Power steering

lamcote · April 29, 2018, 10:12

I drove a Westfield at Donnington last week and really enjoyed the heavier steering compared to the MR2.
I am aware some people have managed to reduce the amount of power steering assistance on our cars, without removing it altogether, by somehow turning the pump down a bit.
Can anyone explain how to do this?
Thanks

m1tch · May 1, 2018, 07:48

Quote from: lamcote on April 29, 2018, 10:12
I drove a Westfield at Donnington last week and really enjoyed the heavier steering compared to the MR2.
I am aware some people have managed to reduce the amount of power steering assistance on our cars, without removing it altogether, by somehow turning the pump down a bit.
Can anyone explain how to do this?
Thanks

You can remove it and run with a vented rack, I found a guide a while back, however not 100% advised for a road car - I am guessing the Westfield might have had a fully manual rack which coupled with smaller wheels and tyres would have been fine to drive.

http://www.driftopia.com/2008/03/04/mr2-spyder-power-steering-removal-part-1/

lamcote · May 1, 2018, 08:27

Yes the Westfield is manual steering, very nice, feels really reassuring.

I don't fancy removing the power steering altogether, just reducing the amount of assistance it provides. I'm sure someone's done it, it would be nice to know how.

Enjay · May 1, 2018, 10:56

It seems funny to look back on but I remember when power steering was increasingly becoming a thing in cars and there was quite a bit of resistance from people with sportier models saying that they lost a lot of the feel and connection with the road and didn't want power steering at all. As it got better, every now and again, there would be a review of a particular car saying that the power steering was very responsive and still gave good feel. Nowadays, it's just assumed that cars have power steering.

Short version: back in the day we all had big arm muscles from parking our cars.

Ozzy · May 1, 2018, 14:24

I do like the idea of this but never got around to looking into it.

When I was looking at replacing my steering pump and googling stuff, I remember coming across a post about someone that did this to their MR2 by fitting resistors somewhere to reduce the effects of the power steering? Another post mentioned about using different fluid to achieve a similer effect but said pump may not last as long.

lamcote · May 1, 2018, 14:49

Quote from: Enjay on May 1, 2018, 10:56
It seems funny to look back on but I remember when power steering was increasingly becoming a thing in cars and there was quite a bit of resistance from people with sportier models saying that they lost a lot of the feel and connection with the road and didn't want power steering at all. As it got better, every now and again, there would be a review of a particular car saying that the power steering was very responsive and still gave good feel. Nowadays, it's just assumed that cars have power steering.

Short version: back in the day we all had big arm muscles from parking our cars.

Yes, I can remember driving my Dad's Austin Maestro diesel that had manual steering, it was literally almost impossible to turn the steering wheel at parking speeds! (And since it could barely travel at anything more than parking speed, that was most of the time.) It still didn't have any steering feel though....

wotugonado · May 1, 2018, 18:21

You could search for Matt Performance posts on his track car as he did something along these lines to that. Can anyone remember the name of the car was it T700 ?

1979scotte · May 1, 2018, 19:39

Quote from: wotugonado on May 1, 2018, 18:21
You could search for Matt Performance posts on his track car as he did something along these lines to that. Can anyone remember the name of the car was it T700 ?

TX400?

wotugonado · May 1, 2018, 20:01

Quote from: 1979scotte on May 1, 2018, 19:39
Quote from: wotugonado on May 1, 2018, 18:21
You could search for Matt Performance posts on his track car as he did something along these lines to that. Can anyone remember the name of the car was it T700 ?

TX400?

That sounds more like it, you encyclopaedic knowledged mr2 nerd

dan944 · May 1, 2018, 20:34

Quote from: 1979scotte on May 1, 2018, 19:39
Quote from: wotugonado on May 1, 2018, 18:21
You could search for Matt Performance posts on his track car as he did something along these lines to that. Can anyone remember the name of the car was it T700 ?

TX400?

T400X

lamcote · May 12, 2018, 12:48

I wonder if I installed a voltage regulator (pulse width modulation?) on the power supply wire to the power steering pump and used this to reduce the voltage supplied to the pump to something less than 12v, would this reduce the amount of power assistance provided and would it do it safely?

Obviously I realise this might be an absolutely ridiculous/unworkable idea so please tell me if it is.

I'd be grateful for any thoughts/suggestions though.

BahnStormer · August 13, 2018, 13:38

I'm not sure how repeatable this is, but I accidentally disabled the power steering the other day: while waiting in a long traffic queue down a hill to a level crossing, I had switched the car off.... When the crossing gates lift, the queue usually takes ages to clear, so there is space to freewheel and bump start it (which means the bluetooth doesn't reset).... but I noticed that the person behind me was really close, so I just kept the clutch in and started it on the ignition... everything went fine, except I had a "P/S" light on the dash and no power steering...

Repeat if you want to. I stopped as soon as a I could safely pull up and restart the car normally - not because anything felt wrong, but I didn't understand why it hadn't come online the first time, so I was reluctant to continue like that.

I'm not sure how I'd describe it other than being similar to my old 205: very low speed, it was noticeably heavy, but it felt fine with a little more speed. Parking/low speed manoeuvring would be the same was my old Pug: need to keep the car moving to turn the wheel

Not sure on how the mechanics take strain if you're doing this longer sterm without the PS system running though... I only did about 200yds and three corners.

james_ly · August 13, 2018, 15:36

The steering is nice with a smaller wheel. I think mine is 320mm or 330. It's lighter than my non PAS VX220, but not by a huge amount; probably about the same weight as a Boxster.

m1tch · August 13, 2018, 16:25

Quote from: BahnStormer on August 13, 2018, 13:38
I'm not sure how repeatable this is, but I accidentally disabled the power steering the other day: while waiting in a long traffic queue down a hill to a level crossing, I had switched the car off.... When the crossing gates lift, the queue usually takes ages to clear, so there is space to freewheel and bump start it (which means the bluetooth doesn't reset).... but I noticed that the person behind me was really close, so I just kept the clutch in and started it on the ignition... everything went fine, except I had a "P/S" light on the dash and no power steering...

Repeat if you want to. I stopped as soon as a I could safely pull up and restart the car normally - not because anything felt wrong, but I didn't understand why it hadn't come online the first time, so I was reluctant to continue like that.

I'm not sure how I'd describe it other than being similar to my old 205: very low speed, it was noticeably heavy, but it felt fine with a little more speed. Parking/low speed manoeuvring would be the same was my old Pug: need to keep the car moving to turn the wheel Not sure on how the mechanics take strain if you're doing this longer sterm without the PS system running though... I only did about 200yds and three corners.

The power steering 'arms' itself at around 5mph, its possible to repeat this by keeping above 5 mph and turning the engine off and on again (not really advisable) - I have tried it by pulling the fuse for it, its a bit too heavy to be useful, especially at low speed.