Stiff Steering at Highway Speeds

I recently purchased a 2008 CRV, trading in my 2006 CRV. Both vehicles have variable assist power steering. At speeds above 35 mph, the steering in my 2008 CRV is very stiff, especially compared to my 2006. I took my new CRV into the Dealer and they found metal shavings in the PS fluid. They replaced the rack and pinion, pump and hoses. Now it is somewhat better but still stiff at higher speeds. At speeds less than 35 mph it is great and easy to handle. At speeds higher than 35 it is stiff and not a pleasure to drive.

I have tested other 08 CRVs and they all appear to have the same issue. It appears that Honda changed the variable assist power steering in the newer model line. The dealer says there is no way to adjust the amount of power steering assist.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Anyone know of an aftermarket mod that would improve the steering, like an add-on steering assist kit?

I also noticed stiff steering on the new crvs. at low speed the car had a tight feeling but it didn't take a lot of effort to turn the wheel. Could it be the stability or traction control interfering with your steering? I'll keep this in mind when i look for my new crv.

Great idea. I thought you might be on to something with the suggestion that it might be caused by the Stability Control, but it is not the Stability Control. Today, while driving at 55 mph I turned the Stability Control off and it made no difference.

I was driving for over an hour in a 10-15 mph crosswind. My wrist and forearm were tired from making steering corrections. Much unlike other vehicles I have driven with power steering.

I've noticed this too. Even in light winds from varying angles. And turning VSA off or on doesn't have any effect.

It can certainly make highway driving less enjoyable. For me, driving in almost any wind is like driving across West Texas with a 40 MPH crosswind-not completely devoid of driving pleasuring but fatiguing.

I suspect all this has nothing to do with wind. It is possible that the variable ratio steering is simply very "stiff" at highway speeds. It may be possible that wind or no wind, steering feedback to the driver, and the driver's response, entails more force than with many other vehicles.

JPO

I am fairly certain that the problem is Honda's design of the Variable Assist Power Steering. The assist is acceptable at speeds lower than 35 mph and it is a pleasure to drive at those speeds. The assist drops considerably as speeds exceed 35 mph. This is a design problem. Other vehicles are easy to steer at higher speeds. You can drive with a single finger on the steering wheel with other vehicles. Not the Honda CRV. At highway speeds you have to grip the steering wheel to make even small driving corrections. It is very tiring to drive. This was not the case with the 2004 and 2006 CRV I owned previously. I am regretting having upgraded to the 2008 model.

Have you considered that tires might be more of this equation than the steering assist?

How could the tires be contributing to stiff steering? Assuming proper air pressure and correct tire size, I don't see how tires could make the steering stiff.

I have not noticed what you are talking about but I've only had my CR-V about a week and a half. I have noticed, on the highway, that it feels like it is out of alignment and it pulls to the right. Just haven't had the opportunity to take it back to the dealer yet.

How could the tires be contributing to stiff steering? Assuming proper air pressure and correct tire size, I don't see how tires could make the steering stiff.

Depending on whether they're winter tires, passenger tires, touring tires or light truck tires could all have a factor in handling and thus the perceived "road feel" for steering.

That said, I've not noticed this issue either. My '08 is equally responsive at both city and highway speeds. I, for the moment, am running on the stock Bridgestones.