Converting from power steering to non ps

[wasserleaker]

I know the arm and universal joint are different between a power, and non power steering van, (apart from the rack, obviously) but apart from this does anyone know if its straightforward enough to convert a van which previously had ps, to non ps? real bad leaks on ps rack, arm and a leg to repair, vans i've driven without ps are hardly any different so i was thinking of changing the rack, arm ,joint for a non ps one, my Carat steering wheel is slightly smaller in dia. to the wheel on a non ps van, i know, but can't see it being that much of a difference. any ideas?

[toomanytoys]

Mmm
I have both a power steered syncro and a non power steered Caravelle.. the 'vele is noticably heavier at parking speeds even with the bigger steering wheel..

You may need to change the front uprights too as the power steered ones are slightly different to non.. the link from the "relay box" is also different

"arm"??? steering track rods and ball joints are the same for non and power steering as far as I am aware (I used one off a spare non ps rack I had to keep the Syncro going)

[R0B]

i know the steering rack holes in the front hubs are placed differently on ps models to none ps models.whether this makes any difference on going none ps i dont know.

[KarlT]

Hmmmmm. Have I read this right......... To convert nonPS to PS you need the front Uprights, hubs (wheel hubs?) & redrill fixing holes for the rack? What is the relay box?

[peasant]

I know noting about the really important issues , but just on that note:

my Carat steering wheel is slightly smaller in dia. to the wheel on a non ps van, i know, but can't see it being that much of a difference. any ideas?

I've got the same wheel on a non-ps Syncro with 195 tyres. There is no issue with driving, but if you have to do a lot of maneuvering in and out of tight spaces, you wouldn't want to be suffering from rheumatism or arthritis, it does demand a firm grip and a good dollop of elbow grease.

[R0B]

eh? where does it say that.you cannot re drill the holes.if you are going to buy a s/h power steering set up.make sure you get the hubs as well.like i said i dont know if using non ps hubs will make much of a difference.but vw made them different for a reason..

redrill fixing holes for the rack?

[KarlT]

Ahhh yes read that wrong. So need front wheel hubs & front uprights but what is the 'relay box'?

[R0B]

iirc.part of the steering column is different as well.not sure about the relay box myself!

[mig]

I have converted from "normal" To Power steering keeping the original non power hubs,makes no difference.I think the idea is that you need less turns of the wheel lock to lock on the power steering hubs.In the real world I can't tell any difference.
Going on what I needed for the opposite conversion you will only need the bottom link from rack to column in addition to the rack.
If yours is RHD I am sure some one will do the swap for you just to get the parts,(I would have snatched your hand off-payed nearly £400 for the complete setup)RHD power steering setups sell for big money and re-conning a leaky rack isn't difficult.(or expensive if you do it your self)
Power steering is very popular for a reason-it is the best mod I have made to the van,now the wife can drive(and park it) and my daughters can learn to drive in it.These are the two reasons I did the conversion as I had no problems with the manual set up-Now I have converted no way would I swap back.
In short don't do it

[KarlT]

What about the different uprights? I'm thinking about syncro conversion, are the parts the same?
I maybe interested in swapping with you W'leaker if 4x4 & 2wd are same.

[futbus]

Karl the uprights are drilled closer to the axle point of the suspension, so the rack on power steering turns the wheels more per revolution of the steering wheel than non power steering. Pop over and I can show you the difference. You could always weld up the non power steering and re machine in the new location.

Changing to power steering from non can be done without changing the uprights, but causes interesting things to happen done the other way round.

We have a full RHD system for both here if anyone needs anything, also non pas lhd rack.