Power Steering

[John S]

Thanks for that Gareth! Seriously though those diesel engines are heavy. When I first got my car I DID drive like a but I've somewhat limited my racing to the traffic lights when I feel the need to show up the odd 1.4 F*esta/E*scort by dumping the clutch on 3/4 revs - I don't want to kill my engine though.
Also worth noting that doughnuts are possible - BACKWARDS....I managed this in the wet just once - as the engine gathers momentum it's that heavy. This also adds problems when going over bridges down widing country lanes - you take off but you land back with a loud 'thud'....but I don't drive like that now my Tickford kit is on. My car has it easier now...garaged...regularly polished etc.

Watch those corners in this wet weather. I tried to navigate a roundabout at 40 mph and ended up on the grass after mounting the kerb - hastily I straightened up the wheels before I hit it Good job no-one was around! - On new tyres as well

Good advice there. It was a similar condition that caused my very unlucky roll over incident. Of course, you drive a diesel so you can't have been driving like a **** But it just goes to show that what can be considered a reasonble speed on a dry road can change dramtically in the wet. Add a little diesel on the road too and you've got the next best thing after ice..

Gareth

[John S]

Watch those corners in this wet weather. I tried to navigate a roundabout at 40 mph and ended up on the grass after mounting the kerb - hastily I straightened up the wheels before I hit it Good job no-one was around! - On new tyres as well!

[tony]

mine has not got pas ,now i have arms like popeye's toot toot:laugh:

Sorry, missed out a word above. It should read "I think I've CURED most of them".

Derek.

I had an MG Maestro with manual steering, and converted it to power assist. I was very pleased with the result. Not too light, no great loss of feel. Also the advantage of the SLIGHTLY higher gearing, i.e. less turns of the wheel. Piece of cake to fit it, except that the rack is a bit tricky to get in.

Unfortunately, not long after I fitted it somebody locked up the front brakes on a road rally and ploughed into a hedge. Result - no more Maestro. Not me, by the way. I had lent the car to my regular navigator, as he was the Inter-Association Team Captain, I was organising, he wanted to drive but his car wasn't ready. I may think again next time.

Now using an M16 Monty, also with P.S. Car has had problems in the handling department, but I think I've most of them by doing various things, but mainly by lowering it with MG springs. Struts and rear coil-overs straight off an old MG, with replacements as needed. Only problem now is vulnerable sump!

Anyway, I digress. P.S. is good!!

Derek.

[Mat_C]

>>converted to non-pas as the amount of turns lock to lock will increase, and the maestro trait of the front wheels tuckiing in on full lock will also re-appear<<

Never thought of that - I'll try and see if I can get more used to it (thats if I don't oversteer and stick it in a hedge!!).

My daily runner is an 86 EFI (non-pas) - and I find that light!!. I think it might come from drving old over-loaded transits (non-pas) hehe.

If you steering really is that vague try looking elsewhere, tyre pressures, balljoints, suspension bushes etc. One of the good points about the Maestro is its good steering when it has PAS fitted. You'll have less control over the car if you converted to non-pas as the amount of turns lock to lock will increase, and the maestro trait of the front wheels tuckiing in on full lock will also re-appear. There's also the fact you'll make the car less attractive if you were to sell. And trust me, the steering on 2 litre cars without PAS is far too heavy!

Gareth

[Mat_C]

On a slightly different note, is it possible to take the PAS out. I test drove my turbo last night and have pretty much decided that I can't live with power steering - I can't feel whether the tyres have traction or not and its doing my head in.

I find the steering on the maestros very light without PAS!

[Simon]

Definitely possible and the conversion on a 2 litre petrol isn't too difficult, well not as difficult as the 1.6 petrol Maestro I've just done (in other words my own car). It is quite time consuming though, lots of undoing of bits to do.

The whole nature of the car changes, it becomes more refined and PAS doesn't rob the steering of that much "feel" You'll suddenly want to do crazy things like practice tight parking manoevres!

Find a suitable donor - lowest mileage you can - in the scrapyard and spend a day taking things off. Access to rack bolts will be tricky unless you find a car with no engine. Don't forget you can use several donors. Whack the bits off and you'll probably end up paying £50 or less. Fit brand new track rod ends though, they are cheap and you'll need to get the alignment reset anyway when all's fitted. Remember to get the PAS intermediate column shaft too as it will be different.

[tony]

yes i would like to do that to my car as well

I have a 1993 2.0LXi
How feasable/difficult would it fit the power steering components off an SLXi?