Electric assist steering
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 314
Likes: 64
Electric assist steering
Looks like yet another driver control is being taken away from us and replaced with a computer chip. First it was drive by wire throttle, now it appears the C7 has drive by wire steering.
Anybody on here remember the problem with the C6 when it would suddenly vere in one direction due to a fault in the active handling system? Or how about the stuck throttle fiasco with Toyota.
It saddens me to see yet another basic driver control having a computer put between me and the control surface. What was wrong with the steering system that connected the steering wheel directly to the wheels like is has been for the last 100 years?
Anybody on here remember the problem with the C6 when it would suddenly vere in one direction due to a fault in the active handling system? Or how about the stuck throttle fiasco with Toyota.
It saddens me to see yet another basic driver control having a computer put between me and the control surface. What was wrong with the steering system that connected the steering wheel directly to the wheels like is has been for the last 100 years?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Electric assist... they are using the same one as found in the new Porsche 911. I have driven the Porsche 911S and it feels fantastic. I would not be one bit concerned about this change. 
Can't wait to experience it in the new Corvette!!!
Can't wait to experience it in the new Corvette!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 314
Likes: 64
One thing I read that bothered me was that it somehow tries to sense when the driver is "vibrating" the steering wheel on a smooth road and somehow removes that input from the steering. So now the computer is going to decide what it thinks is a valid steering input from me and one that isn't.
It's another example of engineers doing things with computers just because they can, and not because there was any real need to. What was wrong with the steering system that it needed a computer to monitor it for?
I buy a sports car because I ENJOY the feel of the road in my hands in the steering wheel and the gas pedal under my foot that is connected to the engine and having control over the vehicle, as well as feedback from it. If I wanted a computer to drive for me, I would have just taken the bus.
It's another example of engineers doing things with computers just because they can, and not because there was any real need to. What was wrong with the steering system that it needed a computer to monitor it for?
I buy a sports car because I ENJOY the feel of the road in my hands in the steering wheel and the gas pedal under my foot that is connected to the engine and having control over the vehicle, as well as feedback from it. If I wanted a computer to drive for me, I would have just taken the bus.
Last edited by RainMan12; Jan 15, 2013 at 09:12 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 314
Likes: 64
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Man, folks just like to complaint about anything! Electric assist is the same as hydraulic assist (or you don't like that either??)
The only thing they have done is to replace something that was done by a hydraulic pump, lines, etc. with an electric motor... geez! I sure welcome the simplicity of avoiding oil leaks or eliminating hoses, pumps...
And do you still believe that the issue with Toyota was the throttle by wire? Where have you been? It was due to rubber mats getting stuck under the pedal... man...
The only thing they have done is to replace something that was done by a hydraulic pump, lines, etc. with an electric motor... geez! I sure welcome the simplicity of avoiding oil leaks or eliminating hoses, pumps...
And do you still believe that the issue with Toyota was the throttle by wire? Where have you been? It was due to rubber mats getting stuck under the pedal... man...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
I remember reading a report from a driver that survived a crash and when they took his car in for repair they found the fault was due to the wiring rubbing through and contacting metal (shorting it).
IMHO! It's too dangerous.
Last edited by Speedforhire; Jan 15, 2013 at 09:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 314
Likes: 64
The design is the same and they have actually been using it in the ZL1 since production. It is an excellent system but I hope GM has worked out the failure problems some of us former ZL1 owners are aware of. There have been some deadly crashes due to it failing. It's not like a hydro unit where you can turn the wheel if it fails. The electric system will lock the worm gear in place and will not allow the driver to turn the wheel.
I remember reading a report from a driver that survived a crash and when they took his car in for repair they found the fault was due to the wiring rubbing through and contacting metal (shorting it).
IMHO! It's too dangerous.
I remember reading a report from a driver that survived a crash and when they took his car in for repair they found the fault was due to the wiring rubbing through and contacting metal (shorting it).
