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328 handling question

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by dhs-9, May 30, 2005.

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  1. dhs-9

    dhs-9 Formula Junior

    Feb 6, 2004
    292
    #1 dhs-9, May 30, 2005
    I noticed on my 328 that when traveling straight if I move the steering wheel slightly left or right maybe about 1/2" either way the car doesnt repond. Should the car start to turn even with the slightest movement of the wheel. If it should repsond immedialty what would cause my car to do this.

    Thanks
     
  2. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,192
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #2 Lawrence Coppari, May 30, 2005
    My 1987 328 responds immediately. It always has. You have some slop either in the rack or the linkages or the suspension. Remove a front wheel and grasp the rotor and see if you can see where the slop is. Something is not right.
     
  3. geekstreet

    geekstreet Karting

    Feb 7, 2005
    220
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Cam
    #3 geekstreet, May 30, 2005
    Could be the steering column joints. Test by kneeling down in the drivers doorway and holding the far end of the steering column shaft (just above where it goes through the front firewall) firmly with one hand. Now rock the steering wheel very gently left-right with the other hand just in the "slack" zone (ie don't turn it enough to start turning the road wheels).

    Does the steering wheel turn significantly before the bottom of the column moves, or is the wheel movement felt in both hands simultaneously? If the former, then try moving your hand progressively up the column, "cupping" each joint while rocking the wheel and feeling for where the slack is occuring. If no column slack then need to check for slack in the rack, rack end-bushes or tie-rod ball-joints, but my bet is the column joints.

    BTW, the column UJs are damned expensive!
     
  4. pma1010

    pma1010 F1 Rookie

    Jul 21, 2002
    2,559
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #4 pma1010, May 31, 2005
    Good tests. As one reference, I can turn the circumference of my steering wheel about 1/8th - 1/4 inch before the tires turn.

    In addition to the above, check your tire (tyre) pressures. Low pressures will cause the steering to feel less sharp.
     
  5. Skindiver

    Skindiver Karting

    Apr 22, 2004
    203
    JHB SA.
    Full Name:
    Greg
    #5 Skindiver, May 31, 2005
    If there is slop anywhere, your car should be wandering around on the road too especially over lines and grooves in the road and camber changes.
    If it does not wander but you think it laggs in response to the first bit of turn on the wheel then perhaps you are overly sensitive.

    I would imagine that there would be some degree of twist evident even in a perfect condition system before the wheels actually turn, even if just side wall twist, especially so at rest, and more so with under-inflated tyres.

    Skin.
     
  6. dhs-9

    dhs-9 Formula Junior

    Feb 6, 2004
    292
    #6 dhs-9, May 31, 2005
    I might be overly sensitive. I had a 1987 TVR which responded as if it read your mind. It was very tight and race car like responsive. The F-car does track well and turns well in all other respects it just does not seem as crisp or as tight as the TVR. If it does everythig else properly is there a problem.
    Also what tire pressures are you guys using. I think I am at 32
     
  7. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
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    Mike Charness
    #7 Mike C, May 31, 2005
    That's what I use for the street, though I bump it up for the track.
     
  8. jaturon

    jaturon Formula 3

    Oct 25, 2004
    1,599
    Bangkok Thailand
    Full Name:
    Zane
    #8 jaturon, May 31, 2005
    Don't seem to have that problem with mine.
     
  9. dhs-9

    dhs-9 Formula Junior

    Feb 6, 2004
    292
    #9 dhs-9, May 31, 2005
    When I have the car stationary and try to turn the steering wheel just a little bit I feel resistance right away and the steering wheel feels like it wants to spring return to center when I let go. If I had steering wheel play I would assume that I would have no resistance it would feel loose until the play is used up. Also the wheels seems to move after a very slight lag in the turning of the wheel. The lag could be due to the friction of tire to the garage floor. THe universal joints of the steering colum are fine. Maybe it needs an alignment. Does the fact that I feel resistance right away prove anything
     
  10. geekstreet

    geekstreet Karting

    Feb 7, 2005
    220
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Cam
    #10 geekstreet, May 31, 2005
    Yes, it shows your steering mechanicals are good. I'd suggest getting a front-end alignment check, as possibly suspension bushing wear is giving you a bit too much toe-out. Correcting this should put a little bit of pre-load into the front tyres so that they respond to wheel-input better.

    Bear in mind that different models of tyre will respond differently to steering input as well.
     
  11. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,053
    USA
    #11 f355spider, May 31, 2005
    Very common problem...if you check the archives for 308's (similar steering rack, but not interchangeable) the rubber bushing at the right side gets smooshed down (technical term), causing the play in the rack. Solution is to either get a new rack (I bought one for my 328 from Ferrari UK, but hear they are NLA), or get it rebuilt with a new bushing. One of our sponsors, Norwoods makes a more durable Derlin (hard nylon) replacement.

    My symptons were a bit different, very little play, but the car would wander, following minor ruts in the road...very disconcerting. New rack solved the problem.

    Dave
     

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