"Floaty" steering response intermittently
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 38
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From: Texas
"Floaty" steering response intermittently
Has anyone experienced issues in their IS with the steering being "floaty" or a little "sticky" at highway speeds? I had RC-F/GS-F bushing put into my 2016 IS-350 F-Sport over the summer because I felt like the steering was a little weird, it seems like the issue is still there.
It's really hard to describe, like I'll be doing 65 mph, the highway lane slightly curves and I'll feel like I'm having to push the steering wheel more than normal to get it to turn, then it feels like I'll have to pull it back with more effort to. Maybe it's just the road, I don't think so though.
I had an alignment done last month too but everything came back fine :/
It's really hard to describe, like I'll be doing 65 mph, the highway lane slightly curves and I'll feel like I'm having to push the steering wheel more than normal to get it to turn, then it feels like I'll have to pull it back with more effort to. Maybe it's just the road, I don't think so though.
I had an alignment done last month too but everything came back fine :/
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,612
Likes: 4,801
From: GA
On my IS I had a "sticky" feeling from time to time. The pattern I noticed was that it seemed to start happening if I was driving mostly straight at high speed for a while. Over on the GS forums, this has been discussed and is believed to be a tuning/software issue.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 853
Likes: 175
From: Ontario
Has anyone experienced issues in their IS with the steering being "floaty" or a little "sticky" at highway speeds? I had RC-F/GS-F bushing put into my 2016 IS-350 F-Sport over the summer because I felt like the steering was a little weird, it seems like the issue is still there.
It's really hard to describe, like I'll be doing 65 mph, the highway lane slightly curves and I'll feel like I'm having to push the steering wheel more than normal to get it to turn, then it feels like I'll have to pull it back with more effort to. Maybe it's just the road, I don't think so though.
I had an alignment done last month too but everything came back fine :/
It's really hard to describe, like I'll be doing 65 mph, the highway lane slightly curves and I'll feel like I'm having to push the steering wheel more than normal to get it to turn, then it feels like I'll have to pull it back with more effort to. Maybe it's just the road, I don't think so though.
I had an alignment done last month too but everything came back fine :/
That being said I find steering very heavy at all speeds. Just enough to notice. Steering is super sensitive, no dead zone on Center, smallest movement of wheel and car moves.
So I’d say heavy steering sensation is normal but I personally wouldn’t describe it as taking effort to turn.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 38
Likes: 16
From: Texas
Appreciate the quick response! I live in Houston and that's mostly the kind of driving I do so that totally makes sense!
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: GA
Note, I did not have the RCF bushings.
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 81
From: WA
15 IS350 F Sport RWD with Pilot A/S and its a floating car on freeway. New Civic Si drives a lot straighter and requires no feedback where the IS constantly adjusting. Feel like a drunk at times. Car bone stock original owner no accidents. 37k miles and lady driven 95% of time.
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 301
Likes: 159
From: TX
I recently moved from Houston to Dallas and the drive up the 45 was a nightmare. This car at 80 mph needed a lot of adjustments to stay straight and I got the sense the car might veer off into the next lane. It made the long distance uncomfortable at times. It got worse when the pavement had those groves running the length of the lane where it looks like ridges in a fan belt. It made the car feel like it was following the groove like it was on tracks. Everything was stock then. The drive felt the same when I rented an infinity Q50 for a previous drive from Houston to Dallas. I didn’t notice any of these feelings when I drove my old E92 M3 up the same highway a year prior to this. The M3 has hydraulic steering so maybe that played a role.
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Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Tennessee
2018 AWD F-Sport
Yeah - stock car had a vague, wandering feeling that needed constant driver adjustments until I put Figs LCA Bushings on. It's a heavy car, floats a little bit on stock suspension and requires a little more driver effort. The aftermarket LCA bushings replacement is how the car should feel from the factory - Lexus dropped the ball on this IMO. I drove Honda/Acuras for about 18 years prior to the IS, including a 330hp turbo Integra that I built - I could easily use two fingers at 80mph on the interstate to drive it - not so with the IS. I'm not comfortable with less than a palm and a couple of fingers on the wheel at 80mph with the IS.
Yeah - stock car had a vague, wandering feeling that needed constant driver adjustments until I put Figs LCA Bushings on. It's a heavy car, floats a little bit on stock suspension and requires a little more driver effort. The aftermarket LCA bushings replacement is how the car should feel from the factory - Lexus dropped the ball on this IMO. I drove Honda/Acuras for about 18 years prior to the IS, including a 330hp turbo Integra that I built - I could easily use two fingers at 80mph on the interstate to drive it - not so with the IS. I'm not comfortable with less than a palm and a couple of fingers on the wheel at 80mph with the IS.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 1,752
From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Reference item #3 in this post: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...l#post10827644
While it's not the exact same issue you are having, you did mention an alignment was done.
