I now have Electric Power Steering

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Courtesy of those fine gentlemen at Lloyd Specialist Developments. Transformed the car! Happy bunny.



More pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lloyd-Specialist-De...

Can't recommend it highly enough.

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In a word, awesome! It is a variable system with full power assistance at parking speeds, reducing to zero above 30 mph.

It's a superb fit, being completely unobtrusive under the dash. For me it turns the driving experience into a dream as the non-PAS model is a pig at low speeds.

There are no hydraulic components to leak and with the variable function it retains the full non-PAS feel at speed. What not to like?

The Corsa B system is still available but this is even smaller. Thoroughly recommended!

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On collection earlier today I saw a rather splendid looking LPG converted Chimaera which was in for some fettling. I've never met you before Dave but that's a mighty fine machine you have there with Old Gasbag. Well done sir!

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Hi Ged,

I came the long way home, 170 miles, dropping in on friends on the way.

I cannot comment on a power slide as with damp roads this seemed like a foolhardy thing to do, I guess it would all depend on how fast you were going at the time. The speed sensor picks up from the speedo, I believe and gives full assistance at 0 mph, gradually reducing to no assistance at 30 mph. Above that speed it's just like the original non-PAS model that it was, until a couple of weeks ago.

Came up this little baby, just south of Shaftsbury. A mini Stelvio. Perfect!



It really has transformed the whole driving experience. Left and right turns at country tee-junction are now effortless, as well as those reverse ng manoeuvres, etc. I was expecting to be impressed but my expectations has been well and truly surpassed.

I contacted my insurance broker today to notify them of the mod (Mannings) and received no additional charge for inclusion on the policy, It really does appear to be the best of all worlds!

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Yes.

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AJV8 said:

Have you got a link to it at all ? I've looked on the Lloyd Specialist Dev website and can't seem to see anything about it !? My old non PAS was also a dog at very slow speeds so this would be a lifesaver, definitely one for the "links to save for next purchase".

Hi AJV8, Link is on the original post, just below the picture. I's their Facebook page rather than their main website. Pictures posted on 24th Feb. Feel free to PM me if you want any specifics.

I see you're in London so feel free to pop over for a look-see if you like, I'm in Bromley.

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Hoofa said:

In a garage that sells it

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andy43 said:

pb450 - yhm. Like the sound of this setup

Hi Andy, YHM too.

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Hi Phil,

To be honest, we didn't discuss it. The guys at Lloyd's know I live over 100 miles from them and they tested the conversion thoroughly before handing the car back. If problems occur I'm pretty confident they will handle things professionally in a reasonable time frame. That's 12 months in my book.

Good luck with the conversion. You won't be disappointed. Happy to answer any questions you may have; forum or PM.

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That's because he's changed his PH name! First post under PJP500.

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SMB said:

Hi, I'm interested in this aswell, but I had a couple of questions, you may be able to answer one or either.

Does it change the feel of the car when on the move at all, I found that some cars seem to be too light and floaty.

Also given the turning force is now coming from the column ( esp when turning at low speed) whats the impact on the fibreglass mounting points? In a non-PAS car you just try to turn when the car is rolling a bit, in this what about the forces on the mountings vs the tvr PAS rack that has its mounting on the chassis?


thanks

I can answer both questions.

On the move the power assistance progressively reduces from maximum at parking speeds to nothing above 30mph. The power assistance can deffinitely still be felt up to that speed but not in a bad way. (I'm still able to compare to the previous non-PAS situation as I've only had the car for a short time since the conversion. One day I will have no recoletion of the way it was - and that's not an age thing!) Above 30mph there is no difference to the feel of the steeing at all - which is what it says on the tin. There's no light and floaty feel at 'progressive' speeds.

Regarding the turning force and the reaction point on which this force is exerted. The original upper mounting point for the column is on the pedal box. This was removed from the car and strengthened. The additional strengthening (very nicely executed too) also forms the mounting point for the new electric power assistance unit. So there is absolutely no action or reaction outside the pedal box. Hence there are no twisting loads on the fibreglass mounting of the pedal box. It's all self-contained. There's plenty of diagonal bracing too if you look at the pics. Neat! (If you can't find the pics send me a PM or a further request later when I can upload images from home.)

Phil, delighted to hear you're booked in with Lloyd's now. I should have insisted on comission rites!

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SMB said:

thanks for the responses, if possible some pics would be great of the mountings. As unless I'm missing something although the pedal box is strengthed, ultimately it mounts to the fibreglass, or have they fabircated something to mount to the chassis.

Right, so the unit is mounted to the strengthened pedal box only. There is no connection to the chassis.





The only additional load on the fibreglass body is the self weight of the unit itself, which is negligible. All forces and reactions derived from the actuation of the power assistance unit are contained within the pedal box itself. There are no 'external' forces and hence no issues with mounting in this way. The unit is not about to tear itself from the car.

I started this thread by saying it wasn't cheap but it offers the best of all worlds in my opinion. The serious DIY'er can do the Scooby rack conversion but you have to source all the right bits first (and I haven't seen a definitive list) but it's still a hydraulic system with constant power assistance and the potential for leaks etc. Again, all IMHO.

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Thanks Dave. It helps to have a structural engineering background.

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I'm the OP on this thread and I can confirm that 3 years down the line it's still fantastic. Fit and forget. Does what it says on the tin and make the car a pleasure to drive when slow speed manouvres are required.

Took the car on track at Spa last year and the steering was great. Above 30 mph (or was it 20, I forget now) there is no power assistance so no loss of feeling at track speeds. It doesn't work from the ECU (which is now replaced with a Canems unit, also fitted by Lloyds) but has its own sensor for speed detection and hence power assistance amount.

I know there was no price increase 1 year later (cos I checked) but you'd have to contact Lloyds again today to obtain current quote.

Still highly recomended. No fluid leaks either with EPAS!