Steering weight

[Masiv44]

Does the RX450h steering feel quite heavy? 

[NemesisUK]

No

Have you checked the tyre pressure?

[Masiv44]

5 hours ago, NemesisUK said:

No

Have you checked the tyre pressure?

I've inflated them up to 39 psi, and obviously it's better, but still seems heavy. Take into account that this is a new car to me. 

What psi do most people run? 

[Spacewagon52]

The steering on my NX300h feels heavier than my LS400. It depends what you have been driving previously? 

Some cars have very light steering. More modern Lexus cars seem to be more weighted.

I stand to be corrected!

[Malc1]

if I remember with the/my Ls400s the steering weight " feel " seems to be a factor of speed and manouverability .......  it self adjusts to accommodate what you're actually doing behind the wheel .......   I was told way back .......  clever engineering in those days 

not sure if that applies with modern day Lexii !

Malc

[Spock66]

I do find there is definitely a different feel to the electrical power steering in the RX compared to conventional hydraulic power steering, but I would not describe it as heavy as such.  

[rayaans]

39 PSI?

Should be around 33 should it not. Likely the alignment is off if it's feeling quite heavy. It's a light steering setup 

[Bluemarlin]

Mine doesn't feel heavy at all. I'll also add that I run mine nearer to 39 than 33, but even at the lower end it doesn't feel heavy.

[Rabbers]

One of the first things I have noticed on driving unfamiliar Lexus models, for example in the case of test drives, loaners and new purchases, is the different weightings of the steering.  The differences are slight and one adjusts to them so quickly as to be left wondering if they actually existed.   Frankly, I’ve never thought to mention it before now because of the possibility of subjective impression.  Be this as it may, I have found the steering to be lighter in larger cars like the RX, NX and ES than in smaller ones like the RC, IS and CT.

[Malc1]

22 hours ago, Malc1 said:

if I remember with the/my Ls400s the steering weight " feel " seems to be a factor of speed and manouverability .......  it self adjusts to accommodate what you're actually doing behind the wheel .......   I was told way back .......  clever engineering in those days 

not sure if that applies with modern day Lexii !

Malc

I'd forgotten that we have moved away from physical power steering fluid pumps to electronic power steering .  sorry about that 

BUT there are tales around that refer to electronic snags that totally STOP any steering movement at all .....  not even heavy, just stopped DEAD in it's tracks 

Malc

[Masiv44]

I'm at the dealers on Thursday so I'll ask to drive another Mark I to compare. 

[F1mo]

which gen is it? Gen 3 is hydraulic and is heavier or weighted. gen 4 is light, so light I have to customise it in the settings to give it more weight (sport). if in sport mode, it is automatically adjusted to more weight. 

gen 5 is more balanced. in sport setting the steering is excellent and not twitchy on the motorway. 

[ColinBarber]

1 hour ago, F1mo said:

which gen is it? Gen 3 is hydraulic and is heavier or weighted.

All RX hybrids, be that gen 2, 3, 4 or 5 have electric not hydraulic power steering and all give speed-sensitive adjusting assistance. But yes, the level of assistance does vary between them.

[Masiv44]

I's a Gen IV.  The dealership replaced trailing arms before I bought it to get it through the MOT, but there is no evidence of them doing an alignment.  The tyres are more worn on the edges.  I've got a copy of their internal invoice and it doesn't state that it's been done.  Perhaps it was OK but I'm going to speak to the sevice manager today as their own workshop recommended a caliper replacement two years ago with the previous owner but they didn't get it done, just replaced the discs and pads.  It had pads again the last service due to uneven wear with a comment suggesting a caliper fault yet it wasn't replaced.

 

This dealership was great a few years ago when I used them last, but the new owners have spoilt the Lexus experience for me.

 

 

 

[Malc1]

In my experience callipers can often, on many cars, be simply overhauled at modest cost rather than expensively replaced …… if the guy knows what he’s doing of course ! 

Malc

[Paul Mingay]

I run my rx450h 2021 takumi tyres at 33psi and I've always thought the steering was really light which I personally like 

[Masiv44]

I know the steering is speed and angle sensitive, but it just seems too heavy, for example, at 15mph on roundabouts, the difference is big, even running 39 psi.  It doesn't lighten up until the steering is totally straight.

They said that they would have automatically checked the alignment and wouldn't be itemised on the bill, so fair enough.

 

 

 

[ColinBarber]

9 hours ago, Masiv44 said:

I know the steering is speed and angle sensitive, but it just seems too heavy, for example, at 15mph on roundabouts, the difference is big, even running 39 psi.  It doesn't lighten up until the steering is totally straight.

They said that they would have automatically checked the alignment and wouldn't be itemised on the bill, so fair enough.

I suggest you test drive another RX of the same age to compare. Everyone has a different perspective on how light or heavy the steering is so I’m not sure you can make an informed decision if there is something wrong with your car from the replies here. I suspect there is something wrong from what you describe. 

[HGUS]

The steering on my RX feels really light compared to the NX300h it's recently replaced. I'm starting to get used to it now though and am quite happy. 🙃 

[Sybaris]

The steering is speed sensitive so it changes according to how you are driving

[YvesD]

On 12/3/2023 at 10:30 PM, Masiv44 said:

Does the RX450h steering feel quite heavy? 

No, feels light and vague to me