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This has been described before. Remember that most of the 9-3 is common to the NG900 BB. So if you search and read there, the history and experience is much deaper. See also the performance BB. Search for VRK.
The steering problems that you describe are the result of forces that are imparted to the system from uneven pavement. Some of the forces are also proportional to the braking or acceleration forces that you are in control of.
There are two types of problems, one is the deformation of the suspension geometry by the road induced forces and accleration induced forces. And the other is a disconnect or loosness between the steering wheel and the wheel turning angles.
The VRK eliminates lots of rubbery bits. Note that Brad had urethane bushings for these vehicles. He has his first set now. The price is very good. It does not secure the rack, but replaces 3 bushings on the suspension arms, plus the sway bar bushings.
The VRK will reduce the deformation of the suspention geometry. That helps a lot, but the road induced forces will always be there. When the stock bushings get tired, things get worse. Add more boost, worse again.
With the 1995.5+ production, with the small steel steering rack held in big mushy rubber mounts, things get worse. The best analogy is that without the VRK, when the steering gets bad, its like fighting with a snake. Things just move around too much. You can hold on to the tail, but the head just does whatever it wants.
Now with the VRK, things are much more controlled. The road induced forces are still there. So you feel these through the steering wheel. But the change is that if you hold the steering wheel firmly, the steering wheel stays put and the tires steer were you want them. So thats the picture at full throttle, trying to go straight.
Now in corners the improvement is like this. After you get the VRK you will feel that the steering is greatly improved and you can take corners like never before. If feels like both tires are working hard to take you around corners, and in hindsight, it seems like the inside tire never was working before, just loafing along for the ride and not contributing to the task. So the outside tire used to get easily buried if you pushed it hard. Not after.
You can easly find that you feel that the vehicles limits are now related to excess lateral roll, or that the roll is limiting your confidence in the vehicle. I don't know which it was for me. Add a SAS rear sway bar for $125 + shipping and you will have very flat cornering that feels very good.
The only negative impact is on your wallet. Perhaps $1100 after install.
posted by 207.43.195...
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