Steering effort/feel - Toyota Yaris Forums

StrangeRanger · 12-08-2011, 01:02 PM

I am seriously considering buying a 2012 Yaris 3 door L.
The very few things that I don't like about it are easily fixed except..
the power assisted steering has way too much assist and way too little feel for my taste. Is there any way of reducing the assist and hopefully increasing the feel?

WeeYari · 12-08-2011, 01:08 PM

Buy a SE or pull the fuse and go totally manual. Been talked about quite a bit, but nobody has successfully implemented variable assist.

StrangeRanger · 12-08-2011, 01:35 PM

The SE doesn't come as a 3-door and it comes with too much in the way of "features" that I dislike. The chief appeals of the L are the lack of rear doors and its stripped down content.

Totally manual doesn't bother me in the slightest. I really don't see why a 2200# car even needs power assist. I have driven many in that weight range that were not assisted and had no issues.

If you pull the fuse, are you still fighting against the electrical assist, increasing the effort sort of like a hydraulic assist with a bypassed pulley? Or does the electrical system just go into neutral?

Is the assist from an SE retro-fittable to an L? That might be the easiest although certainly not the least expensive fix. The boneyards aren't exactly full of Yaris SEs

Captain Slow · 12-08-2011, 04:47 PM

i guess because I'm used to twitchy front ends on my RWD drive cars I rather like the the strong assist on the power steering in the Yaris. makes it feel like I can chuck it into a corner.

of course it's all personal preference though, many people in the Miata world disliked power steering, they said it was twitchy, I liked it twitchy.

cali yaris · 12-08-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

the power assisted steering has way too much assist and way too little feel for my taste. Is there any way of reducing the assist and hopefully increasing the feel?

There is almost zero assist over 50 mph. The steering ECU reduces control as the car increases in speed. Remember, this is an electric motor assist, no hydraulics on the Yaris.

With that said, mine's deleted. I like it better without.

Viperoni · 12-08-2011, 10:04 PM

bigger rims and shorter profile tires.

cali yaris · 12-09-2011, 01:19 AM

^ for a harsher, slower ride.

Captain Slow · 12-09-2011, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cali yaris

^ for a harsher, slower ride.

a valid point, if you can't stand driving it then it doesn't matter how the steering feels ;)

CanIHazYarisHatch? · 12-09-2011, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangeRanger

I am seriously considering buying a 2012 Yaris 3 door L.
The very few things that I don't like about it are easily fixed except..
the power assisted steering has way too much assist and way too little feel for my taste. Is there any way of reducing the assist and hopefully increasing the feel?

I'm right there with you.

My one, and only complaint, about the 2012's.

eTiMaGo · 12-09-2011, 06:56 AM

http://www.autospeed.com.au/A_111532/cms/article.html

A little technical, but this guide lets you use a potentiometer knob to fine tune the overall level of assistance :)

The problem with simply removing the fuse is that your arms will get the additional resistance from the inoperative gearing and motor...

Captain Slow · 12-09-2011, 12:19 PM

awesome link!

that will be a "must do" item on my list eventually. I love uber-nerdy mods like that. thanks.

StrangeRanger · 12-09-2011, 12:29 PM

That link looks like it may prove to be the solution.
It certainly will provide an improvement and the cost is near zero.
Many, many thanks. This makes the purchase decision much easier

Viperoni · 12-10-2011, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cali yaris

^ for a harsher, slower ride.

I shoulda clarified 205/50/15's or similar ;)

Scubaru Steve · 12-10-2011, 11:17 PM

you can always swap in the se steering rack! that's gives you the quicker ratios and better feel, and you could probably keep the same power assist as the base.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangeRanger

The SE doesn't come as a 3-door and it comes with too much in the way of "features" that I dislike. The chief appeals of the L are the lack of rear doors and its stripped down content.

Totally manual doesn't bother me in the slightest. I really don't see why a 2200# car even needs power assist. I have driven many in that weight range that were not assisted and had no issues.

If you pull the fuse, are you still fighting against the electrical assist, increasing the effort sort of like a hydraulic assist with a bypassed pulley? Or does the electrical system just go into neutral?

Is the assist from an SE retro-fittable to an L? That might be the easiest although certainly not the least expensive fix. The boneyards aren't exactly full of Yaris SEs

12-08-2011, 01:02 PM	#1
StrangeRanger Drives: none yet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 3	Steering effort/feel I am seriously considering buying a 2012 Yaris 3 door L. The very few things that I don't like about it are easily fixed except.. the power assisted steering has way too much assist and way too little feel for my taste. Is there any way of reducing the assist and hopefully increasing the feel?

12-08-2011, 01:08 PM	#2
WeeYari View User's Garage Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,809	Buy a SE or pull the fuse and go totally manual. Been talked about quite a bit, but nobody has successfully implemented variable assist. __________________

12-08-2011, 04:47 PM	#4
Captain Slow My Face Is Ridiculous View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Toyota Yaris 3dr LB Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Scott, LA Posts: 456	i guess because I'm used to twitchy front ends on my RWD drive cars I rather like the the strong assist on the power steering in the Yaris. makes it feel like I can chuck it into a corner. of course it's all personal preference though, many people in the Miata world disliked power steering, they said it was twitchy, I liked it twitchy. __________________ {Buy my book - It Came From Tomorrow}

12-08-2011, 10:04 PM	#6
Viperoni Drives: 2005 Toyota Echo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 505	bigger rims and shorter profile tires. __________________ 2006 Saturn Ion Redline 2005 Toyota Echo RS 4dr hatch - Cyl #3 bad - sold 2000 Toyota Echo 2dr coupe - The track car - rusty & scrapped

12-09-2011, 01:19 AM	#7
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	^ for a harsher, slower ride. __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

12-08-2011, 01:35 PM	#3
StrangeRanger Drives: none yet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 3	The SE doesn't come as a 3-door and it comes with too much in the way of "features" that I dislike. The chief appeals of the L are the lack of rear doors and its stripped down content. Totally manual doesn't bother me in the slightest. I really don't see why a 2200# car even needs power assist. I have driven many in that weight range that were not assisted and had no issues. If you pull the fuse, are you still fighting against the electrical assist, increasing the effort sort of like a hydraulic assist with a bypassed pulley? Or does the electrical system just go into neutral? Is the assist from an SE retro-fittable to an L? That might be the easiest although certainly not the least expensive fix. The boneyards aren't exactly full of Yaris SEs

12-09-2011, 06:56 AM	#10
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	http://www.autospeed.com.au/A_111532/cms/article.html A little technical, but this guide lets you use a potentiometer knob to fine tune the overall level of assistance :) The problem with simply removing the fuse is that your arms will get the additional resistance from the inoperative gearing and motor... __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ... Last edited by eTiMaGo; 12-09-2011 at 07:22 AM.

12-09-2011, 12:19 PM	#11
Captain Slow My Face Is Ridiculous View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Toyota Yaris 3dr LB Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Scott, LA Posts: 456	awesome link! that will be a "must do" item on my list eventually. I love uber-nerdy mods like that. thanks. __________________ {Buy my book - It Came From Tomorrow}

12-09-2011, 12:29 PM	#12
StrangeRanger Drives: none yet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 3	That link looks like it may prove to be the solution. It certainly will provide an improvement and the cost is near zero. Many, many thanks. This makes the purchase decision much easier

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