCK fluid more than likely and 2 were well maintained and the steering was light.

When I was test driving a lot of different 4th gen cars, I found the steering to be consistent between auto and stick and all were about the same "stiffness". These 2 cars that I mention were a LOT stiffer than what I consider normal and its why I think maybe due to the old fluid in the PS, it might be the culprit. Old or low on fluid...

I just got back from driving a friend C6 Z06 and his steering is 10 times lighter and easier to manouver, I also drove a C5 Z06 as well, and again, better and lighter steering then my WS6.

I may change the power steering fluid and see how that goes.

Sounds like an issue with your car then.
The C4 and C5 I drove both had similar weight to the steering as my WS6.

might be a bad pump as well, is it REALLY hard to turn when your not moving? if its much much harder to turn when sitting still, the pump is likely bad. Ive had them go out on one of my previous f-bodies (donuts being the culprit LOL)