Does this happen to anyone else? Every time i'm on the brakes and try to turn right (never tried it going left) the power steering feels like it is not on, the steering wheel gets kinda tight. Only happens when my foot is down on brakes. If it helps I have the sport brakes, I never had something like these before and I suspected it was maybe because it has increased braking power. Had a shop check my power steering fluid and they said it was okay and topped it off and it seems to have gotten a little bit better.

 

I noticed this a little bit in my XS but I wasn't on the brakes and it's only slightly tight I thought it was designed this way for a more precise turn.

 

agreed - I assumed part of the active steering assist...but it has caught me off guard a few times.

 

That's how a lot of cars are. What you're likely feeling isn't related to the steering system. When you brake, you're using part of the finite grip your tires have. You're also shifting the weight balance of your car forward. Under braking your front tires experience more force, and since they're experiencing more force, it takes a greater effort from the power steering system to change the cars direction. The power steering pump isn't particularly smart, and it will provide the same assistive pressure that you experience turning when you're not braking. The difference between the forces is the change you feel in the wheel. Consequently, this forward shift in weight under braking is the reason brakes are larger in the front of most cars.

 

Wouldnt you want your steering to tigten up during a hard turn or going around a curve ? Tight does not mean the sensating of the steering locking up.

 

Do your braking before the turn. Use maintenance throttle through the turn, then accelerate out of it. Braking too late if still on the brakes and turning the wheel.

Stopping in a straight line, does the car pull to one side or the other? Are the roads you're turning from heavily rutted?

 

Seems to me that the feeling that you SHOULD want when driving. Its how you know what your tires are doing, its how you know when you're approaching the limit of your grip. Believe me its saved my bacon a ton.