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Old 12-29-2003, 09:08 PM   #1
WRXBob
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Default How is the STI's steering feel?

I am thinking about trade in my Rex for the STI. What concerns me most is the steering of my 02 Rex is lousy, always pull to the right. Steering bushings, 6 alignments and 3 set of tires does not fix the problem. Is the STI steering has a tendency to pull to the right too? Problem like this a test drive is not going to tell.
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Old 12-29-2003, 09:11 PM   #2
happasaiyan
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slightly, yes. nothing that makes me rethink my decision in the slightest.
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Old 12-29-2003, 09:13 PM   #3
sTijov
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not really for mine. just more feel of the road in the wheel. i can see how you could mistake for such. kinda.
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Old 12-29-2003, 09:17 PM   #4
strangerq
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Quote:
Originally posted by WRXBob
I am thinking about trade in my Rex for the STI. What concerns me most is the steering of my 02 Rex is lousy, always pull to the right. Steering bushings, 6 alignments and 3 set of tires does not fix the problem. Is the STI steering has a tendency to pull to the right too? Problem like this a test drive is not going to tell.

Your problem is specific to your car. My Rex doesn't pull to the right in the slightest. You can bet if that was a problem with the car in general for whatever reason these forums would be all over it.
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Old 12-29-2003, 09:35 PM   #5
horshack
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My STi needed an alignment when I bought it, it was like they forgot before they put it on the boat.

All 4 wheels were off from factory specs - now after the alignment, everything is awsome!
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Old 12-29-2003, 10:12 PM   #6
BAC5.2
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No dealers around here will allow an STI test drive.

I bet that would change if you handed them 3 bricks though.
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Old 12-29-2003, 10:36 PM   #7
GT2RS
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mine pulled just slightly!
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Old 12-30-2003, 12:37 PM   #8
RoyBoy016
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mine too!
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Old 12-30-2003, 01:00 PM   #9
kidatari
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I'd reccomend checking out a set of Whiteline steering rack bushings. It sounds like the problem might be that your steering rack bushings are either worn out, or your rack shifted some. Just a thought.

-Josh
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Old 12-30-2003, 02:42 PM   #10
wrxman02
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i love mine its great. i had a regular wrx before . it was cool. but the STi is cooler.
later.
the STi really likes the STi pink springs and f/r tower braces. i installed these it is even cooler .
later
andy
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Old 12-30-2003, 03:26 PM   #11
Jack
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I've driven my own GC8 RS, many WRX's and one STi on the track. Tire choice made more of a difference than the particular car model in steering feel. None that I drove pulled one way or the other.....otherwise my student (who owned the car) would have sat out the day.

jack
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Old 12-30-2003, 10:05 PM   #12
WRXBob
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It pulls just slightly, but I drive everyday so it can become annoying. I have the whiteline rack bushings and it helps but does not eliminate the problem. The car also eats tires like my son chows down burgers. I know the STI is cool because the WRX is already very nice. However, for once I like to have a car with better steering feel instead of one with the wondering steering tendency of my WRX . Looks like the STI also have the same problem gene as the WRX. Thanks for the responds.
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Old 12-31-2003, 01:45 AM   #13
StickyIckyIcky
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mine steered to the left was caused by the tyres... (Federal Tyres)

after i changed the tyres.. all solved

i think one of the tyres must of had a small error in the diameter or some sort of defect.

so before you do anything, borrow your friends rims/tyres and see if it makes a difference.
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Old 01-01-2004, 08:14 PM   #14
Dougie01
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I was wondering about this, too. Mine pulls a little bit to the right. Does anybody's pull to the left?

I'm going to swap my right front and left rear tires to see if that helps--standard procedure to debug a pulling problem if it's the tires. But maybe it's a bit of torque steer?
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Old 01-01-2004, 09:18 PM   #15
Dougie01
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I see now there are others whose car pulls to the left. I will change wheels around and see what happens... After I strangle the "service" manager for letting the car out of their shop with low transmission oil...
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Old 01-09-2004, 02:30 PM   #16
2Stroke
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Most roads in North America are crowned so that water runs off of them. This means that if you drive on the right side of the road, your car will pull to the right. A car with perfect alignment will drift to the downhill side of the road. It will drift (pull) more on a more steeply crowned road.

Unrelated observation: I have known several alignment techs who would put more positive caster in the left side so that the car will drift to the right if you let go of the wheel. Their reasoning is that it is better to drift onto the shoulder than into oncoming traffic if the driver falls asleep or lets go of the wheel for some other reason. The guys I knew wouldn't do this to a sports car driven by an "enthusiast", but others might.
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Old 01-09-2004, 07:10 PM   #17
Uber Wagon
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I have seen is speced to offer cross caster in the other direction to keep the car from drifitng to the right becuase of the crown. If you autox it is probably best to eliminate most of this cross caster and deal with the slight pull.
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Old 01-10-2004, 12:35 AM   #18
BAN SUVS
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Since when is caster adjustable from the factory?
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