Steering response and bushes

[Gradenko]

Lately, I've felt that steering response on my car hasn't been the greatest. By response, I mean feedback through the wheel and directness when steering. I've already changed all of the front end bushes to polyurethane ones that Whiteline/SuperPro list.

• Radius rod (castor)
  
• Upper control arm (camber)
  

Both of those made improvements but it still doesn't feel as tight as a late model car. What else is there in the steering path that can be replaced? Any bushes holding the steering rack to the car?

I've noticed alloy steering spacers on JMS's site. Has anyone tried these?

[JimX]

What car are you comparing it to? My R33's steering feels sharper than a friend's new XR8, but I imagine it wouldn't feel as sharp as say, a new Integra.

Have you also got thicker swaybars on? They will help reduce body roll which you might interpret as steering "sharpness". Also your tyre choice and tyre pressures will affect response.

[Gradenko]

I was comparing to a VY R8, which I thought was sharper when I hadn't driven my car for a month, but having driven it recently I realize its no where as direct as a R33. The weight of the VY's steering (heavy) made it feel more direct than it really was.

I have factory suspension with uprated Whiteline swaybars front and rear. The swaybars certainly did help with steering feel, but I need more .

BTW, JMS got back to me about the alloy steering spacers:

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These don't fit the R33 sorry.

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Theres gotta be something in the steering path we can replace to improve feel.

[JimX]

Try increasing your negative camber on the front, or getting adjustable radius rods to increase your castor further. I know you've got the Whiteline castor bushes, but they only add about 0.5 degrees to the angle.

[Gradenko]

I've looked at adjustable radius rods. They don't increase castor any more than Whiteline's bushes (1.5deg) and cost a lot more.

Front camber is set up ok for fast street driving (-1deg 40'). More might help but wouldn't be good for tyre wear.

Tyres make a big difference. I'm on Toyo TS1 right now and even though they're a higher spec tyre than my last set (Yoko A539), they don't feel quite as direct. Softer side wall?