steering feedback

[andrew84tran]

I've driven some cars where the steering wheel jes slides back to its original position when you let go of the wheel after you've completed the corner. And i've driven some cars where the steering doesn't snap back as easily after taking a corner i.e. I have to kind of turn it back to its original position to go straight. Not sure if I've expressed myself clearly but hope you guys understand.

What mechanical part of the car determines this characteristic?

[freakygeek]

The caster setting has a major part in it.

Quoted from http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=4

Increasing the amount of positive caster will increase steering effort and straight line tracking, as well as improve high speed stability and cornering effectiveness. Positive caster also increases tire lean when cornering (almost like having more negative camber) as the steering angle is increased.

Also the width of your tyres plays a large part. Narrow tyres have a "longer" contact patch (see thread Re: tyre/mag DC2) and will therefore create the "centering" effect in the steering vs. wider tyres with a "shorter" contact patch.

[tinkerbell]

also toe in/out will affect it, but less so than castor...

[Page]

The power steering unit have a self centering ability this may vary from car to car.
The weight of the rotating assembley (wheel, tyre, brake rotor) and the speed of it would have some affect due to the gyroscopic effect.