Hi Guys,

Just been toying with the idea of fitting power steering in my Series1 RST. Was just womdering if anyone on here has done this? If any of you guys have could you tell me what I need to do the job and which car to take them from. Also any probs you've encountered doing this etc.

CheeRS.

Luke

 

I'm in the process... Never seen one fitted. This is a question that comes up every two weeks but nobody gets there. Zetec16V has one on his mk4. That one is done made from a Bluebird T72/T11 rack. It has a very similar mounting though the steering axle points too much up and to the side, so it won't come through the same hole through the bulkhead. Naturally the axle splines and rod ends don't match without machining. In a RHD car the axle comes apparently into contact with throttle and in LHD it come close to the brake pedal. The rack can be modified to be tilted more back, but the axle will still point to the side.
For RHD cars the US 83- escort power assisted rack seems like a better fit. Not direct either though.
One rack that I have been looking at is the Opel (Vauxhall for the british) Corsa B / Tigra / Combo 93-98 rack. (Some of the later (98-00 ?) models had the electric PAS which is no good.) It has a very similar four bolt mounting system, large insulator rubber for bulkhead and it's tilted back better than the bluebird rack. I'm gonna try to measure one if I find a B Corsa. Also, the axle has no splines, only a flat, that will make machining much easier.
Then there is the original S1 909- power rack. Never seen one, and I don't know if it was made for lhd/rhd/both, but finding one can be a little tricky.

I have the hydraulic mk5 pump on my zetec, which is of course a straigth fit. The I have the mk5 rack and the bluebird rack. Both can be made to fit but neither is a brilliant fit. Next I'm off to get the bulkhead, pedals and steering column of a scrap car that we have here so I can better make some real fitment trials. The law is a little stricter here on modifications, so the end result should look like its always been there.

 

There was a kit sold on Ebay a while back. It was complete and removed from a Mk4 escort - it used a peugeot rack and looked to be a pretty good fit.

Of course you could always take it off a Mk4 Escort Motorbility - if you can find one.

 

If I were to do it, i'd get one of them corsa C electronic power steering racks, thats the way to do it I'd say!

 

That's a lot of work to end up with a 4.5 turns lock to lock steering...

 

Corsa C rack is the way forward and tbh its not a lot of work at all ?

You need to make a few brackets and 2 rods, adjustable ecu is about £150 too so it makes it an ideal conversion.

Just had one fitted in my MK2 Escort and my mates having one done in his Mk3 Astra trackcar

Why would you end up with 4.5 turns lock to lock ?

 

its the column that is assisted is it not? So it wouldn't effect the lock to lock, just fit a quick rack.

 

Yep, that is exactly right.

Why more people haven't gone down this route I'll never know

 

It's the way forward, allot of track car guys are fitting them to mk2 escorts etc

 

someone post some pics pls

 

any news on the pics plz
mart

 

I just picked up a -87 US Escort power rack and it's as plug-n-play as it's gonna get with a series one. It's 3.1 turns lock to lock and it needs a hybrid column shaft. So, not the fastest in the world yet, might I'm playing with the idea of using a 1.5:1 quickener. This would bring the steering to Evo speed.

 

Small update:








The steering is now bolted on and operational although the engine is still sitting next to the car. I need to sort the alternator a little closer to the engine as it's hitting the suspension corner plate at the moment.

 

WTF do u need power steering anyways!?

 

I'd only want it for a proper track escort...

Wouldn't complain at all around town though, always good for the spec sheet aswell

 

To get 2.X turns lock to lock steering speed for track. Much nicer to drive when you don't need to change the grip all the time. I'll try it like this first and then see if I'll install a separate 1:1.5 ratio quickener or not.

 

get it soded out

 

Hmm, welded steering collum, I dont know if i'd trust it! it would have to be done A1 spec !!

look what happened to senna when his collum apparently was welded