Power steering box

[123hotchef]

Skip to last paragraph if you dont want to read my story!

Some of you will know from a previous thread about my dilemma with steering idlers bending off road.
I have just purchased a LHD steering box to replace the idler as it is much more heavy duty and I cant really see it bending.

Any way,

If I plumb the LHD steering box in to the main system will it work without the input shaft from the steering wheel being turned? Ie, just turned via the steering bar via TREs and pitman arm?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Other than internal drag due to moving the input shaft I can't see why it wouldn't work as you want.
What about gutting the insides so no input shaft ?

 

[colnerov]

Hi, Turning the input shaft opens valve to use the pressurised fluid to give assistance, without that it will act like a damper to the action of the original steering box. One of the benefits of power steering when off roading is a marked reduction in kickback through the steering, which is normally enough to break a thumb if you haven't got it outside the wheel. FYI you soon learn that pretty quickly.

Colin

 

[123hotchef]

I had thought about gutting it then my mate pipes up and says yes but

if you jack the truck up and move the road wheels by hand with and without the engine running is it easier with it running?
if so then just plumb the other pump in and the valves will open as the wheels are moved
I am not convinced but willing to try his theory

 

[frank horton]

seems like a lot of extra work !!!!!!!! what kinda vehicle is it.........surley a purpose made tough unit will be available somewhere.......cant help much without vehicle type.......
Frank

 

[123hotchef]

seems like a lot of extra work !!!!!!!! what kinda vehicle is it.........surley a purpose made tough unit will be available somewhere.......cant help much without vehicle type.......
Frank

It is a Mitsi L200 Frank, if I choose not to plumb it in it is no more work than replacing the idler 3 bolts is all plus the ball joint on the pitman arm

 

[Cobbler]

If you plumb it in, has the pump got enough capacity to run 2 steering boxes? I would say you are overcomplicatong the issue, strip the box out & just use it as an idler. One thing to check, are the lengths of the drop arm & idler identical? by the way your writing, you've already checked it I would think.

 

[123hotchef]

If you plumb it in, has the pump got enough capacity to run 2 steering boxes? I would say you are overcomplicatong the issue, strip the box out & just use it as an idler. One thing to check, are the lengths of the drop arm & idler identical? by the way your writing, you've already checked it I would think.

Yes the lengths of the arm and idler are the same as is the Pitman arm same bolt pattern too, mitsi keep it simple like that. I would like say that the pump would not have to work harder to power 2 boxes anyway. I would just add extra fluid to fill the pipe work and 2nd box. The pump seems to work harder to turn the bigger tyres anyway.

 

[gaz_moose]

worst case you could just add in an electric pump off an astra or something like that.

 

[123hotchef]

worst case you could just add in an electric pump off an astra or something like that.

really I did not know Astra's had electric Power steering pumps. good to know

 

[123hotchef]

seems there are a few electric power steering pumps available

 

[Cobbler]

One more thing, what happens to the assistance when the box is used in reverse? i.e. The input is via the drop arm from the track rods as against the input from the steering wheel shaft, will it try & fight what you are doing, or not provide any assistance? I've never really got any knowledge of power steering boxes, but I thought the power part worked on the input shaft, in which case I can't see you will gain anything.

I don't know anything really, just throwing up a few ideas & possible problems.

As a complete aside, many years ago someone asked us to rebuild a steering box on an A95 Westminster. Steering boxes were unobtainable, the owner found some secondhand bits, he insisted we changed the worm over, so we did, the parts were off a left hand drive one, ...... All reversed, turn left to go right, turn right to go left.

 

[123hotchef]

One more thing, what happens to the assistance when the box is used in reverse? i.e. The input is via the drop arm from the track rods as against the input from the steering wheel shaft, will it try & fight what you are doing, or not provide any assistance? I've never really got any knowledge of power steering boxes, but I thought the power part worked on the input shaft, in which case I can't see you will gain anything.

I don't know anything really, just throwing up a few ideas & possible problems.

That is what I will ascertain when I jack the vechile up and try turning the road wheels via the wheel with the engine off and with the engine running

 

[123hotchef]

well my mate is wrong! it is not power assisted that way round it need the input shaft turning

 

[Cobbler]

Had a feeling it was that way round Chef, as we said, strip the guts out & just make it into a dumb idler

 

[123hotchef]

Had a feeling it was that way round Chef, as we said, strip the guts out & just make it into a dumb idler

i might have too

 

[123hotchef]

just remove the worm drive gear i think will do it

 

[Cobbler]

just remove the worm drive gear i think will do it

Depending on the type of box fitted, when you remove the worm you may have to make up a spacer to limit the vertical travel on the shaft. If it's a worm & peg box I think you will find the downward travel is limited by the worm. Take the worm out & the shaft may drop. I have to say, I haven't stripped a steering box for about 40 years so I am well out of date.