Electric Power Steering

[De Tomaso]

Who has had long term experience of EPS on a wedge and did anything break or go wonkey after X miles?

Did you change or upgradeanything prior to installing it?

Which doner car did you use for the EPS system?

Thanks.

[BlueWedgy]

There are a few conversions knocking about.
One uses a remote reservoir, I went for an integrated pump reservoir set-up.
This was housed in a custom bracket ( May have the dims somewhere?) welded at the sides to strengthen, this set-up utilised the existing belt driven bracket fixing points and location.
I think this came from a Citroen Saxo?
Existing PS pipes were utilised during the install.
I think I have a how to somehere as well?

My experience, is it weighted up the steering when driving normally, whilst retaining assist when moving slowly and parking. It also took the strain off the engine, as now not running the manual pump.
All in very pleased with the result. It is a pitta to steer when not running though.

Edited by BlueWedgy on Friday 14th November 13:35

[De Tomaso]

Thanks for the response. Yes, I was wondering about steering when power is off :-) I need to more reading matter on the different conversions.

[mrzigazaga]

I had a saxo eps pump fitted to the 280i when the supercharger install was done....did not really feel much of a difference compared to the original but it was done mainly to save space..we also had a switch to turn on the steering pump if the engine was not running.

[De Tomaso]

Hi Mark,

Good idea with the switch.

I'll make a note of that.

Thanks.

[adam quantrill]

Just had a neat idea, if you slave the power from the indicators then you don't need an extra switch, just use a relay and a couple of diodes from the stalk, and a third diode from the ignition live.

[De Tomaso]

Hi Adam,

Am I right in that the introduction of a relay will negate any issues with wiring handling any extra current?

Tnx and good suggestion.

[Wedg1e]

I suspect it would be a step too far, but modern electric steering racks have a motor driving a belt inside the rack which turns a ballscrew nut (like a CNC machine). It doesn't use hydraulics at all.
My Connect van has one; if you turn the engine off and put into neutral the steering continues to work until you roll to a stop, then it detects you aren't moving and turns off the motor.
Very much doubt it'd be an easy transplant into a Wedge and probably needs the body control computer to go with it, but I was impressed by the amount of engineering that's gone into it.

My ex's dad had a Corsa with electric PAS, the motor was in the column itself I believe and they were prone to failure of a positioning sensor that made the steering wheel kick in your hands. Not pleasant.

[De Tomaso]

Ah, I have a Corsa unit I'd planned on installing! Best I continue research into this potential problem as I do not like the idea of an autonomous SEAC.

Tnx