IMHO! It's too dangerous.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 614
Honda has been using them since the mid 90's. It's not a big deal. Almost everyone is moving to them due to the fuel economy benefit.
There is almost no downside to this especially compared with Magnasteer which wasn't good in the first place.
There is almost no downside to this especially compared with Magnasteer which wasn't good in the first place.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Looks like yet another driver control is being taken away from us and replaced with a computer chip. First it was drive by wire throttle, now it appears the C7 has drive by wire steering.
Anybody on here remember the problem with the C6 when it would suddenly vere in one direction due to a fault in the active handling system? Or how about the stuck throttle fiasco with Toyota.
It saddens me to see yet another basic driver control having a computer put between me and the control surface. What was wrong with the steering system that connected the steering wheel directly to the wheels like is has been for the last 100 years?
Anybody on here remember the problem with the C6 when it would suddenly vere in one direction due to a fault in the active handling system? Or how about the stuck throttle fiasco with Toyota.
It saddens me to see yet another basic driver control having a computer put between me and the control surface. What was wrong with the steering system that connected the steering wheel directly to the wheels like is has been for the last 100 years?
The steering wheel is not connected to the front wheels by a 22AWG stranded, insulated wire. If there is a failure of the electrical assist or a failure of the car's electrical system, the front wheels are still mechanically connected to the steering wheel. The car will not go into a "death" wobble.
Do you not believe that there has been problems with hydraulic assisted steering systems of the past. How about all the mid eighties Buick's.
Do you not believe that the old mechanically connected throttle systems of old did not have problems. I have personally had the throttle stick on several cars that had the accelerator pedal connected to the carburetor by a steel rod.
Last edited by JoesC5; Jan 15, 2013 at 09:48 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Forgive me, I'm not familiar with electronic assist steering. But in cases where the engine stalls, i.e. running out of gas and such, is the steering still power assisted at this point, unlike the old hydraulic systems?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
Watch out!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
You might want to read the rest of the reports. An engineer was able to recreate the scenario that caused Toyota's electronic throttle to stick, and Toyota sued him to silence him. Then they went back and quietly rewrote all the programming code for the electronic throttle controller and retrofitted it into every vehicle they make that has an electronic throttle. And all the while, they continued to blame it on rubber mats.
I rest my case. Call me a whiner if you like, but maybe you should go back and read some of the reports about what happened when the active suspension system fails in the C6, as well as the NTSA recall documents on it. This isn't a made up failure scenario. It happened to members on this forum.
I rest my case. Call me a whiner if you like, but maybe you should go back and read some of the reports about what happened when the active suspension system fails in the C6, as well as the NTSA recall documents on it. This isn't a made up failure scenario. It happened to members on this forum.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 595
Likes: 5
From: Minneapolis MN
This is just not true. There may have been some documented cases of this occurring, but it will not lock up by design. It reverts to non-power steering in the event of a failure of some kind.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,867
Likes: 67
From: . Wyoming .
Wow, there are some real technophobes here. I can imagine the discussions when anti-lock brakes were introduced. Or electric windows - "If you drive into a lake, how will you get out?"
So, how do you feel about self-driving cars?
So, how do you feel about self-driving cars?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Espoo, Finland
c7 has same steering assist as Porsche 991(ZF) but I am sure that Chevrolet has tuned it better. Designer actually said that there is initial zone where assist is weak so that chatter from tires comes to your hands and you can feel the limits of the car better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,071
Likes: 317
From: Central Florida
Don't knock it until you try it. But on the other hand my CRUZ has this and its TOO LOOSE. But I highly doubt the new Corvette will have the same steering characteristics as the CRUZ.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 516
From: Gilbert, Arizona Currently Own: 1998 Coupe YouTube: My Corvette Life
I've heard nothing but terrible things about this on Porsches, but if Jim Mero approves this Corvette system, then I approve. (He said it was better then the C6 steering)