Power steering kits.

[toopy]

I'm worried about not being able to catch the car if it steps out quickly due to heavy steering which is the main reason I am considering it. What are peoples opinions on this?

I'd love to fit power steering, as the Z is annoyingly heavy at low speeds, and makes quick parking nye on impossible,
and for Ian's reason above. I dont drive like a nutter but it has happened and i dont want to swap ends anytime soon.

The lack of power steering never used to bother me, but in recent years, for me atleast, it detracts from an otherwise
pleasant driving experience. Guess im just too used to driving modern cars these days!

Also with the steering obviously being a major safety component, how do the insurance companys
feel about butchered parts being fitted by home mechanics?

 

[datsun dave]

also with the steering obviously being a major safety component, how do the insurance companys feel about butchered parts being fitted by home mechanics?

Or buy a kit thats ready to be fitted.

 

[johnymd]

I've driven my car hard and fast round many tracks. I also have more than enough power to lose the back end out of corners. The z is so well balanced and the feedback through the stearing so good that its quite difficult to spin, although I have on one occasion. I've had the back step out but a little counter stearing quickly beings it back.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

I love the feeling of my car without it (apart from parking) and wouldn't want to loose that but since you can switch the system off and have it feel same as original then I guess I don't have to worry about this and it could be useful to have. I'm worried about not being able to catch the car if it steps out quickly due to heavy steering which is the main reason I am considering it. What are peoples opinions on this? More from the members running big power.


Only real downside I guess would be added weight, which I hate, how much roughly does the system add?

How does big power affect things? More power, faster you can go, the 'lighter' steering will be.

Having power steering won't help you save something that you can't save without it. If anything the removal of a tiny % of feel will/could hinder that situation.

 

[morbias]

But then again, if the steering wheel suddenly jolts in either direction the electric power steering should correct it without you having to do much?

The motor kicks in as soon as the sensors detect an amount of torque in the column, so thinking about it, as soon as the wheel jolts the motor is being engaged in the opposite direction and should help quite a lot in controlling where the car is going.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

But then again, if the steering wheel suddenly jolts in either direction the electric power steering should correct it without you having to do much?

The motor kicks in as soon as the sensors detect an amount of torque in the column, so thinking about it, as soon as the wheel jolts the motor is being engaged in the opposite direction and should help quite a lot in controlling where the car is going.

I understand your reasoning, however I can't see it working to that point, otherwise surely all FWD car's wouldn't have any type of torque steer?

If a motor kicks in to assist the steering its removing the sense of what the actual physics of the car are trying do, thus feel?

 

[morbias]

Well there's only a certain amount of assistance provided so it's I guess it's reducing the amount of feel to a degree. I don't know, I'm just typing as I think so I wouldn't pay much attention to me!

At speeds where you are likely to be getting into serious trouble there shouldn't really be any assistance anyway unless you have it set up to be always on, in which case I imagine you'd only want it set to a very small amount of assistance?

In other words, I agree with what you're saying franky. I can see power steering being helpful in slower corners that you're trying to take in a hurry (autocross or something) but otherwise I don't see there being that much benefit in higher speed scenarios.

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Well there's only a certain amount of assistance provided so it's I guess it's reducing the amount of feel to a degree. I don't know, I'm just typing as I think so I wouldn't pay much attention to me!

At speeds where you are likely to be getting into serious trouble there shouldn't really be any assistance anyway unless you have it set up to be always on, in which case I imagine you'd only want it set to a very small amount of assistance?

In other words, I agree with what you're saying franky. I can see power steering being helpful in slower corners that you're trying to take in a hurry (autocross or something) but otherwise I don't see there being that much benefit in higher speed scenarios.

Putting your foot down when turning out of a junction might it might be a 'help'? Although I've done it and over corrected before, nothing like an unintended U-turn

 

[morbias]

Just pretend you meant to do it

 

[SKiddell]

Also with the steering obviously being a major safety component, how do the insurance companys
feel about butchered parts being fitted by home mechanics?

You could apply that logic to
Brakes
Suspension.
Wheel bearings
Wheels
Tyres
Spoilers
Body kits
Windscreens

In fact almost anything

 

[toopy]

You could apply that logic to
Brakes
Suspension.
Wheel bearings
Wheels
Tyres
Spoilers
Body kits
Windscreens

In fact almost anything

Agreed, but they wouldnt bat an eyelid if you said ive replaced/upgraded the discs and pads, wheels etc as thats a common occurence.

mention you've removed the steering column and spliced in half a column from another vehicle
and im sure ears would prick up, no!

