Do all golfs have very light steering?????

[JeeTeeEye]

ever since i got my mk3 golf, the power steering is so light that it feels like im holding a wheel that isnt even connected to anything..... i cant conclude whether they are all like this or if its a problem!?!

the car has been lowered and has aftermarket wheels on it and i know this can affect power steering but is there anything i can do to be able to feel the road a bit more!?

[GOLIATHGMC]

Actually, my MkIV Golf has a nice solid nimble feel to it. How did you change the suspension when you lowered it? How much did altering the front suspension change things like Caster & Camber angles? Is the Toe set to factory specs or is it something else? What kind of tires are on it and how do they differ from what the car was originally equipped with?
You have to remember that mass produced cars are designed to function properly when equipped the way the original engineers designed it to. Once you mess with that, YOU must re-engineer it to function properly (or the way you want it to handle/feel). Changing the ride height and tire size has changed the spring rate, CG, and stance of the machine. The Unsprung weight may be different as well. You may need to work with an Alignment shop to play with the settings of the steering angles to make it handle/feel better for you.

[JeeTeeEye]

ahh well it was lowered wen i bought it. and its only a set of springs all round i think so your right i am gunna need 2 get a few things looked at! im pretty sure it all needs balancing as well coz i get vibrations in the steering wheel at high speeds!
think it would be a better idea to get springs and dampers rather than just the springs.... and get them fitted proffesionally!
guess i better start saving!

cheers 4 the advice anyway! i never thought that a set of springs would have really made much difference but there a lot that needs 2 b altered!

[carsten0]

Not in my experience (from owning 3 - a Mk1 Golf, a Mk2 Jetta, and a Mk3 Golf). The steering should be firm - but not heavy. Leaden is maybe a way to describe it - but that may give a false impression. Leaden in a good way. Definitely not overly light. One of the things I always appreciated of my VW's was the steering feel.

Sorry - cannot offer anything re. a fix - except get the car back to something near factory settings (springs, camber, castor etc etc).

[2.2 Straight six]

i have a Mk. 4, steering's not light, to me it's perfectly weighted, lots of feel but not heavy, nor too light.

[Wrldleadck5]

Glad someone brought up steering, but i have a 96 golf gl and a 98 gti VR6. My 96's steering is firm and seems to be just right but my 98 gti's steering seems to almost be loose and not as tight as my 96. Is the 98's supposed to be like that or do i have a power steering problem or something else? I had to replace a sway bar link on the passenger side of my VR6, i was wondering could my sway bar affect this? And i noticed that it seems like the owner before put way more power steering fluid in, could it be that?