981 Steering Feels Loose at Speed
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
981 Steering Feels Loose at Speed
Good afternoon, everyone,
I’m the proud owner of a 2014 Porsche 981 Cayman S.
I wanted to ask if any of you have experienced the steering having play or feeling “floaty,” as if there were play in the gears. The sensation is that, as speed increases, there are a few degrees of steering wheel movement where nothing is transferred to the wheels. The problematic part is that when there’s movement at the wheels (due to wind, a curve, the road surface, etc.), the car wanders because that play allows the wheels to move a few degrees freely.
I notice it especially from 100 km/h onward, and by 150 km/h it even feels dangerous. It makes me very uneasy at medium to high speeds.
My trusted shop recommended running slightly higher tire pressures, but I had to set them back to the manufacturer’s recommended values because the issue got much worse. The rear tires are new—I had them replaced this July. Maybe doing a front alignment when I replace the fronts next year would solve it, but I think it’s coming from the steering rack and some play in the gears.
Has anyone else experienced this? Do you know what might be causing it or how to fix it?
Many thanks in advance for your help and advice.
I’m the proud owner of a 2014 Porsche 981 Cayman S.
I wanted to ask if any of you have experienced the steering having play or feeling “floaty,” as if there were play in the gears. The sensation is that, as speed increases, there are a few degrees of steering wheel movement where nothing is transferred to the wheels. The problematic part is that when there’s movement at the wheels (due to wind, a curve, the road surface, etc.), the car wanders because that play allows the wheels to move a few degrees freely.
I notice it especially from 100 km/h onward, and by 150 km/h it even feels dangerous. It makes me very uneasy at medium to high speeds.
My trusted shop recommended running slightly higher tire pressures, but I had to set them back to the manufacturer’s recommended values because the issue got much worse. The rear tires are new—I had them replaced this July. Maybe doing a front alignment when I replace the fronts next year would solve it, but I think it’s coming from the steering rack and some play in the gears.
Has anyone else experienced this? Do you know what might be causing it or how to fix it?
Many thanks in advance for your help and advice.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 633
Likes: 546
From: South Dakota
How long have you had the car? Has it always felt like this?
The 981 has electronic steering. It is the same steering system as all the 981s and 991s. The settings can be changed with a PIWIS or a Thinkdiag. Some of the settings have more play in the center than others. If you have access to one of those, you might want to try some of the other settings. I have mine set to GT3.
The 981 has electronic steering. It is the same steering system as all the 981s and 991s. The settings can be changed with a PIWIS or a Thinkdiag. Some of the settings have more play in the center than others. If you have access to one of those, you might want to try some of the other settings. I have mine set to GT3.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 242
Likes: 125
From: ATL - 981 CS
It's probably something else, and I apologize for stating the obvious, and I don't know if you have much time in the car (or similar ones). But, in comparison to front-engine cars, mid and rear engine cars do not feel as planted at the front end, particularly under acceleration when the weight transfers further rearward. It's a different animal for sure. There's not much weight over the front wheels on our cars to begin with, and they can feel a bit floaty under certain circumstances, such as accelerating through a bend. In my experience, this does take a bit of getting used to if you are coming from front-engine cars (again, no idea if this is your situation - it was mine). Having said that, I've never had a sense of true instability in my 981 CS.
Has your shop tech taken the car out to check?
Again, sorry for stating the obvious. I hope you figure it out!
EDIT: For example, there is a country road near me that has a gentle "S" bend, and it's a situation where I am always accelerating fairly hard through that area. Every time I go through there, I am reminded that this is a mid-engined car. You can definitely feel the front end lightness in that situation.
Has your shop tech taken the car out to check?
Again, sorry for stating the obvious. I hope you figure it out!
EDIT: For example, there is a country road near me that has a gentle "S" bend, and it's a situation where I am always accelerating fairly hard through that area. Every time I go through there, I am reminded that this is a mid-engined car. You can definitely feel the front end lightness in that situation.
Last edited by Natural1; Sep 6, 2025 at 11:20 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 695
Likes: 379
From: Central Florida
Good afternoon, everyone,
I’m the proud owner of a 2014 Porsche 981 Cayman S.
I wanted to ask if any of you have experienced the steering having play or feeling “floaty,” as if there were play in the gears. The sensation is that, as speed increases, there are a few degrees of steering wheel movement where nothing is transferred to the wheels.
.....
Maybe doing a front alignment when I replace the fronts next year would solve it (emphasis added).....
I’m the proud owner of a 2014 Porsche 981 Cayman S.
I wanted to ask if any of you have experienced the steering having play or feeling “floaty,” as if there were play in the gears. The sensation is that, as speed increases, there are a few degrees of steering wheel movement where nothing is transferred to the wheels.
.....
Maybe doing a front alignment when I replace the fronts next year would solve it (emphasis added).....
AutoX
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 3
I have a 2014 GTS and the steering is the opposite of what you describe. The steering is heavy and the car is planted and very responsive through corners at speed.
The original owner had the dealership delete the power steering plus setting because they said it made the steering feel too loose, but AFAIK it's only supposed to activate at low speeds.
Definitely recommend having full alignment done and getting a diagnostic done on the steering.
The original owner had the dealership delete the power steering plus setting because they said it made the steering feel too loose, but AFAIK it's only supposed to activate at low speeds.
Definitely recommend having full alignment done and getting a diagnostic done on the steering.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 290
Likes: 332
From: 981 CGTS-6MT|X73|PTV / Eugene, OR
I have regularly had my car up to around 220kph at the track and it feels solid at high speeds. I'll ditto the alignment recommendations and suggest having a shop check suspension bushings for wear too. Your car has likely been in service for 12 years now and the rubber parts wear out with time. My trusted shop would have looked into those things as part of diagnosing my complaint. If your trusted shop hasn't done that, then I'm not sure you're placing your trust in the right shop.
