Does anyone else feel their power steering assist doesn't feel very assisted at lower speeds? I thought my 00 Crown Vic (recirc ball) steering was stiff but the Stang literally requires 2 hands when doing slow manuevers (reversing into parking spot, parallel parking, etc...) and turns. Does anyone else feel their steering isn't as assisted as other cars?

 

Are you saying it takes 2 hands to turn it period, or 2 hands to turn it quickly? 2 hands to turn it quickly is not very unusual, but 2 hands to turn it slowly is not right. You could always go by the local dealer and see if you can drive a new one around the parking lot, they should let you...it's not like your putting on any real miles.

If it steered like a 1978 caddy it wouldn't be any fun to drive because you would have no road feel. The stang's steering is meant to be a little stiff, but maybe yours is 'too' stiff.

 

It just feels like I need to put a lot of effort into turn in low speed manuevers (like parallel parking). Using 2 hands gives me better grip of the wheel, or else I can slip. I don't have any complaints about the power steering assist at higher speeds.

 

I get the feeling that it is normal, the steering is a little stiffer than most fwd cars at slow speed, probably due to the extra weight of a v8 up front.

 

I'm using my T-bird and Crown Vic as a comparison (both are RWD/V8 cars). I think the only vehicle to have stiffer steering than the Stang is the E-250 cargo van!

 

mine doesn't seem bad at all. If it is that noticible, you may want to have it checked.

 

Eat more spinach? More push-ups?

 

Shoulder press + strict preacher curls. Problem will clear up in no time.

 

Actually these cars have vastly superior weight distribution than just about any FWD car. The V8 in these cars has an aluminum block and heads, the hood is aluminum, battery is up by the firewall, ect. These are just a few of the things that Ford did to ensure they are not as nose heavy as most cars.
Plus with RWD your transmission is a lot further back instead of hanging right over the front wheels like it is in a FWD car. Also with FWD you have the weight of the differential up front making the front end bias even worse.
Bottom line RWD is superior in just about every aspect when it comes to weight distribution, ease or repairs, ect.
According to Ford's specs the weight distribution on a stock S197 GT is 48/52 which is unheard of in cars of this price range.
In order to give better "road feel" the power steering in these cars does not have as much boost as the average grocery getter and that is what you are noticing.