Improving steering....

[makethemusic72]

Did you consider getting an alignment? After I got an alignment, my handling improved.

[SleeperSolara]

well considering the fact that i got the parts already, im going with kyb/teins.

Yeah i'm runnin' TEIN and TOKICO HP blue struts right now.
But now i want to slam the car.
But since we just had this crazy snow blizzard it will be a challenge to drive though.

[sahuddleston]

i first had tokico/eibach on my car and then i went with JIC coilovers.

you say you want better handling and we are telling you that a strut/spring combo is not that great of an improvement over stock.

if you really want to get better handling, sell the parts you have now and buy the item that will accomplish what you want. it may be a few hundred dollars more up front but the performance is easily worth it. installation is no more difficult that struts/springs and depending on the brand you can adjust the ride to be a harsh or soft as youd like.

[99BlackSandv6]

I'm going on the record and saying that the new setup you have will provide a HUGE improvement.

[02slera]

ill be lowering my car hopefully soon (when the funds are right). sounds like a strut spring combo is much better than stock, especially for me as my car is running on original 2002 suspension and its about shot lol. but for someone who really wants the best handling... maybe skip that and go straight for the coilovers. maybe i have this wrong but this is what i am taking from this subject so far.

also can anyone recommend or does anyone know of a coilover setup that offers adjustable ride height and seperate adjustable stiffness? or would that be the same adjustment? (that would suck).

[99BlackSandv6]

Spring stiffness is not adjustable on coilovers. You can adjust the damping stiffness, that is more or less damping. This is what most people are referring to when the say they are adjusting the coilover's stiffness (unless they are changing springs). Of course, the damping is adjusted independently of the ride height.

[kenny6683]

very good tires and perfect air pressure is the best way to start...the stock wheels my solara came with made car very unstable. i put 18 inch wheels and some new tires and it felt a lot better.

[MisterTedster]

I've heard of people tightening some adjustment nut or screw on their power steering module in other vehicles. Is this possible on the solara?

[jetbtkng]

all you have is the boat ride, change the springs & struts, and some 17's 225/45, and you'll be happy, its front wheel drive, not like rear wheel drive, there totally different, the way they drive, rsb, fsb, a little camber, your good to go........................

[99BlackSandv6]

There is a lot of good advice and input here.

[mazen222]

I've heard of people tightening some adjustment nut or screw on their power steering module in other vehicles. Is this possible on the solara?

Now that might be very interresting!

the problem with the solara is that the steering is too soft and slow... yes good tires and all that is good, but it will not significantly change the sterring wheel behaviour.

Does anyone know more about this?

[jetbtkng]

theres nothing wrong with the sterring, its very responsive if you do the rite upgrades, watch this and you'll see, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pLigAQIFzw , im using trd struts & springs, whiteline 24mm front sway bar & 20mm whiteline rear sway bar, polyurathane control arm bushings front & rear, a camber kit, set 1.5 front & 1 degree in rear, you dont have to set the camber as aggressive as mine to get good results....................

[MisterTedster]

I just found this: http://auto-recalls.justia.com/toyota/c ... index.html

Make : TOYOTA Model : CAMRY Year : 1998
Build Dates : 1994-07-26 - 1998-07-09
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 99V307000
Date Owner's Notified: 1999-11-30 Date Received by ODI: 1999-11-01 Date Added to Database: 1999-11-08
Manufacturers Involved: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Manufacturer's Responsible for the Recall: TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Manufacturer Campaign Number: X06/XL7
Component: STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 540037
Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
Consequence:
THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
Report Initiator: ODI V Report
Regulation Part Number: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number:
Notes:
TOYOTA RECALL NOS. X06 AND XL7.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 30, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT '1-888-327-4236'.





Apparently there is a way to tighten up steering.

[Sasebo]

Ya drop that ish already. Made a big difference.

[~SolaRaSpeed~]

I'm pretty sure the steering wheel set nut is what attaches the steering wheel to the column/shaft and I don't think that is the problem in his case.