More Steering Feel Needed

I have a 996.2 C2 which is on new PS4s and with Koni Special actives, standard springs and M030 ARBs. Really like the ride and body control is good so no issue with the spring/damper combination. However the car lacks steering feel. Appreciate I won't get it to 1980s 911 levels but it really is quite mute and not as confidence inspiring as even my old E36 BMW. When it understeers, I see it rather than feel it.. Any parts I should look to upgrade? The car has been checked over recently and all bushes, arms etc are good so I think I maybe now looking at aftermarket bits e.g. polybushing, monoballs, RSS mounts etc. Any advice on where to jump? It is a road car but I like my cars very raw and full of feel..

Very hard to suggest any one thing as there are so many factors which contribute to steering "feel", but how about a professional set-up? Maybe someone like Center Gravity.

How many miles on the P4s tyres, people talk about them needing quite a few miles to scrub in?

Thanks both and yes, it has had a professional set up. PS4s have been on the car about 6 weeks - probably 800 miles or so I reckon. People talk about the great 996 steering feel and I was expecting it to move about constantly in my hands but it doesn't do that at all. There is feel but the steering is very light and you do need to focus on it rather than the car giving loads of communication and you instantly being part of the action.

Have you tried experimenting with tyre pressures front and rear? What are you running at the moment?

Yep done that but it doesn't give the transformation I am after to be honest. 34 F and 40 R at the moment. I am sure I can get to where I want it but may need some new/upgrades bits but not sure what will make the difference. May also give someone like RPM a shout as they seem to be big into 996s.

I changed my power steering fluid and the steering felt more positive after. That stuff will be the same age of the car and will not have the same properties as fresh oil. Something folk overlook. Even deMort commented it was something they never did or thought about when I change it. For the cost involved in doing it it's a no-brainer.

Alex, How did you drain the system? Ian

The ferrule on the pipe that feeds in to the rack split and I dumped my fluid all over the road I was driving on. Doesn't take long to empty the system when you're doing 40mph along a country lane.

I would also be interested in how to drain/refresh the system. Any knowledge appreciated.

I must say I've never heard that about a fresh suspension Carrera with decent tyres. Smaller steering wheel would add some weight, maybe a bit more neg camber to introduce a more pointy response.

Will try the PAS fluid and yes, it was suggested a smaller wheel and going monoballs may improve matters.

More negative camber on the front axle should make it a bit more lively and give it a bit more movement over bumps and and surface changes. How much are you currently running? You could also stiffen the rear ARB or lessen the front ARB to get a bit more loading into the outside front tyre and increase turn in / make the balance more towards oversteer.

Me neither. I love an E36, I've owned 5 of them. I've never driven a 996 C2 that had less feel though. I'd get someone in the know to drive it before throwing anymore cash at it. It just might not suit your individual taste/senses.

I have done a suspension refresh on my C4. It was on oem M030 suspension, rear arms were all swapped out to find a sqeaking about 4 years back and 20k miles, so I swapped the whole front end, including inner and outer tie rods and everything with rubber basically. Then put on the Bilstein M030 replacement dampers. Left the OEM M030 springs as they had been replaced a few years back after one snapped. I also swapped the N3 Bridgstone S02A's over for Michelin PS4's (4 not 4s) and had the geo done on a Hunter machine with someone I know well and has done loads of Geo set ups for me. However..... The car felt like the steering was no where near as positive when I got it back. Before, it was feeling far too firm, which I think was from the old, shot dampers so it was crompressing the springs a bit too much so less subtle when cruising round, but it felt seriously planted and the steering was weighty and precise, it was just so direct. Small turns of the wheel and the car went exactly where you pointed it, the speeds through corners and mechanical grip was immense. Now the steering feels a bit light and the car just doesn't feel as planted. Looking at the Geo set up I had 0.04º of toe in, so first thing I did was dial out the toe, only a couple of turns, but you could see it was looking more neutral. Straight away the steering felt so much sharper off centre and more like the car was now going where you were pointing the wheel. I think I am going to get them to give me a little more camber as well. I think caster is fixed on these isn't it? But I would check what your toe in is set to first of all.