Re: A4 "Steering feel" -- Again

[Sachelle Babbar <sbabbar@iris.nyit.edu>]

On my car, I wanted more steering feel, so I found the endplay adjustment
nut, turned it not even a tenth of a turn and got what I wanted. Much more
precise. 

**************************************************************************************************************************************************							       
*Steve                                       Sachelle Babbar
*'84  5ksT 1.6-2.0 bar                    <SBABBAR@IRIS.NYIT.EDU>
*Cockpit adjustable wastegate, AudiSport badge
*
*Disclaimer:"Any information contained herein is based purely on my own
*personal experience and may not necessarily reflect yours. Use caution as
*your results may vary from mine."
********************************************************************************

On Mon, 9 Feb 1998, Scott Stiles wrote:

> Hey all,
> I'm driving a '98 A4 30v qm/sport, complete with what has to be the numbest
> steering this side of a city bus. It's bad enough that even my wife's grown
> to hate it. We fight over driving our Miata because the A4's such a snore.
> The car came OEM with 205/55-16 Dunlop SP Sport2000s -- a WR rated tire with
> I'm guessing relatively stiff sidewalls (== road feel), so it's not the
> tires...
> My goal is to increase road feel, especially steering feel. My target is
> BMW's 3-series (M ideally) -- but even to the level of my past Corrado VR6
> would be a HUGE improvement. 
> I know, (compared to the WMB, tradeoffs of driving the front wheels and all,
> but it's good to have goals :) We drove another 3.2L M3 this weekend, and
> are scratching our heads as to whether we should try to enhance the A4's
> driving experience, or if we should scuttle the ship & go to the dark side
> (WMB).
> 
> Questions:
> - anyone out there share my dissatisfaction with the A4's steering? I think
> I've heard at least 1 other listmember complain about it -- calling the lack
> of feel "almost criminal".
> - anyone out there w/a 225/45-17" setup on their A4? how did this affect
> steering feel & general road feel?
> - Is this an artifact of the new 4-link virtual-axis steering setup? I've
> heard similar complaints about the new S4's steering -- I would think that
> if they were going to "fix" the steering, they'd do it in the S-car.
> - I've asked about this before, so forgive me for pinging again, but has
> anyone investigated the Quattro GMBH "improved feel" steering rack? I'm
> assuming obscene $$$ for this swap, so the point's probably moot.
> - I'm wondering if a bit of toe-in might help feel a bit. Anyone gone down
> this path?
> 
> Thanks much, grabbing at straws,
> Scott Stiles
> '98 A4 30v qm/sport.
> mailto:scottst@microsoft.com
> 
>