$100 Power Steering? Yes you can. Use Column Electric Power Steering (EPS) !
Another bright idea!
My background is power steering from my days at Ford Motor Company. All manufactures has slowly changed over to electric power assist steering due to simplicity, efficiency and elimination hydraulic fluid. Sadly, the advancement in electric steering by the Japanese manufacturers like Koyo lead to closure of our plant because we only made Hydraulic!
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Saturn Vue - from 2002 to 2007<o></o></SPAN> Chevrolet Equinox - from 2005 to 2007<o></o> Saturn Ion - from 2003 to 2006 - only in steering column with metal ECU case.
These columns usually have tilt and telescopic function. These columns are $38 from pica-a-part and the interface module is $65. For about $100, you can have power steering and it cannot get any cheaper than that. Why spend $1000+ on power steering when you can do it for $100. Additionally, the electric motor is hidden under the dash!<o></o>
On to pic-a-part! I have too many things to finish on my Falcon but his will be my winter project!
<o></o> <o></o> Waid
eBay Link for Saturn Vue Ion Chevrolet Equinox – Electric power steering controller box – EPAS:
Awesome! The signal from the sensor can be 'scoped and make a cheaper control output, but at $65 for a finished unit, it's probably not worth the time. Can't wait to see how you adapt it to the rack and what that stuff costs. Rock on!
David
PS: Are there any other EPS makes/versions worthy to experiment with, or only the Koyo at this time?
I am not planning to upgrade to rack & pinion. Not yet.
I did install my 68 Galaxy Collapsible Steering Column ($25 Pic-a-part) which was a perfect fit. I also have a 69 Lincoln Tilt Column ($15 Pic-a-part) which also fits perfectly.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o></o> <o></o> I got my hands on a 62 Comet Steering Box ($45 Pull-a-part) and I cut off the long spear type input shaft. I did not want to cut up the original. As it turns out the diameter of the input shaft is 0.75” which is same size as the input shaft on all new GM Cars that uses manual steering rack with column electric assist. GM also uses two parallel flats – Double D on these racks.
Therefore, I will cut the Double D flats on my shortened input shaft of the steering box. I paid $10 for this intermediate steering shaft what has two universal joints at Pic-a-part.
<o></o> <o></o> So far, I found only Koyo that someone managed to duplicate the signal. Electric Power Steering are made by Koyo, Delphi, TRW, ZF, SKF, Visteon, Nexteer & Mando. Most small to medium cars uses column electric. Due to higher rack loads, trucks like the new Chevy Silverado and Ford Mustang uses direct rack drive electric steering – ball screw driven by electric motor. Therefore, you can not put a small column electric in a big Galaxy.
<o></o> In the beginning, the limitation on all these electric steering was something called “Return-ability” which now they managed to overcome. When you make a turn and let the steering wheel go, the car must return the steering on center without driver’s assistance.
Believe it or not the newer manual steering racks that are used with column electric steering are highly precision gear set. Hydralic Rack & Pinion dampens the imperfection in the rack & pinion teeth which are machined. For electric steering, the rack teeth & pinion are ground! <o></o> <o></o> Waid<o></o>
OK, you're having way too much fun, and that is simply not to be tolerated. Seriously though, would it be worth doing initial drives with your current combo first, and then making a few of these changes to gauge their individual effectiveness? I don't want to slow your train, but I'd be curious with apples-to-apples comparisons. Alternatively, is there away to fully disconnect the drive mechanism for a manual/E-assist comparison?
David, with no power applied to the unit, the column feels no different than the any other manual column. You can freely rotate the steering wheel with no problem as it supposed to. When I drove my car with the 170 Inine-6, I almost took out a stop sign with manual steer & drum brakes
I am not sure when I will install this column as I don’t want it to slow me down. Between work and kids, there is very little time for the Falcon. I want to at least get the motor finished and have it & T5 in the car so I can drive it before I start to see snow flakes!
Based on how the guy with Nova in Belgium installed his unit, it looks like all you need is the bottom half. In that case, pic-a-part charges only $20
Here is the bare column. I think it will be easy to just use it as is without attempting to graft Falcon/Mustangs column on to it. This is a collapsible safety column and I want to keep it that way. I may use Saturn's turn signal switch.
In order to fit a Falcon/Mustang, the motor will have to be on the passenger side. Also to tuck the column up in the dash, I will have to remove the control module and relocate somewhere else.
Keep going Waid this is a great idea. I have a factory serpentine set up and was thinking of throwing a pump on and using a Borgeson box to get a quicker ratio and a more modern box. I like this but I would have to swap a power steering arm and center link with an adapter to get a quicker ratio. I will be watching this though as it is an interesting alternative. Thanks for the good info.
Mark
Here is the comparison of 69 Lincoln tilt column, Saturn Vue & the 64 Falcon. The Lincoln & the Falcon column has the inner rod removed. As you can see they are about the same length!
All GM cars now uses Serial Data Link which means that these what I called parasite modules such as this Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) "talks" directly with Engine Control Module. This goes for Body Control Module (BCM), Air Bag Module, ABS Module and yes even the dash uses digital data link. All data is exchanged between module through a single serial data bus. The PSCM has a 2nd data line as a backup.
Below is the wiring diagram of the power steering. The eBay module replaces the car ECM and provides data link to the PSCM.
I am like Waid also planning to install the electric steering setup on a 65 Ranchero. Have already got most of the parts to make the change. Will also be my winter project.
Have also been in contact with the guy who is selling the control box for $65. There are more and exciting things to come from him.
R
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 or Electric Power Steering (EPS) where the steering rack is completely manual. It has a torque sensor that detects the movement of steering wheel and the electric motor applies power to the rack. Additionally, Column EPAS usually has the controller module attached right on the column. However, in order to operate, the controller must see digital signal from the cars ECU. There lies the magic trick. If some can figure what the EPAS controller is looking for, it could be adopted to virtually any classic car. I am a Mechanical Engineer not Electrical.</FONT></FONT></P><P> </P><P><FONT color=black><FONT face=Verdana><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P><P><FONT color=black><FONT face=Verdana><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P><P><FONT color=black><FONT face=Verdana>It looks there is a seller one eBay that has done this exactly and sells the kit for $65! All you need is an EPAS Steering Column from following vehicles which uses Koyo system: </FONT></FONT></P><P> </P><P><SPAN style=)
