interesting. I hadn't heard of any changes like that.

 

That is spooky sounding stuff. I hate to break it to you but if specs are saying one thing, the expectation is you prove what you are suggesting. Otherwise this has nowhere to go.

 

This isn't hard to prove. Just start up a 2016 Focus ST. Turn the wheel all the way to the right or left. It will make more than one complete rotation. Thus, it is greater than 2 from lock to lock. A 2013 will not make a complete rotation in either direction. I don't know when this change was made. I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing. I just can't find any information about it. That's why I posted - hoping that someone knows what's up with this.

The only thing I can find is that there were suspension/steering revisions made in the 2015 model year. But, the articles that talk about these changes don't mention any specs.

 

Making more than one complete rotation is one. Two complete rotations is 2. My 2015 does not make over two.

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Making more than one complete rotation is one. Two complete rotations is 2. My 2015 does not make over two.

I was probably a little bit confusing... I was talking about starting from the centerline as a point of reference since that's really easy and obvious. Though, the spec is lock to lock, from the centerline, it would be half. So, 1.8 lock to lock would be .9 from the centerline. Thus, no complete rotation from the centerline. The 2016 cars I tested went well over a rotation from the centerline - almost 1 and 1/4. This would correspond to a lock to lock around 2.5. Did you start from the centerline? Or, did you go lock to lock? If a 2015 is still 1.8 lock to lock, that means this was done for the 2016 model year. And, I thought those changes were very minor for things like Sync and colors.

 

....makes 1 rotation therefore is greater than 2 rotations? Am I missing something?

 

I believe he is saying more than one rotation each direction...

 

They gave the RS a different steering ratio.... Maybe they changed it on the 2016 STs to

 

This is from Car and Driver's 2015 instrumented test:

"Ford also revised the electrically assisted steering—which is actuated via a new flat-bottom steering wheel that improves ingress and egress—although the effect of this change is harder to pinpoint. Overall, though, the car feels more refined. It’s smoother in transitions than before and doesn’t beat you up nearly as much. "

While it doesn't say so outright, "smoother in transitions" could equate to a greater lock to lock ratio in the electronic steering.

I guess if I don't know what it was before, I don't miss it.

 

According to this the 2015 has a variable ratio steering rack.

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I have a 2015 and I just checked in every mode and it's the same. I dont get a full rotation either direction from center. It is about a .8-.9 of a full rotation from center.

 

Very interesting. This means the change is unique to the 2016 vehicle.

Check out this article... 2017 Ford Focus RS - First Drive

"The steering has been quickened from 2.5 turns lock-to-lock on the ST to two on the RS."

I don't know about the validity of this statement. But, that is pretty much what I saw on the 2016 ST. It almost makes you wonder if Ford dumbed down the ST to make more of a differentiation to the RS. Afterall, it would be hard to sell RS's if the ST has quicker steering.

I finally found the specs for the 2016 Focus ST:

http://media.ford.com/content/fordm...dia/North America/US/product/2016/focus/2016-Ford-Focus-ST-Tech-Specs-FINAL.pdf

Oddly, they do not include "Turns, lock-to-lock". However, for the normal Focus, they do:

http://media.ford.com/content/fordm...dmedia/North America/US/product/2016/focus/2016-Ford-Focus-Tech-Specs-FINAL.pdf

Oh well... Still trying to figure out what is going on with the 2016 ST.

 

Maybe they cannot quote lock to lock numbers because of the variable factor? Not surprised if I am mistaken but doesn't the variable ratio thing mean the number of turns required can vary? I kinda imagined the computer was using its electronic sorcery to detect when the human wants a lot of wheel turn, and not very much at all. This would very likely be the root of your concern.

But now I am very curious if my understanding of variable ratio sterring is even slightly accurate.

 

The "variable" doesn't change lock to lock. It just means inputs are of different significance depending on where your steering wheel is in it's rotation.

 

Checked my 2016 tonight. Engine on, parked on gravel (so wheels could pivot without tire scrub), the range of steering wheel rotation is a bit under 2.5 turns lock to lock. I'm gonna say about 2.3 total.

 

Checked my 2015 this moning. About .9 from center so 1.8 in total.

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maybe this explains why everyone complains about the turning radius but even living in the city ive never had an issue with my 16... or maybe thats because i used to drive a 4 door ram so the turning radius on this is much much better lol

 

2016
1+ turns, per side.

 

2015 and 2016 both list the same 18.7' turning radius in the specs...

 

Thanks for all the data. I think we've clearly established this is something changed in the 2016 ST. I still can't find a single reference to any changes in the 2016 other than Sync 3 and paint. This is what's bothersome. Ford makes a major change to something in the steering/suspension without any announcement.

