Griff Steering Feedback.
Griff Steering Feedback.
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Discussion

neutral 3

Original Poster:

8,584 posts

199 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
One thing that was a big let down on my previous 96 car was the steering . It was fitted with a power rack which was worn , i had it rebuilt and also changed the 2 u/js as they were worn as well, along with a couple of ball joints , new front/rear shocks, track rod ends etc.

However the steering was still a big disapointment. (If you have driven an Early R5 GT-T , you will know what i mean and my 06 SXI Corsa alslo has a very good power set up.)
It felt over heavy for a power system ,with very poor self centreing, little feel and feedback and very hard to accureately correct a power slide etc.

I realise that this may ? have been Partly caused by Caster/Camber/Ride hight issues,but surely this wouldnt make the steering heavier ? but nearly all the griffs i have driven seem pretty much the same. From memory i beleive that the Power Rack that TVR Used is a Ford ? Granada ? Rack .

However the first one that i drove in 07 a 1995 car ime sure didnt have a power rack and i remember the steering was far better. Any ideas anyone ?


daveb500

391 posts

216 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
I thought it was a TVR rack but I could be wrong.

I can't comment much on the way a power steering rack feels other than I drove one about 8 years ago and remember not liking it. My Griff does not have power steering and I love it that way.

Wildfire

9,948 posts

281 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
I don't think you'll get a RWD Griffith to feel like a FWD hatch, no matter how hard you try. I often think that my car is too soft and lacks feed back, but then I'm comparing it to my Elise.

But I'm not a big fan of the PAS cars, although parking them is easier and I believe it is easier to correct oversteer.

Geo-setup can help a lot, by changing the castor angle you can change the feel. Also suspension setup will influence this.

I found the steering and general feedback on my S3 much more involving than the Griffith.

Rob_the_Sparky

1,000 posts

267 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
Mine feels nice (no power) but differnt to my 205GTi. With the front wheel drive you feel traction through the steering, which you will clearly can't on a RWD so the 205 appears to have more feel than the Griff.

When first had the Griff it felt a bit wandery and slightly vague but after a geometry check it felt much better. Not sure it is as yet perfect but there are other things to keep me occupied before I fiddle with something that is pretty much right!

neutral 3

Original Poster:

8,584 posts

199 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the info guys. Sure that the mannual rack is a better system than the power one
And Yes aggree that it wont match a FWD for feed back , but hopeing a geometry check/set up could improve things. Its probably the worst pas system i have encountered .

Barkychoc

7,848 posts

233 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
There was a thread only in the last few days I think where someone mentioned that one of the rack rebuilders had a secret modification that they did to the rack to improve the feel - but I can't find it now. A trawl of the threads should turn it up, or if someone knows which one I'm talking about can you post a link.

itiejim

1,822 posts

234 months

Friday 30th April 2010
quotequote all
I think you are confusing feel with torque steer...

A fwd car will tug at the steering when under load, however, real steering feel will only come from a car without steered wheels that also have to transmit the power. A few minutes in an Elise should help identify the difference!

The reference to the rack modification is here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by itiejim on Friday 30th April 20:14

neutral 3

Original Poster:

8,584 posts

199 months

Saturday 1st May 2010
quotequote all
Very Familiar with Torque Steer , just drive a Hot 5 GT-T and you will know the true meaning of T.Steer.
The best steering i have encountered so far is on all of the 3 911 3.2 Carreras that i have been fortunate to own and also my RS2000 Escort which is fitted with a Quick rack . Heavy at low speeeds , but once on the move it is just incredible.
I can well imagine an Elise haveing superb steering , its a Lotus and would love to try one.
Still say the power set up on the Griff is poor , did any of the period road tests coment on this ?

BigotOut

72,863 posts

268 months

Saturday 1st May 2010
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Pas griffs can have excellent feedback if they're properly set up and refreshed. They're getting a bit long in the tooth to handle if they haven't had an overhaul though. Geo is everything on these yes