Is it possible to “harden” the steering feel? (1st post, hi)

I’ve seen a ton of people talking about trying to get better and “lighter” steering feel! But I’d like the opposite. My wife’s 4Runner (2014), and my previous Tacoma’s (2007 and 2018) all felt tight, sporty, and just like you needed more than two fingers to spin it. My new-to-me 2016 platinum, while fantastic, feels like my grandmother’s caddy when you turn it. It’s just numb, can be spun with one finger like an old suicide knob, and Feels like it needs some resistance. I know it’s an electronic setup, so is there something that can be done?

Also, been stalking for a while! Good info here, so, hello!

 

More psi in your tires or step up to an E rated tire. Add a rear sway bar. The stiffest/thickest are hellwig. Upgrade to a TRD or sequoia front swaybar.

 

Welcome

 

So then I was NOT imagining things when I drove a 16 trd pro tundra and it felt like it had more steering resistance?

For example. In a 3 series bmw, you can select “comfort” and the steering is light. The select sport and the thing tightens up a lot with more resistance. That’s what I’m looking to accomplish.

 

Welcome from Ventura California

 

Cut power steering hose and drain fluid.

 

JUST KIDDING!!!

 

It will never be a BMW obviously. You would have to lower it to get it to feel really really good. But adding just a rear TRD swaybar made a big difference for me. Less scrub on the front tires. Start there. Polyurethane bushings in everything!

 

Ohh and the pro doesn’t have a rear sway. Just better shocks.

 

Actually less psi in the tires would cause more rolling resistance thus a heavier steering feel.


Does anyone know if our steering racks have a replaceable guide like the first gen models? If so, you could crank down on the guide which would definitely make the steering heavier.

 

Then I’m interpreting what he’s explaining differently than you. I took it as he wants it crisp. I feel that heavier would mean you’re giving it more input before it actually does something. Less psi just makes it feel mushy

 

I dont know about any of this stuff, but welcome from NE Pa

 

Welcome from Colorado.

 

In my opinion, mushy would be a way to explain how the truck would ride if the tire pressure was dropped severely (think like 15 PSI at highway speed).
To me it sound like the op wants the steering wheel to take more force to turn which is why I believe dropping PSI by 5 pounds or so would do the trick.


That reminds me of a time when I was wheeling in Johnson Valley and had to drive home to Temecula with my rear tires at trail air pressure of 10Psi. One of the valve stems got damaged so I couldn’t add any air back in to it. My bed was loaded down my 60qt cooler and all my trail run supplies like tools and spare parts. Mushy couldn’t come close to how it felt. It was like riding in a boat going over waves. Very comfortable.

 

Also, op, the steering is not electronic. It’s hydraulic with an engine mounted vane pump feeding a rack and pinion gear.

 

What about one of them shocks that you can mount on the steering?

 

I don't think that you can put a steering stabilizer on a rack and pinion setup.

 

I appreciate all the responses, but I think am must be explaining it wrong. I know it won’t be a BMw, that’s what I sold so I don’t need it to be that, and a truck doesn’t need to be crisp so much as I want it to feel like I have to add more “input” when I intimated a turn. Scuba is correct in that I want the steering wheel to be more firm, and take more “input” to actually turn. I don’t have any steering slip, slop, pull, or shimmy, it’s just too easy to turn the wheel.

My mistake, I thought I had read we had electronic assisted steering. I appreciate the responses!

 

The power steering is a bit over-boosted, so you will feel more disconnected where driver inputs result in a delayed response. It's just something you need to get used to, especially after coming out of a BMW.

I hardened my RCSB up as much as I could without destroying the ride, and it handles much better with steering response that is greatly improved but not immediate like a sports car.

 

Agree 100%. Will change the feel and achieve the goal of feeling more connected to the steering. Letting air out of the tires will feel more disconnected, plus it's not good for your tires or suspension. I had a 2000 GMC Jimmy that felt like a boat on the road. Constantly had to correct, and often overcorrected, steering. Worst feeling vehicle I've ever owned.

Oh, and hey there from Virginia!

 

Thank you, I’ll start reading some of your (and other’s) build threads. I was hoping for a magic fix to lessen the power steering “boost” as you call it, but it sounds like I’m out of luck there. Thanks

 

Go with front and rear TRD sway bars.

 

I hope nobody minds if I revive this thread instead of starting a new one. One Tundra I test drove, though it was stock, did not have a steering feel. It was very light. I am wondering if OT found a solution or confirmed it was just the tire pressure. Another Tundra was not as bad, but it is not close to what I prefer. I did drive a BMW 330i sport wagon to the dealers, so may be I need to adjust my expectations. Wondering if others have the experience and calibrated sense for this and shed some light.

 

It's a 6000 lbs., full size pickup truck. And you are comparing it's steering characteristics to a BMW 330i? Yes, you need to adjust your "expectations".

 

Don't know if they make an underdrive pulley (smaller crank pulley) setup for Tundra. That would slow down the power steering pump and lower hydraulic pressure.

That or a custom larger steering pump pulley.

 

I have all German cars so I know what you are talking about. I am a speed daemon and I had the same issue at high speeds. I drive my cars like I stole it. Suspension has to do some with it too. You can't have responsive steering with Cadillac-comfortable suspension.

1. Get a TRD sway bar front & rear sway bar for the handling. Front specially for the mushy feeling.
2. @Coachbuilder1 (Eckstrom) steering kit.

Both of the above will help tremendously.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I will look into hydraulic pressure and the sway bars and the steering kit. I will look out for Tundra owners nearby who may have those mods.

 

The sway bars will help with body roll. I have the sport with both bars and it does not help that steering lightness especially at hiway speeds. My next step will be to max out caster. I am waiting on tires to wear and get new ones first. I wonder if anyone has done a 3.5 or 4 in caster and the results? Should make the steering heavier, better tracking and hi speed stability? That pully to reduce pressures may help. Let me know if you find one as I am willing to swap it out to get better heft.

 

As someone who appreciates good steering in a sports car... I think the best plan is to make sure the truck is aligned right and then let it be what it is.

I mean if we're going to compare it to a bmw, it is not only way over boosted but requires tons of input for the amount of turn you are getting (have to physically turn the wheel a long way for a little turn) and is much more vague on center... BUT compared to it's actual competition,. contemporary full size trucks, I think it is as good or better especially with the on center vagueness. In fact that's one of the reasons I bought it. Most 10ish year old big 3 trucks feel like you need to crank the wheel a quarter turn before it starts to move at all, and the Tundra, while definitely not a sports car, isn't that bad.

 

I can see tire pressure having an effect in steering input force needed, I feel it everytime I refill my tires up to spec.

However I fail at visualizing how a stiffer rear sway bar (as many sugested) could have any influence in the "softness or the hardness" of the steering wheel spinning.