Power Steering

[shapeshifter]

Has anyone got a power steering unit on their Tuscan Challenge Cars?

[GlynnsportRacing]

Mine came with power steering and still has it. Fortunately it's quite a good unit and still gives you reasonable feel. I'm told that often these units can make the steering feel too light and you loose the feel through the steering wheel. Don't think they're very common on the TC cars.

[Graham]

Not on the tuscan at the moment but on the other chassis Im slowly building up I've been contemplating using a corsa power steering column. its a self contained electric unit, and you can get a controller for it to set the assistance level.

G

[shapeshifter]

Graham said:

Not on the tuscan at the moment but on the other chassis Im slowly building up I've been contemplating using a corsa power steering column. its a self contained electric unit, and you can get a controller for it to set the assistance level.

G

Graham, I'm sure its the same unit I'm using.

[Graham]

mmm I'd be very interested in how you get on with it then. Is it already on the car orare you having it fitted?


I think the advantages in running on the racers were that you could run a lot more caster angle. Im considering it in the other car for longer races, oh and the fact I havent got a steering column for it

G

[Chassis 33]

Having driven a few cars PAS and non, PAS has to be the way to go (unless it's a 2CV), anything that will keep you fresher at the back end of the race is a god send. There probably are some hideous setups out there that leave absolutely no idea what's happening with the front end, but on the whole do it.
My 2p

Regards
Iain

[teamHOLDENracing]

The general consensus amongst (2004 and before) Tuscan Challenge drivers was that non assisted steering gave better feedback. In a sprint car personally I feel it is unnecessary: it adds weight and is a further item to go wrong. In an endurance car it is a different matter

[Graham]

From what I've been Told the pas on the TC cars wasn't the most sophisticated solution and did take away a lot of the feel. I also suspect the average Tuscan driver might have been a little fitter then currently

In a sprint race Its benefit would probably be fairly marginal, and it does add more complexity into the car. For longer races though I would have thought it was worth it to make things easier on the driver, and hence improve the lap times..


The Corsa pas Column though is self contained and the assistance adjustable. The original system is adjusted by the speed sensor, but the rally boys have produced an ecu that sends the speed signal. you set the level of assistance you want and it sends the right signal..

[teamHOLDENracing]

Graham said:

I also suspect the average Tuscan driver might have been a little fitter then currently

Put it this way: Messrs Wheeler, Tustain and Barrett had power steering. Messrs Caroline, Keen and Hay did not. You do the math

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Graham said:

Not on the tuscan at the moment but on the other chassis Im slowly building up I've been contemplating using a corsa power steering column. its a self contained electric unit, and you can get a controller for it to set the assistance level.

G

Would the corsa power steering column fit a wedge.

[Graham]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

Graham said:

Not on the tuscan at the moment but on the other chassis Im slowly building up I've been contemplating using a corsa power steering column. its a self contained electric unit, and you can get a controller for it to set the assistance level.

G

Would the corsa power steering column fit a wedge.

Probably with a bit of work... Im not sure on the overall package size and you would need to modify lengths ect.


The tasmin is one car that really does benifit from pas... The stock steering is very low geared, ( about 99 turns lock to lock) making it very difficult to catch a fishtail. If you put a quick rack on you need to be arnie to turn the wheel. Putting pas on allows you to gear up the steering and still turn it.

Tim Broughton put pas on his turbo wedge to great effect, I think he used a Peugeot electric pas pump, but not sure of the rack ( or it may have been a pas column)

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

other option would be to use a 400SE PAS rack, and the std serp V8 Pump.

[Graham]

arnt they quite rare though? something modern may be more sustainable...

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Well im up for advice on what ever will fit. I like the idea of the electric version, then its only drawing power when needed. and you not going to want full power when turning.

[GlynnsportRacing]

teamHOLDENracing said:

Graham said:

I also suspect the average Tuscan driver might have been a little fitter then currently

Put it this way: Messrs Wheeler, Tustain and Barrett had power steering. Messrs Caroline, Keen and Hay did not. You do the math

My Tuscan was originally Nigel Tustain's, hence the pas, but the biggest gain was removing his ash tray - took 20Kg's off the weight!

[bigrumbly]

Graham said:

From what I've been Told the pas on the TC cars wasn't the most sophisticated solution and did take away a lot of the feel. I also suspect the average Tuscan driver might have been a little fitter then currently

In a sprint race Its benefit would probably be fairly marginal, and it does add more complexity into the car. For longer races though I would have thought it was worth it to make things easier on the driver, and hence improve the lap times..


The Corsa pas Column though is self contained and the assistance adjustable. The original system is adjusted by the speed sensor, but the rally boys have produced an ecu that sends the speed signal. you set the level of assistance you want and it sends the right signal..

I have a corsa power steering column on mine, with an adjustable ecu. I was worried about losing the feel, but have actually turned up the assistance from the minimum. It is difficult to explain the difference it made, all I know is how I felt much more confident in my ability to control the steering as I didn't need two hands on the wheel. Then again it is a rally car.

[Chuggaboom]

teamHOLDENracing said:

Graham said:

I also suspect the average Tuscan driver might have been a little fitter then currently

Put it this way: Messrs Wheeler, Tustain and Barrett had power steering. Messrs Caroline, Keen and Hay did not. You do the math

Monsieur Barratt informed me that Colin Blower developed the system on his car (or a car he was looking after) and than when it next appeared at a meet the factory was most interested. They then copied/developed their own version. Either way I think its funny that the S doesn't have any while the racer does....piece'a cake to drive...not vague at all...v.sensitive and v.accuatate....goes exactly where u point it....brilliant.

[Graham]

bigrumbly said:

I have a corsa power steering column on mine, with an adjustable ecu. I was worried about losing the feel, but have actually turned up the assistance from the minimum. It is difficult to explain the difference it made, all I know is how I felt much more confident in my ability to control the steering as I didn't need two hands on the wheel. Then again it is a rally car.

Have you got any pics of the installation?

Cheers

G

[teamHOLDENracing]

Chuggaboom said:

v.accuatate....goes exactly where u point it....brilliant.

Blimey, so you turn the steering wheel and the car moves in that direction? That's amazing!!!! Boys, I think I know where we have been going wrong

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I have been looking into these.
They look like a good idea. as they seem to be about £120 second-hand. so not too expensive. and I'll be able to leave my rack as is. as they work on the Steering column.

only problem I can see is controlling the unit, as they are normally controlled via the car ECU. I have seem after market units for sale. they don't look that complex, and look like you could make a DIY one with the right info.

How have you Guys got around the controlling problem.

Thanks
Leigh