Steering TOO FAST
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 272
From: New York
Steering TOO FAST
I have read gkull a few time mention: "One problem about our c-3's is that the steering is tooooooo fast"
For years my 69 has had the tie-rods in the fast steering. I can't imagine it would much affect on the street. But for the road course I am thinking gkull had it right. Maybe I am just getting old.
Anyone switch back and forth? Is the difference noticeable? I have to get the car aligned, so this may be a good time to make the swap and check it out.
Anything from guys that have made the switch, chime it.
For years my 69 has had the tie-rods in the fast steering. I can't imagine it would much affect on the street. But for the road course I am thinking gkull had it right. Maybe I am just getting old.
Anyone switch back and forth? Is the difference noticeable? I have to get the car aligned, so this may be a good time to make the swap and check it out.
Anything from guys that have made the switch, chime it.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
As speed goes up you want more turns on the steering wheel to move the tires lock to lock.
Fast steering is for auto-X
The tie rod mounting point helps. Also use a high ratio steering box. Then when you are in a 4 wheel drift in a turn you can saw the steering wheel back and forth to make minor corrections. Out on road coarses with long straights it give you a time to relax and think about how you are going to do that turn that you blew the last lap better. It makes our Vettes more stable and controllable at really high speeds. Like these open highway sanctioned road races where you are driving over 150 mph for 90 some miles
Fast steering is for auto-X
The tie rod mounting point helps. Also use a high ratio steering box. Then when you are in a 4 wheel drift in a turn you can saw the steering wheel back and forth to make minor corrections. Out on road coarses with long straights it give you a time to relax and think about how you are going to do that turn that you blew the last lap better. It makes our Vettes more stable and controllable at really high speeds. Like these open highway sanctioned road races where you are driving over 150 mph for 90 some miles
Last edited by gkull; Sep 24, 2016 at 10:52 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Agree with gkull, "quick" steering favors point & shoot corners, while "slow" steering favors fast sweepers.
FWIW to your deliberations, the delta between the two ratio settings is ~15%, "quick"/PS being 17.6:1 and "slow"/manual being 20.2:1. (Note that these are both slower than either setting with the Borgeson box.) I've driven standard box, manual C3s in both settings and found the difference is definitely noticeable, particularly in parking mode. My $.02, HTH.
FWIW to your deliberations, the delta between the two ratio settings is ~15%, "quick"/PS being 17.6:1 and "slow"/manual being 20.2:1. (Note that these are both slower than either setting with the Borgeson box.) I've driven standard box, manual C3s in both settings and found the difference is definitely noticeable, particularly in parking mode. My $.02, HTH.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 272
From: New York
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Ah, The Downhill. Daunting corner, that. Yes, I'd definitely test whether the slower setting yielded a bit more driver confidence there, and preferable by trial without error.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 272
From: New York
Best downhill was Bridgehampton. Down the main straight at 150...
HEY...WHERE THE TRACK GO?
Under the bridge....Oh...there it is. But even then, the tiniest turn of the wheel got you through there no issue.
HEY...WHERE THE TRACK GO?
Under the bridge....Oh...there it is. But even then, the tiniest turn of the wheel got you through there no issue.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
No, I am suggesting that you should try the slower setting for such turns as LRP Downhill. Anything that gives you more confidence there should improve your lap consistency, if not better you overall best ET. At least, that's how things always worked for me when racing there in winged formula cars. YMMV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,685
Likes: 3,437
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I for one prefer the quick steering. My C4 race car has a tight ratio steering rack (about 2 turns lock to lock) and and a small diameter wheel. You just have to compensate your input speed on the wheel. I will probably keep my C3 in the fast holes even when I upgrade to a Borgeson or some faster box. Thats just my personal preference though.