The steering is just fine for you perhaps but other people may think differently and that's what this thread is about.

 

I guess if you might have to change to a different rack then it would be fairly costly. Is that an option?

If not, maybe try to drive some other STRs with different tyres and alignments (they'll inevitably be a bit different) in case one is better?

 

I think you might be able to have the internals changed but I haven't gotten that far as yet. It looks like there's no one on this forum who's done it?

Now I think trying other people's cars who've mad adjustments towards this end is a great idea but they're probably rarer than hen's teeth.

There aren't many of these out there.

These do seem to be falling into the hands of modifiers now that the prices are so low.

We just need someone who's very experience at suspension tuning and has something they think we should look at.

I should probably ask the guys at my tire/alignment shop. They're very big in the Porsche/BMW/Audi racing community here in the NY metro area and one of the principals, the suspension guy, works for Pirelli in a lot of the racing series like ALMS.

His opinion might be interesting to hear.

 

Sorry that was the first search that came up from it. There are a few chassis handling books that talk about not needing a strut bar with a wishbone setup.

 

I know they're a different animal but if you've got chassis flex up front it might help. But I don't know what the issue is with the STR just that it acts like a bra-less woman jogging when you push hard on the bumpier roads.

It doesn't go wildly out of control but it doesn't instill confidence either.

Might just be bushings that are too soft or both?

 

I'm sure the bushings play a huge role as Jaguar was never really known for performance attributes until the XFR

 

Doesn't the XFR have a quicker ratio steering rack? Maybe a swap of the gears or the whole rack itself would be possible. I think I hear ebay calling...lol!

 

Is there a problem?

The post was completely in agreement with your previous statement:

 

Don't know if this will help or not. Years ago, when the X-Types first came out, we leased one. The steering felt a bit stiff but I didn't pay much attention to it, thought it was normal, but my wife didn't think so. On a regular service call( the dealer trailered to us a loaner and took our car for service). The service guy commented that the steering felt a bit stiff and thru a few tries they finally fixed it.
The variable rate steering module was screwy and defaulted to hiway speeds. They replaced the module and all was well once again.

 

I drove one of those a couple of years ago at one of those Jaguar events at a track but it was such a short and highly charged drive that I couldn't really tell very much about the car. I did notice the 500 hp though!

 

You can make the arms of the swaybars shorter by drilling new holes in it say an inch closer to the bends.

 

I guess it depends on one's frame of reference. To me the S-Type's steering is razor sharp. I've found it pretty easy to go fairly briskly on the back roads in my area. The only car I've had that was quicker steering was a 1971 240Z. My Audi A6 in comparison, is rather floaty and imprecise.

 

Have you tried upgrading to polyurethane bushings?

 

Agree. H&R Sport springs, Michelin Pilot Sports at 35 lbs. pressure with updated alignment specs have given my 03 STR brisk/sharper steering.

 

Mistakenly installed these on my 83 Mustang GT (with transplanted 400 chp 351). Could feel every road anomaly and pebble.

 

You know I was just thinking, part of my heavy steering probably has a lot to do with my 20 inch wheels on my car. Also, I can feel every small bump in the road through the steering.

 

Don't know if the S Type's steering setup is similar to XJ8 or XK8, but putting a switch on the servotronic steering relay to turn the power assistance off at higher speeds and on when parking helps with the steering feel. Worth a consideration, 30 minute mod.

 

Have a link to a thread/post or webpage for this?

With the variable ratio I guess? it's not just the assist that's the issue.