Its not a straight swap by any means, you're effectively engineering it, surely!

 

[Wyn]

how do the insurance companys feel about butchered parts being fitted by home mechanics?

Its not a straight swap by any means, you're effectively engineering it, surely!

I prefer your first interpretation

 

[richiep]

mention you've removed the steering column and spliced in half a column from another vehicle
and im sure ears would prick up, no!

Its not a straight swap by any means, you're effectively engineering it, surely!

Why on earth would you need to tell them anything other than you'd fitted power steering? Anything else is superfluous detail that will only cause you a boatload of hassle given the way insurers can be.

 

[tel240z]

Terry has PS on his Blue car and he can switch it off and drive with original feel I think.

Yes Rob I have although I leave it on all the time, as for track work I find it great, less effort and fatigue on the driver so more time to concentrate on other things, also eliminates any bump steer issues and gives great confidence in hard sharp cornering, now on both my cars on track I have never encountered any understeer only having the back coming unstuck once at spa in the M3 orange car and once at brands in the blue car, now the orange car has factory power steering set up using the bmw rack and belt driven pump TBH theres not much difference that I can tell but I do find the blue one a handful with it switched off I think its a matter of what you get used to, IMO p/steering all the way.

Andre for what your using your car for I think you'l love it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfaTYsv9r0w

1 min 03 seconds effortless round the bends then 1 min 24secs to confident

 

[Rob Gaskin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfaTYsv9r0w

1 min 03 seconds effortless round the bends then 1 min 24secs to confident

I love that video (seen it before) Matt (passenger) is sooo competitive and pushing John - he thrives on it. Makes me laugh every time. :lol:

PS - in a standard 240Z you don't need it however in a car with wide tyres it would make sense. Sometimes I drive all three of my Z's within an hour. The standard car is old school and fine, the modified car 215 tyres is heavy (but ok at speed), the 370Z is a doddle and makes you realise how easy to drive cars are now. However of the three the 370Z is the one I'm wary of - it doesn't talk to me like a 240 but better than 90% of cars I'm sure. That is the single most rewarding thing about driving a 240 you feel part of it.

Terry bump-steer this may sound daft but I like it - again the car is feeding the road back to me.

I thought about buying a Peugeot 407 once - when I drove it I couldn't tell where the wheels were pointing or 'feel' the steering, it was awful!!

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

Regarding bump steer; my understanding is that power steering can't remove bump steer, just removal of the feel of it? 2 identical suspension setups castor/camber/pickups the same, fitting PS to one can't remove bump steer from one as its there due to the physics and suspension design, alls that happing is that the powered assistance is removing the feel of bump steer, thus removing feel of what the car is actually wanting to do?

 

[toopy]

Why on earth would you need to tell them anything other than you'd fitted power steering? Anything else is superfluous detail that will only cause you a boatload of hassle given the way insurers can be.

And a 'boatload of hassle' when you have an accident and they start waving their fingers under your nose
and tutting, when they see the 'i just fitted power steering' doesnt quite cut it! (pun intended!)

Im not saying it shouldnt be done, hell, i want it fitted to my car yesterday

just making the point that an insurance company could be really arsey,
look at the 'Frankensteering' you fitted one afternoon and walk calmly away without giving you a penny!

So with that said, how much for someone to do mine

 

[tel240z]

Franky your right It dosnt eliminate the bump steer it just eliminates it from the driver very reassuring I must say ask Dave Jarman

a couple of pics of my p/steering rack thread

http://zclub.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18889

 

[Ian]

How does big power affect things? More power, faster you can go, the 'lighter' steering will be.

Having power steering won't help you save something that you can't save without it. If anything the removal of a tiny % of feel will/could hinder that situation.

Because with the L26 its very hard to get it to step out, more grip than power, but in a very powerful car with enough power to break traction easily it doesn't take much to make it go sideways if you make a small error.

Never had a problem with the steering but I've also not driven it properly with the RB yet so not 100% on what to expect. Just thinking if you have a moment on track and possibly overcorrect it may be hard to make fast enough inputs.