Retro fitting power steering?!

[aaronfrench]

Hi all,

New to this and hoping to buy first wedge FHC soon but wanted to find out how hard it will be to retro fit power steering if the car doesnt have it? My gf will be driving from time to time and she certainly doesnt have the required arms of Popeye every one mentions!

In the past I have found fitting a slightly bigger diameter wheel with a lower tyre profile seemed to help a lot, any thoughts? If so what size do people recommend on a 280i?

Thanks

[grahamw48]

I think it has been done, but there are chassis differences, so maybe not straightforward. Do a search.

Why not just fit a larger steering wheel at first.
The standard one on S1 280s is very small, and that increases steering effort.

The road wheels can be changed, but difficult to get to look 'right'.
There's been a lot of discussion about the subject on here.

Suspension is already firm to non-existent on the early cars, and they also tend to 'tramline', so I'd be a bit cautious when playing with wheels, tyres and steering. The 60 profiles do cushion the bumps a little.

ETA the 15" wheels from later Wedges should go straight on, as long as not too wide, especially at the front (steering !)

Edited by grahamw48 on Tuesday 19th August 09:41

[rev-erend]

Any conversion will be a combination of high cost and will be time consuming..

Why not just look for a wedge with PAS when you buy.. it would make your life easier.

[aaronfrench]

I would do but I am after a FHC and the choice out there is extremely limited, unless anyone knows of any (other than the blue and red ones that have been on ebay recently)?

[taimar78]

I have two 280is, one that came with PAS and one that didn't. Oddly enough, the one without PAS requires only slightly more effort than the one with PAS.
If you check your tire size, tire pressures, suspension settings, etc, very often you can get the steering feel light enough with the manual steering that it does NOT require arms of Popeye in order to drive it. I'm running mine with 195/60 14 tyres with the correct tire pressure and it does great without the PAS.

Marshall

[mightymouse]

I asked the same question when I bought my 350i.
Basically it is not an easy "fix".

Haven't bothered and to be fair it hasn't been a problem except for low speed manoooooovering and mini roundabouts.

[aaronfrench]

Well thats excellent news then, frees up my choice a fair bit!

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I've fitted a Corsa Electric PAS column to my 280 FHC.

Its about 3-4 days work, and your need a welder and angle grinder. longer if you want it height adjustable.

Parts are about £250 Second-hand inc manual adjuster.

It's a option but not easy or cheap.

[aaronfrench]

Hmm, thanks everyone for all the info, will see how good/bad it is and look into the options if I cant live with it...

[SEvans]

I started fitting P/S to my Tasmin 200 a couple of years ago. I very nearly got it finished but couldn't source the correct UJ to attach to the P/S rack, the shaft diameters are different for manaul and P/S. There are chasis differences, so in another model/year it may not be possible. I was told that I couldn't fit P/S to mine without chopping the chassis, but this isn't true. It's not easy to get the rack in, but it is possible. Cheers Steve

[jmorgan]

Wife managed my non PAS 350 OK. Pity she cannot reach the pedals on the 400 properly. I am gutted.

[Comadis]

i´m owning a non PAS fixed head and a PAS convertible.

not compareable...easy driving with my PAS car and extreme-extreme hard work with the other.