Electric power steering

[iceship]

Here is a nice idea for you guys... I may even do it along with my ls swap..
http://youtu.be/uKzCaEjvJeM

[1979-square-body]

I think my next project just got the steering portion figured out...

[greg64]

Thanks for the link. That's pretty cool.

[BamaDave]

He has an UPDATE which sounds like greek to me.....
"UPDATE - helped another do this retro-mod. Lessons learned. Keep the lower intermittent shaft that connects the power assist unit to the steering rack. You will need the joint that attaches to the assist unit. Also, you can cut the lower joint off and grind the round intermediate shaft to flatten 2 side to fit firmly in a 3/4 DD steering joint"

[iceship]

Here is the part 2 update of the install

http://youtu.be/4eSDATsL-Kk

[wilkin250r]

I like it. I'm having a bit of a steering problem right now, might scrap the whole system in favor of electric. That would free up some space to add a second AC compressor to use for on-board air.

[franken]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

He has an UPDATE which sounds like greek to me.....
"UPDATE - helped another do this retro-mod. Lessons learned. Keep the lower intermittent shaft that connects the power assist unit to the steering rack. You will need the joint that attaches to the assist unit. Also, you can cut the lower joint off and grind the round intermediate shaft to flatten 2 side to fit firmly in a 3/4 DD steering joint"

By intermittent he means intermediate, or a shaft between things.
A DD (double D) shaft or end is has 2 flat sides. A D shaft has a single flat side, forming a sort of D shape looking at the end of the shaft. Just google steering shaft if its not clear.

I wonder how much power it requires, and how beefy they are. The vid in post 1 says it came off a Saturn Vue I think. Probably a bit smaller than a pickup.

Also, he was using the electric part to turn a manual box. That's fine if you already have one, but what does it help if you have a PS box? Cap the fittings? Convert to R&P?

[greg64]

One thing I can say is don't run a power box (on our trucks) without the hydraulic assist. My steering guy showed me the guts of the power box and manual box. The input shaft, inside the box is way wimpier in the power box. Makes you wonder how much torque it would take to shear off the input shaft on the power box.

[wilkin250r]

Originally Posted by greg64

Makes you wonder how much torque it would take to shear off the input shaft on the power box.

Is that really a concern?

I've never taken apart a power steering box, so I'm not trying to start an arguement, but I don't think the input shaft is a huge concern. We're not talking about axle shafts here. The steering box, by design, has a huge mechanical advantage from input to output, I would be much more concerned with the OUTPUT, because that's the parts that's recieving all the torque and likely subject to failure.

I've been around broken axle shafts, broken driveshafts, u-joints, broken carriers and differential, broken tie rods, broken spindles and worn-out joints and knuckles.

Never a sheared input shaft to the steering box. Never even heard of it. Anybody ever have?

[greg64]

I've never heard of an input shaft breaking either, but an input shaft doesn't have power assist on it, like this electric unit would do. The shaft, inside the box, is far smaller then the shaft that actually enters the box.

[iceship]

I pick up a rack and pinion out of a 95 thunder bird also a electric power steering motor so.. Let's see how it goes..

[Skunksmash]

Isn't there one that goes on the column, up under there somewhere? For a cleaner look.

[iceship]

The in in the video come from under the dash of a Saturn vue... I looked under my dash and it going to be a tight fit... It's just easier to place under hood

[drivea55]

giving this post a bump!

I am doing this currently to my truck. I am going to mount the unit right off the manual box. pics in build thread coming soon.

I made the mistake on not buying the connecting joints and now its a salvage yard hunt to find them.

hope to see more folks put this into their trucks.

[vht]

I have a 90's rack for a T bird with P/S. Is that what they're using? I got it on a front susp deal, Mus II style I'm using on my 40 chev coupe project. It was new but I put a manual rack on it.