Toyota Corolla Electric-Assist Power Steering (EPS)

98 messages, Last post on Oct 29, 2009 at 2:09 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Corolla, Steering, Sedan

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#97 of 98 Re: steering - improved!! [gerrya] by zikzak Oct 29, 2009 (12:11 pm)
Replying to: gerrya (Oct 28, 2009 4:54 am) That makes so much sense. Thank you for the possible soluation to our problem. I've talked to my wife & daughter about your suggestion, and although the dealer said it was OK during it's last oil change, I will issist on seeing them perform the check....instead of taking their word for it. Again, thank you. Replies to this message: dantz (Oct 29, 2009 2:09 pm)
#98 of 98 Re: steering - improved!! [zikzak] by dantz Oct 29, 2009 (2:09 pm)
Replying to: zikzak (Oct 29, 2009 12:11 pm) My assumption all along has been that these cars were the victims of bean-counter mentality. Some decision-makers at Toyota probably thought that it made the best economic sense to reduce the steering caster to the minimum acceptable level in order to reduce the load on the EPS motor. This would allow lighter steering, a lower wattage motor, a smaller alternator, a smaller battery, lower wattage cabling, etc., and the result would be a measurable cost and weight savings, plus of course a slight increase in fuel efficiency. The flipside, of course, is the unacceptable reduction in directional stability. They made their choice and they took their chances, but it looks like the buyers have noticed it after all, and complained about it, so I'd say that in retrospect it was the wrong decision. However, I'd be very wary of increasing the caster beyond design spec. It might introduce a whole new spectrum of handling issues. Better to wait until Toyota redesigns the steering geometry so that everything works the way it should.

#97 of 98: Re: steering - improved!! [gerrya] by zikzak; Oct 29, 2009 (12:11 pm)

Replying to: gerrya (Oct 28, 2009 4:54 am)

That makes so much sense. Thank you for the possible soluation to our problem. I've talked to my wife & daughter about your suggestion, and although the dealer said it was OK during it's last oil change, I will issist on seeing them perform the check....instead of taking their word for it. Again, thank you.

dantz (Oct 29, 2009 2:09 pm)

#98 of 98: Re: steering - improved!! [zikzak] by dantz; Oct 29, 2009 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: zikzak (Oct 29, 2009 12:11 pm)

My assumption all along has been that these cars were the victims of bean-counter mentality. Some decision-makers at Toyota probably thought that it made the best economic sense to reduce the steering caster to the minimum acceptable level in order to reduce the load on the EPS motor. This would allow lighter steering, a lower wattage motor, a smaller alternator, a smaller battery, lower wattage cabling, etc., and the result would be a measurable cost and weight savings, plus of course a slight increase in fuel efficiency. The flipside, of course, is the unacceptable reduction in directional stability. They made their choice and they took their chances, but it looks like the buyers have noticed it after all, and complained about it, so I'd say that in retrospect it was the wrong decision.

However, I'd be very wary of increasing the caster beyond design spec. It might introduce a whole new spectrum of handling issues. Better to wait until Toyota redesigns the steering geometry so that everything works the way it should.