Converting to power steering

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:55 pm

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

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:39 pm

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?

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:39 pm

Thanks Zozzy,

Im changing vehicles and after having power steering it feels a bit heavy without it. Havent dríven 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

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:42 pm

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?

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:16 am

Thanks Jana, any help from Perth guys??

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:56 am

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.

Pamex · Postby **Pamex** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:01 am

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.

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:15 am

Its Autokhana I do, not Motorkhana guys, I think its a bit different

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:19 am

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?

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:22 am

Autokhana is up to 3rd gear, not only 1st.

Dann

Jace · Postby **Jace** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:30 pm

and maybe on dirt?

ak_perth · Postby **ak_perth** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:53 pm

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

sticky nicky · Postby **sticky nicky** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:26 pm

Thanks AK, Ive already tried him.

ak_perth · Postby **ak_perth** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:50 pm

What did he say if you dont mind me asking?

geofiz · Postby **geofiz** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:58 pm

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.