mytrplseven

Does anyone have info on the purpose of the compensating line on the power steering rack. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with my steering being stiffer than I feel it should be. It just seems to be plugged into the rack and not really attached with pressure fittings, etc.

MAGK944

It's just a vent, has no pressure and won't have anything to do with stiff steering. Was driving for months with that line off the car and it made no difference to anything when I put a new one on.

mytrplseven

I've noticed that my steering is getting a little stiffer lately and is reluctant to return to "zero" so to speak, when coming out of a turn. I'm wondering if the rack is bad or if the pump isn't putting out enough pressure. Over the last 2 years, it's felt like the steering was heavier than I thought it should be but couldn't find another 944 in the area to compare it with. Add this to the growing list of stuff I'm going to have to fix on my baby.

MAGK944

Could be the pump but it could also be as simple as you need an alignment. If your castor is out your steering will have issues returning to the center.

Jfrahm

Without the compensating line I believe air (and crud) will get sucked under the steering rack boots as they extend and retract so I'd suggest running that line to prevent premature seal damage. They move a lot and will breathe a lot as a result.

thomasmryan

my compensation line shrunk and they are only twenty bucks.

Not returning to center, like a shopping cart wheel is 'generally' related to the rear control arm bushing... check it for wear. An aging lower ball joint can also make the steering seem heavier.... check your little booties and shoot some fresh compatible grease in if you can to see if it changes.

personally, I am not a fan of variable assisted steering in some cars... less feedback on the slip angle if you come into a corner to hot or midcorner corrections for junk in the road. Heavy is good to me.

67King

That's alignment. Probably caster.

mytrplseven

I guess the alignment might have changed but I haven't put many miles on it since last done. Could also be they didn't take into account the 17" wheels and the numbers necessary for it to be right on this car. Still, the car steers harder when maneuvering around parking lots and slow speed stuff and has gotten harder over the months. I wish there was a way to identify whether the pump was inadequate (without buying one to trouble-shoot).

MAGK944

Therein might lie your problem. The factory issued different caster settings for fitting 17" wheels. I'll look it up and post...ltr.

MAGK944

mytrplseven

Thanks for the info. I'll take that to the alignment shop soon.

mytrplseven

I was just reading this and it says this info applies to cars with the M30 option. My car originally had 15 inch wheels also. The sheet talks about going from 16" to 17 inches. Since my is a standard base car without the M30 OPTION, I don't know if any of this or something else applies.

MAGK944

The factory didn't issue a bulletin for 15 to 17in wheels or for any early offset cars. Guess they didn't think the early cars or any cars with stock 15in wheels would ever need 17in??

The M030 doesn't matter, it's the same settings, in fact I think I have another bulletin somewhere that is for non M030 later cars, exactly the same info.

mytrplseven

I can't believe that they're recommending a 17mm spacer on the rear and rolling the fender lip. I'm sure that the different offsets on many wheels, i.e., my Cayman wheels, also come into the equation and make this document incompatible with my setup.

MAGK944

They don't recommend rolling the fender lip, just if it's needed. I think they put the spacer and lip rolling in there to cover themselves against any clearance issues. Just judge for yourself depending on the wheels you use.