Subaru power steering mod.

Subaru power steering mod.

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Discussion

Fenderer

Original Poster:

137 posts

101 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
I've recently bought a 1995 Chimaera 400HC and have been lurking on here researching the best way to do a power steering conversion. This thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... has been really useful and I'm taking the plunge and converting my manual steering to a powered setup using an Impreza rack an Astra electric pump.

Impreza rack sourced and I've stripped it down and moved the housing around 180 deg. Not sure whether I'll get away with it but I've managed to bend the existing pipes into the new positions.



Next up is trying to get the Ford Ka steering joint to fit the pinion. Need to get it to a 17mm hex shape which isn't looking easy. The Astra pump is pretty big and there doesn't seem a very obvious place to mount it. Any help and tips from those that have done it would be very welcome.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
My pictures on here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

You can file and grind the end of the Subaru pinion to the shape of the Ford Ka universal joint by hand.
Just keep offering it up to the UJ until it is a tight fit.

Are used a Peugeot 106 pound amount is it on the side of the inner wing on the outside. I then mounted the expansion bottle just behind the radiator, see picture.




Fenderer

Original Poster:

137 posts

101 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Thanks, that looks a great install. Yes I guess I can move the expansion tank to make room for the pump. Will let you know how I get on filing the flats on the pinion.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
I did mine with a bench grinder .


phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Where about are you based?

You are more than welcome to have a look at mine if you are not too far away.

carsy

3,018 posts

164 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
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I hand filed my pinion. Just go slowly and keep checking. I`ve also gone for the TRW Astra pump which is still sitting on the work bench. This power steering mod is my first Winter job.

Bassfiend229hp

5,530 posts

249 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
Can you use the track rod ends off a manual TVR rack or do you need the ones off a power steering rack?

Phil

Fenderer

Original Poster:

137 posts

101 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
I think I've cracked it, it's not pretty but it should do the job. I ended up with a combination of draw filing and angle grinder. I drilled another bolt hole in the KA UJ as the single one didn't feel man enough for the job.




Bassfiend, as I understand it the TVR manual rack track rods should screw straight into the Scooby rack but not got to that stage yet myself.

phazed thanks for the offer of a look, I'm in Waterlooville nr Portsmouth.

Next job to get the hoses and hydraulics connectors sourced.


phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
My pal Barrie, (LongBaz) lives in Waterlooville, not a million miles away.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Sunday 4th October 2015
quotequote all
My pal Barrie, (LongBaz) lives in Waterlooville, not a million miles away.

Bassfiend229hp

5,530 posts

249 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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I'm only Southampton too ... looks like I'm going to have to do this at some point soon to save my back - otherwise I don't think I'll be able to keep driving the old girl and that would be a shame. frown

CHIMV8

2,768 posts

220 months

Monday 5th October 2015
quotequote all
Bassfiend229hp said:
I'm only Southampton too ... looks like I'm going to have to do this at some point soon to save my back - otherwise I don't think I'll be able to keep driving the old girl and that would be a shame. frown
Youve moved?

Bassfiend229hp

5,530 posts

249 months

Monday 5th October 2015
quotequote all
CHIMV8 said:
Bassfiend229hp said:
I'm only Southampton too ... looks like I'm going to have to do this at some point soon to save my back - otherwise I don't think I'll be able to keep driving the old girl and that would be a shame. frown
Youve moved?
I was in Salisbury - now on the edge of the New Forest about 15 minutes from Southampton... smile

domV8

1,375 posts

180 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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Bassfiend229hp said:
I was in Salisbury - now on the edge of the New Forest about 15 minutes from Southampton... smile
Where? I'm just about to move to Sopley...

Fenderer

Original Poster:

137 posts

101 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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My car came from Christchurch it was my dad's and a regular on the Avon Causeway battling to do a hillstart with the dodgy handbrake to get over the river. wink

Ebay goodies arrived in the post today. Blank plates, spacers, bolts and the fluid connectors for the Scooby rack and Astra pump



I've gone for a standard M16 and M14 x 1.5 to AN6 connectors and I'll need to machine these a little on my mini lathe to get a seal on the bottom of the rack with a copper washer.




LongBaz463BHP

2,087 posts

216 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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Where abouts in Waterlooville are you? I am on the Riverdale estate.
Barrie

Bassfiend229hp

5,530 posts

249 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
domV8 said:
Bassfiend229hp said:
I was in Salisbury - now on the edge of the New Forest about 15 minutes from Southampton... smile
Where? I'm just about to move to Sopley...
Plaitford, just on the A36 ... Just t'other side't New Forest from where you'll be ... easy drive if you fancy saying hello. smile

GV

2,366 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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Interesting mod....I've long been a fan of changing the existing PAS setup for something more modern. There's the Peugot 106 mod, the Corsa EPAS mod and now the Scooby Mod. Would love to know how effective they all are as an option for the Wedge....

BoostedChim

541 posts

224 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
Bassfiend229hp said:
Plaitford, just on the A36 ... Just t'other side't New Forest from where you'll be ... easy drive if you fancy saying hello. smile
I'm on the coast in Blackfield, not too far south from you.

Fenderer

Original Poster:

137 posts

101 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
quotequote all
LongBaz463BHP said:
Where abouts in Waterlooville are you? I am on the Riverdale estate.
Barrie
Good grief you are practically next door. I'm off Crystal Way.