Lubricant for steering? (Potential solutions for Mirage's lack of self-centering)

[ThreePot]

I was looking at the 2105 Jetta,

"Electromechanical power steering with variable assistance and active return"

Active return?

[MiMi]

I was looking at the 2105 Jetta,

So it won't be invented for another 90 years! lol

[ThreePot]

so it won't be invented for another 90 years! Lol

d'oh !

[MiMi]

"Active return" sounds like the EPS actively returns the steering to straight ahead. That doesn't sound like it would have the feel of self-centering from the steering geometry. Anyway, it seems that your experiments have narrowed the problem down to the worm gear on the Mirage, and that brings it back to the title of this thread. I wonder if it would be any better if we jacked up the front of the car and then turned the wheels back and forth dozens of time.

[ThreePot]

"Active return" sounds like the EPS actively returns the steering to straight ahead. That doesn't sound like it would have the feel of self-centering from the steering geometry. Anyway, it seems that your experiments have narrowed the problem down to the worm gear on the Mirage, and that brings it back to the title of this thread. I wonder if it would be any better if we jacked up the front of the car and then turned the wheels back and forth dozens of time.

I was thinking the same thing about the feel.
Hadn't thought about jacking it up and exercising it. Couldn't hurt.
3pot is loosening up very slightly after 4500 miles. I'm really hoping it continues to improve like my toyota did.
I still don't expect it to ever feel what I would consider normal.

One other thing I learned.
If you ever have to replace either one of the stalks, it's a sinch. They snap right in there as an assembly.
I'll add a picture later.

I'll still take that thing the rest of the way apart. I'm trying to scrounge the 2 sockets rather than buy them...

[m4v3r1ck]

Nope won't work, the steering is loosen now on my Mirage but still won't auto self center for 100%. I don't mind this as I used it to my advantages.

Mine's been going for 39960 KM now.

[ThreePot]

Nope won't work, the steering is loosen now on my Mirage but still won't auto self center for 100%. I don't mind this as I used it to my advantages.

Mine's been going for 39960 KM now.

Your steering is still being effected by the friction of the EPS unit though.
Maybe at nearly 25K miles it has less friction.
I am OK with mine now, but I'm still curious about it.
The egg heads need to find a way to de-clutch(?) the EPS when it's near center so there is some decent road feel imho.

[M-88]

Has anyone tried loosening the top of the strut tower and pushing them back to give it caster?

[Tinker1980]

That's quite the electric motor... I see that and I start to have ideas. Two wires - probably brushed DC motor so it's easily reversible.

Wonder how fast it would push a bicycle? I need to see if I can find an old GM Delta platform car in the salvage yard - they have this sort of power steering as well. I want one of those motors to play with.

[NaimaRaiko]

Reviving this thread..

With regards to post #25 of foama, How did you managed to loosen the locknut on the steering rack? Special tool maybe?. I somehow need to adjust mine because im having some knocking issue when turning, checked all the steering components and they are all tight. Thanks!