power steering

[jasper5]

So it would be good if someone could specify what types of power steering are available in the market or is it just the two types?

Maybe this might inform you a little, otherwise do a search on the net.

http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=92107

And this http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?c ... r_steering

[Longintooth]

Hi
Jasper is quite right and they are fitting the things on practically everything in the smaller range, they use about 80 amps just on smaller models
and are not very good with the electronic sensitivity control so get ready with spare batteries. They have tried, believe it or not, to introduce steer by wire - argggg, to make more space and a safer crash defence. Just because they fit this to Jumbo jets does not mean it's a good idea on cars so it was thrown out - for now. They will be steering by weight shift next !!! But the point I made earlier was that all power steering has/had a basic sense for weight some better than others with hydraulic systems. Non powered steering is not good either because they have to gear it so it can be turned when manoeuvring but makes it too light at speed.
John

[steve_earwig]

they use about 80 amps just on smaller models

P=IV, that's 960 watts So they're going to destroy batteries, just like electric winches can. You can get hydraulic winches that are run by a pump off the engine, they do far less damage, maybe they should... oh wait...

They have tried, believe it or not, to introduce steer by wire - argggg, to make more space and a safer crash defence.

Oh dear god no! Hmm, zero feed back, imagine if they f*ck up. Sorry, make that when. I get why it would be safer if there wasn't something shaped like a spear pointing at the driver's chest but it would be impossible to remove all potential hazards without making cars so you couldn't get into them.

This is all rather like these electronic handbrakes, how many times have you thought "gee, I hate pulling this handbrake up and down, I wish they made it a button"? But some clever bugger made it happen because he could. So how are you going to know if there's anything up with your brakes if the first thing you know is it rolls off your driveway into a tree? (Just like they're doing, there's a whole list of them Honest John, two that spring to mind are the guy who watched his almost new Pussat crash into the shop at a petrol station, or the guy who just managed to leap into his as it rolled into traffic and ended up in hospital).

How do you pull away on a steep hill if your handbrake is only on or off? (I suppose you just get used to it but is this why they can't be used for driving tests?)

Non powered steering is not good either because they have to gear it so it can be turned when manoeuvring but makes it too light at speed.

My fist car with ps was the Scirocco, before that everything I had was manual, your arm muscles built up accordingly. When I went back to manual steering I couldn't believe how heavy it was

[eoin27]

i had a manual steering 1.4 scrote 3dr. I felt everything through the wheel. I had a lot more control over the car i thought

[Doggy]

My bro used to have a 1962 mk2 3.8 Jag without PAS, fitted with one of those 10" leather rimmed steering wheels that were all the rage in the 70's. Now parking that was a challenge, but it never bothered us.
He paid £80 for it with a year's ticket, ran it for 2 years. It was incredibly fast compared to waht was about then.

[Longintooth]

Hi
You know what, it's the feel of the steering at any speed with my 406 (HDi 110) I really like together with the flat ride, it's superb for a standard saloon. It beats my Beemer.

John