Steering adjustment?

[2lbgill]

My Maverick XLT Hybrid is one of the better handling vehicles I've had in years, I had a Lincoln Mark 7 that was the best of them all and my Maverick is a close 2nd the way it clings to the road with it's handling characteristics. The steering effort is a little heavier than I like and I was wondering if anyone has had thoughts about adjustment. It should be able to do it with a voltage adjustment I would guess.

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[Montana]

Undervolting the steering?

I really hope I learn something here...

 

[2lbgill]

Undervolting the steering?

I really hope I learn something here...

Most vehicles have electric steering these days.

 

[Scott Asheville]

I have exactly the opposite opinion. I find the Maverick steering waaay too light. It's a trend these days, as OEMs build for soccer moms. Steering feel and effort is a thing of the distant past.

 

[Montana]

I have exactly the opposite opinion. I find the Maverick steering waaay too light. It's a trend these days, as OEMs build for soccer moms. Steering feel and effort is a thing of the distant past.

I agree. I enjoy the steering in sport mode. I have no idea how it adjusts, but I don't think dropping/adding voltage is it. I'd really like to know.

 

[MichaelG]

I work at an OEM steering system supplier. Varying the voltage will have no effect on steering assist. Once the voltage drops below a certain threshold the steering system will just stop working. The only way to change the amount of assist is through the steering system software.

 

[Flight Test]

I hooked up a 24VDC power supply and the steering is so much easier!

 

[commadorebob]

I agree. Maverick steering is a lot tighter than the Escape and F-150.

 

[2lbgill]

I agree. I enjoy the steering in sport mode. I have no idea how it adjusts, but I don't think dropping/adding voltage is it. I'd really like to know.

I'll try the sport mode.

 

[2lbgill]

I work at an OEM steering system supplier. Varying the voltage will have no effect on steering assist. Once the voltage drops below a certain threshold the steering system will just stop working. The only way to change the amount of assist is through the steering system software.

Now the software approach sounds good/better than my voltage guess.

 

[dalola]

EPS tuning is a similar "black magic" to transmission tuning. When EPS systems first started en mass, the tuning was terrible......numb, over-assisted, poor on-center feel. They have come a long way over the years, to where most are pretty good.

As MichaelG stated above, it's all in the OEM software. EPS tuning is a big part of the development process, with thousands of hours of testing. Like everything, there are always compromises, and the feel is always subjective. I personally find the Maverick tuning to be solid, especially for a truck. Bottom line, it's not something you can easily change aftermarket.

 

[2lbgill]

Found this post on steering back in April which explains a lot about the steering. https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/steering-pull-drift-compensation-pdc.30105/

 

[Montana]

I'll try the sport mode.

Just be advised it's going to change shifting as well. You may not like that if your goal is MPG's.

 

[Darnon]

Now the software approach sounds good/better than my voltage guess.

Even then I wouldn't expect it to be precisely tunable. I know for some of the early-/mid-2010's platforms there were different configuration profiles that could be chosen via the PSCM As-Built values with FORScan. Like for the Taurus there was a civilian and heavier SHO/Police profile. But there doesn't seem to be any information on something similar for 2017+ models, especially the Bronco Sport/Escape which are most likely to match the Maverick.

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