My steering is on the heavy side of what I like. I've been wondering if it's by design or due to some other reason. Since I haven't driven any other SC I don't know how others feel about their experience. Perhaps it differs by model year so please say how you feel about your SC and the model year of your ride.

 

I never really thought about it, so I'd have to say it is about right to me. June 2002 model.

 

My 2008 and 2007 both had same steering feel I.e. Heavy. My F150 truck, Ct200h and LS460 all had lighter steering feel.

 

...my early 2002 seemed to be a little heavy or sluggish to me, but after I changed the springs/tires/rims, it became alot more nimble...in my opinion

 

I drove a total of 3 SC430 before I purchased my 02. All of them including the one I purchased steered the same. One thing I noticed was in parking lots the steering seemed to be a lot easier on all of them. After a couple of months I noticed the one I purchased lost the easier steering in parking lots. I've had the power steering fluid flushed and the screen checked which resulted in no change.

 

Bon,

I felt the same.. not sure what kind of wheels/tires you have on but the stock wheel came with tires which are wider then the wheel itself. That seemed to be the problem.. on the 8inch stock wheel i mounted 225 and it felt much much easier on steering + not as much road noise,

I tried to explain in this thread here. hope it helps
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...he-planet.html

not many people notice this though as they are use to it, I was bothered because I was use to driving German cars mostly.

btw check your steering rack bushings too.

 

I have stock wheels, but chromed, 245/40's. I had front and rear spacers but removed the fronts to get it closer to stock as I work on this issue. I also have poly steering rack bushings as well as poly bushings on the lower control arms. New upper and lower ball joints as well as inner and outer tie rods. I have fresh synthetic ATF in the power steering system as well. I've tweaked the pre-load adjustment on the steering rack a bit looser - to no effect. My steering tracks true and feels well controlled - only stiff. The fresh ATF was the most recent change and it didn't have any effect. I've even temporarily pulled the plug on the power steering pump. This circuit normally makes steering effort lighter at slow speeds. When the plug is pulled I felt the steering get even stiffer - as it should.

Looking at the survey responses it seems that few, if anybody, thinks the SC steering is light. Yup, it's possible that my steering is working as designed. Bimmer416 I like the idea of trying 225's some day.

 

I do believe the SC was designed to feel like a sporty car, therefore a little heavy steering vs the LS. However, I think if you were to adjust your caster setting, you might be able to have different weight depending on the degree you dial in.

 

..in post #4, I mentioned changing springs/tires/rims has given me a more nimble feel.My tire change was from the 245 to 225, so that could be part of it

 

I have some snow tires that are 225. I've never put them on because I don't WANT to drive my car in crappy winter weather and I don't have to! Anyway, I'll put them on and report back. Cheap test.

 

Well, the verdict is in. The 225's definitely lighten the steering. My front end is still very tight though. I had an alignment done and everything is very close to factory so I'm not concerned with my caster, camber or toe any longer. I've read some bad things about the Sankei 555 ball joints that I installed. I wish I would have simply ordered OEM lowers from Sewell as it would have only been about $5 more per ball joint. Shame. I won't feel like I'm done until I get better return-to-center so I'm still working it.

 

glad the tires helped, it only made sense.

now as for the stiffness still, I think best way for you to tell is to drive another SC? anyone in your area?

btw I thought 555 were oem?

 

I had heard that Sankei was OEM as well. Here's a link to a discussion about Sankei and other aftermarket ball joints that made me wish I had simply gone OEM.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...-findings.html

The quote below is supposedly from Sankei regarding their OEM status:

"Dear Mr. Mike,

1. Sankei is not an OEM supplier but has been supplying our suspension and steering parts to North American Aftermarket through our customers for more than 45years.

2.Our products are designed and manufactured with our own engineering and technical standards, which are “equal” or “exceeding” to OEM quality. In fact, we have a high reputation as a qualityproduct manufacturer and supplier.

3. Sankei does not have different grades of product, though in these days, some American parts manufacturers and distributors have so called the “Premium” and the “Economy” which is lower grade of product coming from low cost countries. Our Sankei products are supplied for the aftermarket as the “Premium” through our customers.

Best regards,
Taro Yamazaki"

 

I know this is an old thread, but I do feel like the sc430 steering is a bit heavier than my 2019 RX350.

 

Mine is also heavier than my wife’s RAV4. The SC is also much heavier than the RAV4.