Power steering kit - good or bad idea?

[Pandora]

Having bought my 1984 caravelle a week ago now, love it to bits and drives like a dream BUT I live in a tight cul-de-sac with cars parked on either side and am finding 3 point turns (or in my case 5 point turns) heavy going. Being a 7 stone girlie with muscles approaching a small pea I have seen power steering conversion kits and wondered if anybody has had any experience of them and whether they are worth fitting.

Any advice welcome, in the mean time am pumping iron in the hope that the pea muscles may grow into small sprouts

[eatcustard]

Look here

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... mate+power" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Red Westie]

The long and short of an extensive thread is that: several people make 'electric power steering columns, they are known to work very well, they are manufactured to a high standard BUT have never undergone any homoligation ie: been properly crash tested and certified fit for use.
Now this doesn't bother many people but it may well have implications for the insurance company in the event of an accident claim.
Retro fitting a full 'original' hydraulic system is also an option but they are very difficult to get hold of and command megga bucks.
L/H/D versions fetch around £550.00 whilst the much rarer R/H/D versions go for over a grand and thats without fitting costs.

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

Check that you have the correct tyre pressures first - it makes all the difference.

[R0B]

hmm.tempted to sell the rhd set up.i have int shed

[toomanytoys]

Check that you have the correct tyre pressures first - it makes all the difference.

And quality tyres of the correct rating make all the difference along with the suspension geometry being set up correctly (and not by the local tyre place, I mean propper like)

[Cruz]

hmm.tempted to sell the rhd set up.i have int shed

I'll give you a fiver

[R0B]

blimey.as much as that

[T-3PO]

Suprised no one has mention Powerflex bushes a fraction of the price and really rather good ... and thats coming from someone running 205 16" tyres!

[Red Westie]

Suprised no one has mention Powerflex bushes a fraction of the price and really rather good ... and thats coming from someone running 205 16" tyres!

Why? do they make the steering lighter and easier to operate?

Martin

[T-3PO]

Suprised no one has mention Powerflex bushes a fraction of the price and really rather good ... and thats coming from someone running 205 16" tyres!

Why? do they make the steering lighter and easier to operate?

Martin

They sure do! and they'll stop the motorway wander.

OK so power steering is in a whole different league (and I'm still toying with the idea at some time in the future) but if you don't want to spend £500+ ...........

[Pandora]

Thank you all so much been a great help. Will start saving the pennies for the kit, but sounds like it is the way forward. Will also check the tyre pressure as sound advice. The tyres themselves are I assume the factory fit and are big sort of balloon tyres (no idea technical jargon!)

PS If the power steering column sitting in the garage was going for a reasonable price (although if worth over a grand way out of my price range) would be very interested (No harm in asking the question, she says with her fingers crossed)

Thanks again

[CovKid]

Prefer my (non legal) forklift steering knob. Power steering or not I can still outsteer hatchbacks on roundabouts

[Cruz]

I'd much rather have harder steering than gamble with walking away in one piece after an accident

[syncropaddy]

I'd much rather have harder steering than gamble with walking away in one piece after an accident

If you are hit hard enough to deform the steering enough as to make a difference between the standard VW steering and a modified system as discussed in the other thread, you wont be walking anywhere!