Handling issue with Cayenn

[chrisVD]

Hi All,

I have a Cayenne new model which I bought new back in 2007. Since almost new, I noticed that the steering requires more than the normal correcting to keep the car straight. This is not biased on one or other side and the car has the variable power steering option.

I took it to local Porsche a while ago and they have done a wheel alignment using lasers. This seems to have somewhat reduced the problem but the car still seems to be substancially affected by road camber requiring effort with correcting. Any advice on what could be wrong and any thoughts from others on how to fix it much appreciated. Could this be normal and a thing with all Cayennes given the tire size/vehicle weight?

Thanks in advance

Chris.

Edited December 21, 2009 by chrisVD

[odix]

Sounds normal -- roads have more of a crown/camber than you may be aware. Also, Cayenne's have wide tires -- that width makes the crown more pronounced. I too thought I had an issue -- a friend suggested I find a long level and flat surface. I did (a large mall parking lot on Suberbowl Sunday) and at speed (55 - 65mph) no pulling left or right or correcting steering required.

From what I've read Cayenne's (or any heavy vehicle) with wide sport wheels and tires are more prone to "drive down the crown" on roads with significant crowns, requiring corrective steering. I have the stock 275/45/19" wheels. Also I've noticed no problem on freeways -- they are not as crowned as rural or suburban two-lane roads.

Edited December 21, 2009 by odix

[chrisVD]

Sounds normal -- roads have more of a crown/camber than you may be aware. Also, Cayenne's have wide tires -- that width makes the crown more pronounced. I too thought I had an issue -- a friend suggested I find a long level and flat surface. I did (a large mall parking lot on Suberbowl Sunday) and at speed (55 - 65mph) no pulling left or right or correcting steering required.

From what I've read Cayenne's (or any heavy vehicle) with wide sport wheels and tires are more prone to "drive down the crown" on roads with significant crowns, requiring corrective steering. I have the stock 275/45/19" wheels. Also I've noticed no problem on freeways -- they are not as crowned as rural or suburban two-lane roads.

Thanks. Wide tires could be the explanation and I also suspected this. At high speeds, say 55-60mph, the steering feels normal for me too. It is usually at low speeds or even when starting from stationary that the car drifts towards the left/right side depending on road angle and needs correcting.

The Porsche tech at the dealership though the wheel camber angle was off causing the car to behave in that way and decided on doing wheel alignment. Indeed, the automatic report before/after showed some parameters were out of range (strange since the car had no rough treatment) and generally after the alignment the car feels better. But, still it seems to drift more than I would expect.

Chris.