Power steering

[tolum]

Hi guys. New to Porsche since July 2008, but last summer was rainy, car have been winterised betwwen mid october and mid April. So this year will be a real first one for me.

Question: Is this normal that on a parking lot at the grocery store, when turning the steering it looks much harder to do it that on the interstate at 70 MPH? Looks like I have less assitance on the parking lot that on a road...

Personally I would think the opposite, turning the steering with one finger on the parking lot but having to keep my both hands on the steering on the interstate because of a harder sensation!

Thierry

[JeTexas]

This is normal. When the wheels are rolling, there's less friction as they turn. When you're sitting still, you have the weight of the car staticly on that tire as it's scraping to turn against the pavement.

In the days before power steering the steering ratios would be much higher - meaning you would have to turn the steering wheel more times to go lock to lock. I remember driving a 1961 Dodge Dart, and I swear it took three spins of the wheel to make a right turn. This was to make low-speed turns easier for those without much arm strength. Performance cars had much lower steering ratios because at speed on the track you want precision, and it was easy to turn the wheel. Power steering changed that, so now you can have a small steering ratio without needing giant muscles to park the car.

You might want to check to make sure you've got power steering fluid in your reservoir.

[tolum]

Thanks a lot Je. We never stop learn and this forum is a daily classroom!

Regards

Thierry