Looking for opinions after recent rack replacement. Pre and post op owners!

[AZCWTypeR]

A few things that may impact steering feel other than the steering rack:
1. Change in tire pressures. Higher pressures generally lower friction.
2. Change in temperature. PS4's stick much better in summer temps.
3. Change in tires. New or different brand.
4. Change in alignment. Changing the rack may have altered the toe-in.

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[Testa_Rossa_]

A few things that may impact steering feel other than the steering rack:
1. Change in tire pressures. Higher pressures generally lower friction.
2. Change in temperature. PS4's stick much better in summer temps.
3. Change in tires. New or different brand.
4. Change in alignment. Changing the rack may have altered the toe-in.

personally put air in myself
Same oem PS4 default tires put on, doubt it’s those
Alignment has been done twice, where should toe be at? I’m not great at reading an alignment sheet but I do have the one they did after the rack.

 

[powerofdreams]

I did feel the sticky steering sensation before I had the recall done last year. The steering felt slightly lighter post-recall, though I think that's mostly because the steering just felt more fluid and less notchy. I wouldn't say it felt loose or worse off. But now it feels like it's gone back to how it was before the recall, so I'm debating taking it back to the dealer, but I'm hesitant to do so. It does seem like the recall procedure is more of bandaid fix and not a real solution for the steering issue.

 

[frenzal]

what does your steering feel like in general? Are you finding it loosens up on deceleration and tightens when picking up speed?

Steering feels normal to me. It is normal that it tightens up a bit wile picking up speed, as all cars do. Steering feels tighter than other cars I had in the past (05 Honda Accord and 14 Honda Fit), and also a bit tighter than my TLX-S.

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

The weather is finally picking up and it should be warm this weekend, gonna take her out on some back roads and see how she feels but in day to day traffic idk man, it feels lifeless sometimes.

the dealer looked it over and their service manager say everything is tight, no play in the rack, even after driving it he said it feels normal and responsive.

I will, again, have a secondary shop look it over to make sure this is true or that the replacement rack hasn’t already shit the bed. I think I may also request an alignment. If anyone has the original, OEM specs on the alignment please hit me back.

if they find no play and we can get the car back to spec and it still feels off I may try and go test drive another one to compare. This shit is driving me crazy, if feels like the car, in any mode, including R+ loads up the firmness sometimes, other times not, speed is obviously a factor but occasionally when trying to overtake briskly or while making a turn it isn’t dialed in and kinda vague and feels like it has a lot more body lean than I remember. Just overall not as focused and razor sharp are I feel it was or should be.

The journey continues. :/ I hope I can figure it out.

 

[Cueyo]

The weather is finally picking up and it should be warm this weekend, gonna take her out on some back roads and see how she feels but in day to day traffic idk man, it feels lifeless sometimes.

the dealer looked it over and their service manager say everything is tight, no play in the rack, even after driving it he said it feels normal and responsive.

I will, again, have a secondary shop look it over to make sure this is true or that the replacement rack hasn’t already shit the bed. I think I may also request an alignment. If anyone has the original, OEM specs on the alignment please hit me back.

if they find no play and we can get the car back to spec and it still feels off I may try and go test drive another one to compare. This shit is driving me crazy, if feels like the car, in any mode, including R+ loads up the firmness sometimes, other times not, speed is obviously a factor but occasionally when trying to overtake briskly or while making a turn it isn’t dialed in and kinda vague and feels like it has a lot more body lean than I remember. Just overall not as focused and razor sharp are I feel it was or should be.

The journey continues. :/ I hope I can figure it out.

Damn man, I'm really sorry this is happening to you. I remember having the same issue with my rear sway bar on an old car where everyone told me it was normal and an independent shop finally figured out that the issue was my end links not being adjusted properly.

Hopefully driving that second type r vindicates your feelings

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

Damn man, I'm really sorry this is happening to you. I remember having the same issue with my rear sway bar on an old car where everyone told me it was normal and an independent shop finally figured out that the issue was my end links not being adjusted properly.

Hopefully driving that second type r vindicates your feelings

, my independent shop has been good to me and given me no reason not to trust them, I plan on taking out the car later this afternoon and tomorrow when it’s dry and the sun finally pops out to test on some back roads. Depending on that I may have my independent look at it again just to be sure.

at this point I’m left with only two conclusion's; either there is nothing wrong with the car, I had sticky steering for the first two years before the recall and that is why I felt the steering was super tight and now it’s more relaxed, OOOOOOOORRRRRRR, there is play somewhere or something isn’t dialed in correctly.

not sure which is which but I’m determined to figure it out, even if it drives me crazy, I’m not gonna give up on this car.

 

[cryptolime]

what does your steering feel like in general? Are you finding it loosens up on deceleration and tightens when picking up speed?

that's normal

 

[cryptolime]

, my independent shop has been good to me and given me no reason not to trust them, I plan on taking out the car later this afternoon and tomorrow when it’s dry and the sun finally pops out to test on some back roads. Depending on that I may have my independent look at it again just to be sure.

at this point I’m left with only two conclusion's; either there is nothing wrong with the car, I had sticky steering for the first two years before the recall and that is why I felt the steering was super tight and now it’s more relaxed, OOOOOOOORRRRRRR, there is play somewhere or something isn’t dialed in correctly.

not sure which is which but I’m determined to figure it out, even if it drives me crazy, I’m not gonna give up on this car.

mine developed more slop after getting the recall done. it uses a lighter preload spring so probably amplifies any pre-existing slop in the rack. still waiting for someone to mess with the rack preload that you're "not supposed to adjust". i wonder if it could eliminate the slop.