I brought this topic up because I was on the verge of trading in my 2013 ST for a 2016 ST. Like I said, I LOVE my 2013 ST. I was looking to get some of the updates (sync3 and keypad entry) and get a new car under warantee and all that. We had the details of the deal worked out. But, when I took the actual car out for a more thorough test drive, the steering seemed completely off. In comparison, it felt more like I was driving a normal Focus. The steering had a very light feel to it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. But, I noticed I had to turn the wheel much further for making turns and such. For me, this completely changed the whole character of the car. I then did a test circle at maximum turning radius. It was here that I noticed the change in the lock to lock. The steering wheel turned way further than my 2013. Subjectively, it did feel like the turning radius was better than my 2013. So, it wouldn't surprise me if it actually is improved. I don't believe any specs for Ford since they apparently secretly slipped this change in somehow. I really don't care that lock to lock is different. In fact, if the car felt the same and had an improved turning radius, this would all be good. But, it sure feels like there is something different in the steering ratio.

Anyway, the reason I've been focusing on the lock to lock is that this is something that can easily be observed objectively. And, it undoubtedly shows that Ford made some kind of change to the steering on the 2016 ST. Again, the strange thing about it is that there is no mention of this ANYWHERE.

 

To each his own. This is the first time I've heard of anything negative about the 2016 steering - everything else I have read seems to indicate that the steering/suspension as a whole is superior in the 2015/2016 vs the 2013/2014 but everyone is entitled to their opinion & driving preferences.

I think the fact that you spent so much time in the 2013 and were acclimated to that steering set up just highlights the differences made in 2016 but I don't possibly see how it could be in any way inferior to the older vehicles. Objectively - it is a superior suspension set up but subjectively - some may prefer the older more "darty" feel. That's cool though.

 

To each his own. This is the first time I've heard of anything negative about the 2016 steering - everything else I have read seems to indicate that the steering/suspension as a whole is superior in the 2015/2016 vs the 2013/2014 but everyone is entitled to their opinion & driving preferences.

First off, I wouldn't put the 2015 & 2016 cars into the same catagory. There are very few reviews written on the 2016. And, this is probably because everybody is lead to believe it is the same car. It clearly is not. The 2016 lock to lock change alone indicates that either the steering ratio is different or the turning radius has been improved (or some combination of the two). So, I would not say that a review written for the 2015 car applies to the 2016 car. Notice that others have reported that the 2015 car seems to have the same lock to lock as the 2013/2014 cars. Therefore, I would presume that the steering ratios for the 2015 car is the same as the earlier cars.

I think the fact that you spent so much time in the 2013 and were acclimated to that steering set up just highlights the differences made in 2016 but I don't possibly see how it could be in any way inferior to the older vehicles. Objectively - it is a superior suspension set up but subjectively - some may prefer the older more "darty" feel. That's cool though.

This is probably true. And, from everything I can tell, I would probably enjoy a 2015 car as well. The changes we are talking about are between 2015 and 2016.

 

I doubt turning radius is different because it is the wheels that determine the turning radius, not the steering wheel ratio. The turning radius sucks on the ST because any tighter and the wheels will clip things in the wheel well and since the wheels are the same, no change in turning radius is likely.

 

You're probably right but we don't have any data to support the 2016 steering changes.

A side by side check against a 2015 would be interesting though. I wonder why Ford would make a quiet "update" like that if you could even call it an update.

Someone mentioned the possibility of Ford numbing the 16' ST to further distance it from the RS. I really hope that's not the case....

 

Yeah, since reading that comment it has been on my mind while reading this entire thread. That would actually be a textbook corporate bull**** marketing decision.

I have not driven the RS, but I have a hard time imagining an RS would be any more enjoyable for somebody like me who really does not push the extreme speeds much. So I have very little interest in the RS even if the price was not ridiculously higher. I would not be surprised... sleezy up sale tactics are all over the place in this world.

 

The 16 steering is way off the 14 steering I used to own.
Not only is the steering off, so is the suspension. I loved the way the older car drove, this one, not so much.

 

When I got my '16, I found the steering very light and suspension twitchy. I didn't feel confident making moves in traffic. The car was all over the place.
Upon reading reviews of the Mountune Clubsport suspension being more planted etc..., I got it installed. A pleasant bonus was the steering got stiffer and more precise.

Tried posting pics of stock suspension for possible clues. Can't on my phone. Mobile has no option for adding pics. Go advanced to edit, script disappears and can't post comment with pic attachment without script
Was so easy before with mobile app. But the app is dead now.

 

When I got my '16, I found the steering very light and suspension twitchy.

I've found my '16 to respond very quickly to inputs and to feel quite planted. I wonder if there was a factory defect in your springs or something. Regardless, I just went out and checked, lock-to-lock was 2.2-2.4 turns. With that being said, I really can't imagine this change occurred on the '16 model. An ambiguous steering change was made on the '15 model that almost every review has mentioned without specifics. Auto-manufactures seldomly tinker with a car every year and usually limit updates.

 

My 2016 is also around 2.3


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I have a 16 and now this is making me want to compare with a 13-14... I always thought the steering on my car was extremely quick but if there is a difference I'd like to experience it at least, from a curiosity standpoint if nothing else.

 

Note that we have electrical *assisted* steering. There is still a physical link between the steering wheel and the tires. There will be corresponding movement throughout the steering range.

 

I cant believe Ford would do this to us without saying anything.

BRB, heading to the dealer to try and lemon my '16 due to steering ratio.

 

Good Luck With That.:haha: