Fit power steering

[stanw]

I have a "T" reg felicia and am very happy with it ---except that I find steering is very heavy when parking in tight places. I am hoping to pick up a power steering unit somewhere and fit it myself. From what I gather the only felicias fitted with it were V and W regs. Would my car be fitted with mounting points for the unit or would these have to be drilled and tapped ? Where can I get more info on these units as the haynes manual has almost no info on it except where to put the oil .Reading through the posts some people find power steering a load of trouble. So would it be worth the effort or should I get used to it ? Stanw

[Captain Sisko]

Mines a 98 S and that has PAS. I haven't had any issues with it.
I think PAS depended on trim level and it became standard after a certain date.


AFAIK the mount points should be there but I havent had to retrofit my Felly with add-on bits.

[rigsby]

TBH i wouldnt bother ,it would be more hastle than it is worth, just put a couple more psi in the tyres, and try not to turn the wheel unless moving/dont park in tight places

[KenONeill]

I'm not sure it would be possible, since PAS pumps are normally bolted to lugs cast into the block.

What Rigsby says all makes sense: You might also think about moving the driver's seat forward a click or two to get better leverage on the wheel.

[stanw]

Thanks Fellas. I take note of what you say and will see if I can get used to it. Apart from that small annoyance I am very pleased with the car. Thanks again. Stanw

[lewist123]

what about an electric pas pump from a saxo or something like that?!?

[KenONeill]

I'd not considered that. It probably needs a fair degree of technical knowledge to get the level of assistance correct, and get the pump to cut in immediately the wheel moves, rather than be very heavy and then cut in once you're turning though.

Bottom line, I don't know if it can be done, but I do know I'd not want to be the one developing it!

[lewist123]

saxo pas pump is a pre-setup peice of kit so there is no real fiddling.

It gets done on track vauxhall corsas running the redtop engine!

[Richard Black]

I take note of what you say and will see if I can get used to it.

I would. Build up those arm muscles! Actually it's amazing what we used to consider 'normal' steering weight, cars that nowadays most people would regard as utterly undrivable without power steering. The MGB for instance: anyone remember driving one of those? Certainly taught you to be respectful of the tyres when parking!

[lewist123]

i used to have an MGB, and i found the steering to be fine...... BUT you must must must must must keep the front suspention steering rack and 'king pins' very well greased

[Richard Black]

i used to have an MGB, and i found the steering to be fine

So did my mate who owned the one I drove, and I'm sure I would have agreed after a couple of weeks, but I bet if you went back to one now you'd notice. But yes, by the standards of - oh, when was it introduced? 1963 or so? - it was a nice friendly car to steer. I mean, I'm old enough to remember when Routemaster buses had non-power steering - I've never driven any kind of bus but I just remember watching the drivers, most of whom looked as if they could have lifted any corner of the vehicle clean off the road, giving a good old heave-ho on the 22-inch steering wheel just to get round the streets!

[scotbarman]

i have a 1997 lxi and am also considering this. I know it might seem a waste of time but it should be fun to try. The 1.6 and 1.9 models have it and the body is the same, does this mean the mountings are already on the body?
Would the unit form a 1.6 fit straight in. Or am i just not understanding the system correctly?