At this point this would indicate that the vehicles understanding of the center or straight ahead position of the steering wheel is different than the actual physical center position of the steering wheel.
I would suggest having the calibrations done to see if this improves or corrects the issue you are having.
While it's not the exact same issue you are having, you did mention an alignment was done.
At this point this would indicate that the vehicles understanding of the center or straight ahead position of the steering wheel is different than the actual physical center position of the steering wheel.
I would suggest having the calibrations done to see if this improves or corrects the issue you are having.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 811
Likes: 435
From: NC
Appreciate the honesty of the OP in the “Consequences of Modding”. I come from BMW world and my cars were MSport models. Rather than degrade a 5 series by modding the suspension I instead got a 3 series coupe which was lower, and tighter. Car felt great!
I’d think an IS would feel right with the right set up rather than fight the heft of the GS. With a rough riding two seat convertable as a third car, with MT I have little desire to mod my GS Fsport . Press the button and it tightens up and is quicker. Its a personal choice and its good enough. I paid for that goodness.
I know mod’s like to get others to join in and it validates their choices. Its hard to quantify ones happiness in words to what a car would feel like..
My AWD does great even with its skinny tires. Im glad to not have to replace staggered ones every 25k as I used to. sometimes I like the light steering and fuel economy. Mine is a 2020 I got new. Its a sleeper, mica gray.
I love reading about some of the mods done and the intensity of choice.
My car bone stock is dead center easy to drive and feels well balanced.
Sorry the OP got one that was previously modded and converted which might be problematic.
I’d think an IS would feel right with the right set up rather than fight the heft of the GS. With a rough riding two seat convertable as a third car, with MT I have little desire to mod my GS Fsport . Press the button and it tightens up and is quicker. Its a personal choice and its good enough. I paid for that goodness.
I know mod’s like to get others to join in and it validates their choices. Its hard to quantify ones happiness in words to what a car would feel like..
My AWD does great even with its skinny tires. Im glad to not have to replace staggered ones every 25k as I used to. sometimes I like the light steering and fuel economy. Mine is a 2020 I got new. Its a sleeper, mica gray.
I love reading about some of the mods done and the intensity of choice.
My car bone stock is dead center easy to drive and feels well balanced.
Sorry the OP got one that was previously modded and converted which might be problematic.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,612
Likes: 4,801
From: GA
Appreciate the honesty of the OP in the “Consequences of Modding”. I come from BMW world and my cars were MSport models. Rather than degrade a 5 series by modding the suspension I instead got a 3 series coupe which was lower, and tighter. Car felt great!
I’d think an IS would feel right with the right set up rather than fight the heft of the GS. With a rough riding two seat convertable as a third car, with MT I have little desire to mod my GS Fsport . Press the button and it tightens up and is quicker. Its a personal choice and its good enough. I paid for that goodness.
I know mod’s like to get others to join in and it validates their choices. Its hard to quantify ones happiness in words to what a car would feel like..
My AWD does great even with its skinny tires. Im glad to not have to replace staggered ones every 25k as I used to. sometimes I like the light steering and fuel economy. Mine is a 2020 I got new. Its a sleeper, mica gray.
I love reading about some of the mods done and the intensity of choice.
My car bone stock is dead center easy to drive and feels well balanced.
Sorry the OP got one that was previously modded and converted which might be problematic.
I’d think an IS would feel right with the right set up rather than fight the heft of the GS. With a rough riding two seat convertable as a third car, with MT I have little desire to mod my GS Fsport . Press the button and it tightens up and is quicker. Its a personal choice and its good enough. I paid for that goodness.
I know mod’s like to get others to join in and it validates their choices. Its hard to quantify ones happiness in words to what a car would feel like..
My AWD does great even with its skinny tires. Im glad to not have to replace staggered ones every 25k as I used to. sometimes I like the light steering and fuel economy. Mine is a 2020 I got new. Its a sleeper, mica gray.
I love reading about some of the mods done and the intensity of choice.
My car bone stock is dead center easy to drive and feels well balanced.
Sorry the OP got one that was previously modded and converted which might be problematic.
FWIW, having a 2021 now versus a 2016 I had before, the car has gained a little weight to where the weight issue of GS versus IS is negligible. I don't think it's a problem. This car wants to attack some corners.
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