 

[madbikes]

had the slop/knock too after the recall and had to get the whole rack replaced on my Si
$4300

I haven't had the recall done and I have a 2025 (so I don't think mine is on the list). I've seen your post over on another thread, and I have that slight play with the knocking sound when I turn the wheel quickly while stationary. As far as I understand, this is purely "cosmetic", the play is something that's normal and more than likely having someone mess with it will only make it worse. Mind you, this is how mines been since day one.

Sounds almost like they went to go fix a sound and while they fixed the play in the column by replacing it, they made everything else worse. It could even be that the sound in the column returns after a while.

I'm in the same boat as you to where it feels right, so I don't want it messed with.

I am also in disbelief that Honda think this knocking noise when changing directions with the steering wheel, somewhat swiftly or quickly just to replicate the noise, while stationary is totally normal . I owned two cars with electric power steering, both do not sound like that at all.

It appears this noise is present in all 11th Gen Civic regardless of trim. Warranty replacement experience varies from one person to another.

Possible outcomes are:
1) Dealer replaces steering rack and will repeat when the noise comes back
2) Noise is present after 1st steering rack replacement. Dealer say they checked everything and it's normal operation.
3) Service Advisor tells you up front it is normal operation.

I visited the closest local Dealer when I felt unusual play after a bump. Noise was audible outside the car. Steering rack grease recalled was performed prior to this. Number 2 was the ultimate outcome, as I can repeat the noise, but not anywhere as loud. That was within the last year of bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Then I went to a different local Dealer. Number 3 was the outcome. The Service Advisor reproduced the noise with I think is a base 11th Gen Civic with less than 10K miles.

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

mine developed more slop after getting the recall done. it uses a lighter preload spring so probably amplifies any pre-existing slop in the rack. still waiting for someone to mess with the rack preload that you're "not supposed to adjust". i wonder if it could eliminate the slop.

forgive my ignorance but how does one ‘adjust’ what you’re ‘not supposed to adjust’, asking for a friend.

That being said the car felt pretty good this weekend with only a few times where it felt a bit off. It’s hard to pin down this feeling, gonna try it out again this upcoming weekend (80 degrees and sunny allegedly) and see if it does any better.

I found the tech overfilled the air pressure in the tires to nearly 40psi and my goofy ass didn’t bother to check, I assumed they could read the damn labor in the door jam but I guess that’s the quality of work you get nowadays for your hard-earned money. They are now set to 35 and 33, respectively.

I’m new to the modding world and didn’t really see a point in modding what I thought was a damn near perfect handling car. That being said, if I’m still wanting more bite and dive-in from the front end would a set of aftermarket bushings be the way to go? I figured they didn’t really mess with any of the cars systems and if I still wanted more it would be a pretty inoffensive mod to undertake.

 

[Cueyo]

forgive my ignorance but how does one ‘adjust’ what you’re ‘not supposed to adjust’, asking for a friend.

That being said the car felt pretty good this weekend with only a few times where it felt a bit off. It’s hard to pin down this feeling, gonna try it out again this upcoming weekend (80 degrees and sunny allegedly) and see if it does any better.

I found the tech overfilled the air pressure in the tires to nearly 40psi and my goofy ass didn’t bother to check, I assumed they could read the damn labor in the door jam but I guess that’s the quality of work you get nowadays for your hard-earned money. They are now set to 35 and 33, respectively.

I’m new to the modding world and didn’t really see a point in modding what I thought was a damn near perfect handling car. That being said, if I’m still wanting more bite and dive-in from the front end would a set of aftermarket bushings be the way to go? I figured they didn’t really mess with any of the cars systems and if I still wanted more it would be a pretty inoffensive mod to undertake.

Aftermarket bushings will definitely help with the bite, but they'll come with the downside of drying out if you go for poly bushings. Will get super super loud when that happens.

 

[cryptolime]

forgive my ignorance but how does one ‘adjust’ what you’re ‘not supposed to adjust’, asking for a friend.

That being said the car felt pretty good this weekend with only a few times where it felt a bit off. It’s hard to pin down this feeling, gonna try it out again this upcoming weekend (80 degrees and sunny allegedly) and see if it does any better.

I found the tech overfilled the air pressure in the tires to nearly 40psi and my goofy ass didn’t bother to check, I assumed they could read the damn labor in the door jam but I guess that’s the quality of work you get nowadays for your hard-earned money. They are now set to 35 and 33, respectively.

I’m new to the modding world and didn’t really see a point in modding what I thought was a damn near perfect handling car. That being said, if I’m still wanting more bite and dive-in from the front end would a set of aftermarket bushings be the way to go? I figured they didn’t really mess with any of the cars systems and if I still wanted more it would be a pretty inoffensive mod to undertake.

there's a screw to adjust rack preload, service manual says "do not adjust".

if anyone has excessive slop in their rack, would be interesting to try tightening it up before you replace it. same type of adjuster as hydraulic racks.

these pics aren't from our cars, but same basic design.

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

Aftermarket bushings will definitely help with the bite, but they'll come with the downside of drying out if you go for poly bushings. Will get super super loud when that happens.

I see, I’ll have to look into those, I wonder how long they last, I saw a Spoon set in my brief research but that seemed like overkill and would make the ride more harsh than it can be already. Any reputable companies that make good products? As I said, new to modding and have really no experience in that world or side of sports car ownership. Thanks for all your help thus far.

 

[madbikes]

It appears Integra Type S is also affected with this noise issue at this point.

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