Tire advice to ease steering on Tasmin/280i

[UKAuto]

I am attempting to get my mother in law in to a TVR (no jokes please). The one issue with the car is the weight of the steering. I don't want to get in to the cost of a power steering conversion (unless someone has a very cheap set of all the bits!); I am hoping a can drop down to a narrower tire on the front and run them around 32 pounds and get some improvements.

Anyone over come the weight problem in this way? She is a senior citizen, and probably weights 100 lbs - so in stock configuration she would have to stop and ask for help every time she parks the car!!

Cheers,

Rob.

[350zwelgje]

Tyre width is one, setup of the front suspension plays also an important role. Think that without power steering low speeds still will need effort. If acceptable, only she can judge that. Have a 350i without PAS and only parking (and drifting) requires huge amounts of 'effort'. Above 30 mph it should not be an issue as steering is then light as you know.

Installing PAS, even if you find the parts, could be daunting as the chassis sometimes is different to PAS and non-PAS. It can be done but it is not dead easy.

Rob

[jeff m]

Larger steering wheel, keep the original for replacement later.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

350zwelgje said:

Tyre width is one, setup of the front suspension plays also an important role. Think that without power steering low speeds still will need effort. If acceptable, only she can judge that. Have a 350i without PAS and only parking (and drifting) requires huge amounts of 'effort'. Above 30 mph it should not be an issue as steering is then light as you know.

Installing PAS, even if you find the parts, could be daunting as the chassis sometimes is different to PAS and non-PAS. It can be done but it is not dead easy.

Rob

You can always fit a Corsa Electric PAS Column, and fit a adjuster so you can change the amount of PAS, for when you drive it.

It's quite a bit of work plus about £200 with the adjuster, but currently fitting one to the Race-Car.

[rev-erend]

Leigh

Don't suppose you could find an ebay link for an electric adjuster could you ?

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Hi Alan,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Corsa-Power-steerin...

Make him an offer of 47.50 and he will accept. well he did for me.
You may want to push you luck and offer less.

[rev-erend]

Lee - Thanks..

Must check what electric connections are on my electric pump ..

Loads of wires there ..

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

I'll try and remember to bring the diagram in for my one and post it up.

It may not work as he said it does not work for the corsa B column's

Was fun, fitting the removable boss. had to drill a 16 mm hole in the column, then weld it on, me rotating the column, while my bro welded, came out very good though

Edited by TVRleigh_BBWR on Tuesday 25th March 15:08

[UKAuto]

The high tech solution looks interesting - but I think I will stick with some of the other options.

A slightly larger steering wheel is a great idea; that one didn't even cross my mind. I think that along with a drop from 205 to 195 width tires, and maybe move up a couple of pounds on tire pressure, along with proper grease job will do it...

Cheers,

Rob.

[UKAuto]

My mother in law went ahead with the purchase of the Tasmin. We put 185-65-15 tires (sorry, Tyres) on the front. It made a significant difference. We are running them at 30 lbs.

My TVR has been in the shop since November being rebuilt, so it was nice to be able to get out for a drive in her TVR on the weekend, season is just starting here in Canada.

Cheers.

Rob.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Glad you are both enjoying you new wedge.