996 2003 Carrera light steering above 130 mph

[pete123]

Has anyone else noticed that once over 130 (on closed track) the steering appears to go light. The directional control is still there but feel reduces. I seem remember clarkson ranting about it. Is it normal?

[ultra violent]

Next you'll be telling us there is a bloody great weight hanging off the back of the car....

[poorcardealer]

Bag of sand in the front will sort that out

[poorcardealer]

Bag of sand in the front will sort that out

[pete123]

So my 1st post is not doing too well. In the opine of you experianced posters it is normal?

At least I've not broken my mirror glass

[iguana]

1st stop is decent suspension alignment.

Not an uncommon issue, see-

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=30862&f=48&h=0&hw=front+end

[pete123]

Thanks for that, I'll do more searching before posting next time.

[welshnobby]

....don't porsche recommend having a full tank when on track to put a bit of weight in the front end?

[pete123]

They do, but more for cornering to prevent fuel pump starvation.

[clubsport]

Keep your foot down...it all comes together and feels much better above 150mph

[welshnobby]

[JamieBeeston]

clubsport said:

Keep your foot down...it all comes together and feels much better above 150mph

I was actually commenting just this weekend, that my 996 didnt actually FEEL all that fast, until you got over 1.2 units, then suddenly it 'came alive' and felt like a different beast.. Assumed it was a combination of funky handling and Aerodynamics..

but it certainly felt 'proper'

[911nutter]

pete... i had a similar problem at exactly the same sort of speed... lightness in steering, feeling vague and not inspiring much confidence. coupled with that i had vibrations coming through the steering wheel. a few knowlegdable folk on this site recommended a fully geometry check / alignment thingy. took it down to the opc, they carried it out and now my car plants itself of the road at high speed. now steering is sooooooper....

[Cyrus1971]

I find all the 996 C2 cars have this as a characteristic. The heavier feel of a C4 and Turbo results from +50 Kilos up front and 5% - 40% of the drive going to the front makes a huge change in steering feel. Recovery in heavy acceleation / deceleration also affected.

One possibility is worn rebound stroke on all suspension componants (Spring, dampners and Anti roll -though this is most unlikely.

Far more likely is you are a sensitive driver and just noticed a characteristic (one of many) in the 996