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Converting to power steering

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:55 pm
by sticky nicky
Hi Guys,

Can anyone advise me on converting a 1989 Mx5 to power steering. How much it would cost and who could do it in Perth?

cheers

Converting to power steering

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:39 pm
by zossy1
Any half decent mechanic can do it.

You will need a p/s steering rack FROM AN NA (NB won't fit), plus a p/s pump and lines. I'm not sure if the ECU is different (to cater for the p/s load at idle) but I don't think so.

Shame you want to swap - do you find the manual steering too heavy? Running wide/aggressive wheels and/or alignment?

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:39 pm
by sticky nicky
Thanks Zozzy,

Im changing vehicles and after having power steering it feels a bit heavy without it. Havent drĂ­ven on the track yet but wondering if I will find the tight turns in Autokanas to difficult for my weak female arms lol. I may try a couple of track days first to make sure I want it converted. Do you find it better without power steering?? Do you know how much it would cost to get done?

Cheers

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:42 pm
by Jace
do some carpark-khanas (as i like to call them) to see if you can make tight/quik movements easily enough.

you know you shouldn't really turn the steering wheel if the car's not rolling, right?

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:16 am
by sticky nicky
Thanks Jana, any help from Perth guys??

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:56 am
by hks_kansei
Motokhana is near impossible without Power Steering on an MX5.

You simply can't turn the wheel fast enough (especially when you consider that a lot of the time you've only got one hadn turning in so you can pull teh hadnbrake)


To answer above, the ECU is the same.

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:01 am
by Pamex
Agree with HKS here.

I could never do handbrake turns in mine with the manual steering. If I jumped in HKS' though, handbrake turns were fine.

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:15 am
by sticky nicky
Its Autokhana I do, not Motorkhana guys, I think its a bit different :D

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:19 am
by hks_kansei
Never done an Autokhana, I just presumed it was a similar thing just with a different name (like how people call Motorkahana, Gymkhana)

I'm guessing Autokhana is more open than Motorkhana?
Larger courses, more speed, less need to pivot on the front wheels?

and most of all for the topic, less need to go from full right lock, to full left lock?


Am I correct? or have I got it completely wrong?

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:22 am
by NitroDann
Autokhana is up to 3rd gear, not only 1st.

Dann

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:30 pm
by Jace
and maybe on dirt?

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:53 pm
by ak_perth
Hi Nicky,

My first port of call in Perth would be to go to KYP in Welshpool and talk to Steve Lee.

http://kyp.com.au/kyp/

If he cant do it i'm sure he could recommend someone else.

Cheers

AK

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:26 pm
by sticky nicky
Thanks AK, Ive already tried him.

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:50 pm
by ak_perth
What did he say if you dont mind me asking?

Re: Converting to power steering

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:58 pm
by geofiz
I can do the conversion for you if required, I just changed racks etc on mine and it is fairly straight forward.

Get some quotes and let me kow what they say.