FocusIT Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Hello, I hope someone has come across this before and will be able to tell me if it is a minor or major problem. I recently bought a 2005 (55 plate) Mk2 Focus Estate Auto for my wife. The car is in good condition all round, and was MOT'd the day we bought it. It passed, with just one advisory that there is slight play in one of the track rod ends. Other than that it had a clean bill of health. The car goes OK and my wife is very pleased with it but when I drive it I notice that in comparison with my Saab, the steering is very heavy. The heaviness is constant, i.e. it doesn't matter whether it's fast or slow, the steering feels as though it's over damped. I don't know if there is any way of adjusting the tightness of the rack, as you can with a steering box, but if not, then can you think of anything that could cause the stiffness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IINexusII Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 is it a petrol or diesel? on some models there is an option to adjust the steering weight, either comfort, standard or sport. i believe only the diesels have this option as it is run using an electric-hydro pump whereas the petrol models are just hydraulic. i may be wrong though but this is something you can check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incontro Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 AFAIK the petrol models (including mine) have hydraulic power steering, and it does feel somewhat 'heavy' compared to newer cars which have extremely light electric power steering, where you can literally turn the wheel your pinkie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FocusIT Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 IINexusII and Incontro, the car is a petrol 1.6. The steering feels as though someone has fitted a damper on it as the heaviness is not speed related, it's just as heavy at parking speeds and at motorway speeds. So I wonder if it's possible that the pinion has been set to mesh with the rack slightly too deeply, and I didn't know if it's possible to adjust the mesh depth like you can with a steering box. Looking at pictures of the rack it doesn't look like it's possible to adjust it, so I'll have to check if it is the actual rack that's stiff, or the bits that connect to it, i.e. the steering column, and the front suspension, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artscot79 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Have you checked the tyre pressures? Under inflated tyres will cause the same issue ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graygerd Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 is it a petrol or diesel? Mine is a 1.8 petrol Ghia and you can change the steering weight on it on some models there is an option to adjust the steering weight, either comfort, standard or sport. i believe only the diesels have this option as it is run using an electric-hydro pump whereas the petrol models are just hydraulic. i may be wrong though but this is something you can check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JW1982 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 The 1.4 and 1.6 Duratec (including the 1.6 Duratec TI-VCT) versions of the Focus MK2/MK2.5 do have conventional hydraulic power steering powered by a pump driven by the engine. On this system the steering weight can not be adjusted. All other engine types do have the electric hydraulic (EHPAS) power steering. On the EHPAS system you can choose between 3 settings to adjust the steering weight (Comfort, standard or sport). My experience is that the steering weight of the conventional system feels a bit heavy (especially compared with the full electric power steering of my current Focus MK3). However the heavy steering is completely normal. All different Focus MK2/MK2.5 versions I drove did have exactly the same (heavy) steering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonic113 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 just though I would pop in here and say My focus mk2.5 1.6 feel the same on the steering. Not major heavy but I did not that the father in laws 2010 cmax (same engine and same power steering setup) did feel a lot lighter when drove. I would of thought the cmax was the same as the focus so in theory should feel the same on the steering but when I greased/oiled up all my joints along the steering section it did make a little difference but still not as light as the cmax feels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FocusIT Posted May 31, 2015 Author Share Posted May 31, 2015 Hello all, Thanks for all the comments. I was worried that there was something wrong with the steering on the Focus. However, from what some of you have written, it seems that all the Focuses have heavy steering, unless they have the electro-hydraulic system that is, and I don't think mine has that. I can't find any reference to it on the menu anyway, so I imagine I must have the hydraulic system on mine. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incontro Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I don't know if it's just me, but I've noticed that after a long drive, the steering feels somewhat lighter, compared to the weight of the steering straight after a cold start. Might just be a placebo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONDEO TXS 2.2 Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Warmer air in tyres, slight,temporary, increase in tyre pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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