Improving Steering Feel?

[Erik]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

https://www.corvettecontrol.com/prod...teering-damper

I want that!!!

[ram_g]

Originally Posted by Erik

I want that!!!

Seems like it might be going in the opposite direction to what you want though?? (I.e if it is damping out small pulses through the wheel, isn?t it making the steering *less* communicative?)

[Erik]

Originally Posted by ram_g

Seems like it might be going in the opposite direction to what you want though?? (I.e if it is damping out small pulses through the wheel, isn?t it making the steering *less* communicative?)

Maybe.
What I want to feel is what is happening at the treads and the sidewalls. If this smooths out some roughness and bad info, then that's a good thing. From everything I can understand, the C4 is lacking structure. So things are moving and twisting that shouldn't be. All of that will muddy the signal from the tires. Plus, it seems like this thing fixes some poor wheel of control issues, which again should allow more direct info from the tires. So, to me, it seems promising. While it may not be adding back steering feel, it might fix some of the issues that effect what we are getting.

[Marc Haibeck]

Relocating the battery to the rear storage compartment removes about 35 pounds from the front end. The ZR-1 has a 52 - 48% front to rear weight distribution. Relocating the battery will change the bias by 1 point. The revised weight distribution is 51- 49%, the same as a LT1 Corvette. A lightness is noticeable in the steering at low speeds.

An '86 to '87 Z51 steering rack might help. The ZR-1 rack is 2.75 turns lock to lock. The Z51 rack is 2.25 turns lock to lock. The tie rods are about an inch shorter than the ZR-1 rack. Tie rod ends with longer threaded ends are necessary to adapt it. The Z51 rack may be hard to find. Z51 was available from '84 to '89. My experience is with only the '86 - '87 unit.

[Erik]

Originally Posted by Marc Haibeck

Relocating the battery to the rear storage compartment removes about 35 pounds from the front end. The ZR-1 has a 52 - 48% front to rear weight distribution. Relocating the battery will change the bias by 1 point. The revised weight distribution is 51- 49%, the same as a LT1 Corvette. A lightness is noticeable in the steering at low speeds.

An '86 to '87 Z51 steering rack might help. The ZR-1 rack is 2.75 turns lock to lock. The Z51 rack is 2.25 turns lock to lock. The tie rods are about an inch shorter than the ZR-1 rack. Tie rod ends with longer threaded ends are necessary to adapt it. The Z51 rack may be hard to find. Z51 was available from '84 to '89. My experience is with only the '86 - '87 unit.

Marc, do you know a quality steering rack rebuilder? Something like that should be done with more care then the assembly line types. Basically, I'd want someone to blueprint the rack.

Great idea on the battery swap.