And anybody who modifies the suspension on the Evo is either very smart, or doesn't care about handling. It's tough to beat the stock setup. It's very well set up from the factory.

Give it a chance. See how you like it before totally changing the suspension.

 

Back to the topic of whether the EVO has bump steer, you are totally correct. There is this one bump, sort of a small pothole, in the middle of a turn I take all the time. Lemme tell you, if I'm not holding on tight my wheel will be ripped out of my hands. With my previous 2G DSM w/ Eibach springs & 225/40/18 tires, I didn't even know that bump existed. Stiff suspension or not, alignment or not, if i am taking a hard turn & hit a moderate bump, it goes on its own unless i'm holding on tight. It more than likely has to do with the quick ratio steering rack coupled with the ultra-stiff suspension, and not with the alignment, since my alignment is perfect. See I think when you hit a bump, instead of the suspension traveling upward and having the spring and shock convert that kinetic energy into heat, it finds its way through the path of least resistance, which is the quick ratio, highly-boosted steering rack.

 

What you are feeling is not bump steer. Bump steer is the change in toe as the suspension is compressed or as it is expanded. In general, this change is subtle and not terribly noticeable on street cars.

What you are experiencing is simple physics. We have stiffly sprung cars. When there is a pothole and you are turning the tire loses contact with the ground and the momentum of the car carries it straight until the tire contacts the ground. In other words the car does a little dance or wiggle. That wiggle may have rotated the car in a slightly different direction than before so, when grip returns, it takes off in that new direction.

Also you my be experiencing tramlining. Tram-lining is what happens when your tire gets into some rut on the road and the steering pulls to follow that rut. Cars that have little play in their suspension bushings and/or that have no toe-in or maybe even a little toe-out and/or have wide, stiff tires and/or rotate easily experience tram-lining more frequently than typical family cars. The Evo has all these things and tram-lines badly. That's the price you pay for having a precise steering, easily rotated fun to drive car.

So, in short, what you describe is perfectly normal in our cars and not bump steer.

Regards,
Alan

 

Weelll, tein has a really sweet adjustable setup, they call it the CS setup, comfort series or something like that. Lowest rebound/compression setting is softer than stock, and it has 16 settings from there. I'm gonna try and check it out....

 

I have a hard time guessing where the road is flat so I can reach down and take a sip of water and then hope that my car doesnt run off the road if thats what you're talking about... :P

 

That's exactly what I'm talking about. The EVO is a two handed steering car....
quick ratio steering, stiff suspension, whatever, it's hard to drive, at least while new.
vic, is your car brand new or?

 

Sounds like the Evo is not a car for you. I suggest you give me yours and in exchange I will give you a lovely, easy steering Chevy Monte Carlo. It comes with really big cup holders and a lots of power steering. :-) You will be much happier.

 

I don't know what you're talking about. I steer with two fingers. Sometimes not even that much

Seriously though. If you're not comfortable with the car, it may not be the right car for you.

 

also double-check the pressure on your tires because the dealer will have it on the lot with too much PSI

 

And we ask why we get watered down cars? The steering feel is great. I could feel the bumps where the road is slanted and feels like a true race car. Anyways it's the tires that follow the road due to the sticky nature.

Go for 245 all season non-sticky tires and it will feel the way you like it. The evo is not for everyone.

Oh yeah, dont' forget to check if your tire pressure if it's too high.

 

MMNA recommends 32 psi front, 29 rear.

I run 37 front, 34 rear.

 

Ok the whole point of this thread was to see if this was normal for my car. Read the first post, I had an AWD talon that had full stiff suspension and would fly up in the air if I hit bad pavement. BUT when I landed the steering stayed more true. The cause of this problem isn't me being a puss. I want to find out if my car is somehow an anomoly or if this is normal for the car, and if so, is there some sort of fix, like different bushings, etc.

 

That's my whole point man, I CAN"T DRIVE IT LIKE THAT because the steering is not too stable on moderately bad pavement.

 

It's likely just a poor alignment. Take it to a good alignment shop and have them check it out, I'd pay close attention to toe up front. Toe-out can cause that kind of instability over rough surfaces. Bump steer is actually toe change through the suspention's movement, with everything at the OE ride height and geometry, bump steer is a non issue.

 

Funky, you forgot to add "And the EVO is probably too much car for you..."
Seriously though, thanks for the advice!