I noticed, a couple of events ago, that it was a little harder to steer in the slalom than normal. I tried to compensate with a little more air in the front tires and just left it at that. But today when I was "experimenting" with my car I noticed it again and I think I may have figured out what's going on.

We 03-05 Z owners don't have "speed sensitive" power steering. We have "engine-speed sensitive" power steering. I'm guessing that we get less assist when winding out 2nd then we do at lower rpm's in a higher gear. I tested a simulated slalom at about the same speed but with two different gears. It sure feels easier to steer back and forth in third than in second at the same speed. My gear selection for a slalom is often dictated by the maneuvers before and after the slalom but this little piece of info might help in some situations.

 

Sounds like your belts are slipping and your losing PS at higher rpm's

 

It's not that bad. I wouldn't even have noticed it during a point’s event. (Too much adrenaline) But this was a "fun" day and I was more relaxed than normal, I had the course down pat because we got so many runs, and I was able to notice things that my mind is usually a little too busy for.

Doesn't the power steering assist more at lower rpm's and less at higher rpm's, regardless of road speed? (This is for the models without the speed-sensitive power steering.)

 

It could be that you're a bit faster in the lower gear than you are in the higher gear. Faster = less time to make your turns.

[Edit]
I know that I've had problems with the PS fluid getting hotter the longer I'm in a slalom. Thursday at Nationals ("slalom" day on the east course), the PS fluid was circulating a lot more between runs than it was on Friday (where we finished with longer sweepers).
[/Edit]

 

Replace the power steering fluid in the reasavoir by using a turkey baster and replace the fluid with Red Line Power Steering fluid. We do that before every race and havent had any problems. But we also run a cooler too. Red Line is also good for power brakes.

 

over 300 autox runs, 3000 track miles, never had a problem, i just bleed and refill the ps fluid once a year

 

Cooler and synthetic fluid and no problems here.