power steering on a split bus

[markswagen]

l know this is a 4 year old post

l never did finish the power steering on my old split, l got married, finished and sold her to emigrate here to the states, l owned her for almost 18 years, and only got to drive 611 miles.

l had a second steering column, and planned to weld on a splined end too the column.
it would seem that honda CRV racks are close to what l had back in the day, l can't believe it's been almost 20 years.
l wish l still had the bus.

[BulletBus]

I remember seeing something a while back about beam/steering modifications. I mean I actually saw it. The guy did a standard steering box raise and shortened the steering shaft. Then he rotated the beam, forward I think, like 5 degrees or something, and he could steer with one finger at any speed, straight as an arrow. Lotta weed since then though. Oh, and he was using a three spoke tractor steering wheel. They just happen to be keyed the same as a bus wheel. Not sure this helps at all.
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53 Hatch Barndoor
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If it's not a bus, it's bus money waiting to happen.

[Busstom]

[Brian Anthony]

An easier way to get power steering is to add an electric power unit in the steering column.

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1965 Double Cab
1967 Bug, Sedan
1967 Bug, Convertible

I’m not old, but I once knew a man who was alive during the Civil War, and he once knew Revolutionary War veterans.

[gbarrier]

Can anyone tell me which US cars have the steering racks with center take offs instead of tie rods out the ends?

Also, how does one secure the bottom end of the steering column when detaching it from the old steering gear and using the bevel gear.

Thanks

[rubbachicken]

[VWBobby]

Thats cool. Actually, there is enough space to mount a pulley if you use one from a vanagon that had A/C and the T4. It mounts on the 3-bolt hub...very thin - ~1cm. I'm also running a T4 engine is my bus (with DTM conversion though). Glad its electric though, no load on the engine!

Are the support bearings/fittings for the steering shaft from the vanagon also or ??

The angle on the tie rods I was talking about....comes from having the rack too close to the beam. A guy in the Volksrod forum built a high-dollar chassis that had the rack mounted right next to the beam. It had the rods angled like yours. The bump steer was so bad the car would toe in and out when the suspension was moved through its full motion! just warning you to check it before you get too far!

[rubbachicken]

[VWBobby]

Is that pump electric or belt driven??? It looks electric... if so, thats awesome!

[rubbachicken]

the rack will be mounted on home made brackets, i like to over engineer so they will be heavy guage steel
and yes i already figued that i need to mount it as close to the beam as i can, but i do have to work it around the booster, but i am confident i can sort it
to the doubters that have replied, so far 99% of the bit i have done to my bus can be reversed if the need ever arised
but as far as i'm concerned this is a keeper so it doesn't matter[/b]
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lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'

[VWBobby]

I think its a great idea!

I was/am in the process of fitting a rack n pinion set to my bus.....by why not go all the way? The modern power racks are very compact and strong. I was using a manual rack but have spotted some power racks that would be great.

Are you bolting it straight to the frame rails using some fabbed mounts?

One word of caution; Don't mount the rack too far back/forward of the steering pivot points. If the tie rods are angled too far, there will be considerable bump steer when going over ruts, etc.

[pyrOman]

I do like your idea also. Though my '65 Dormy with a fatchick disc brake front beam does pretty well even with the 13 inch Grant steering wheel, power steering would definitely make things a lot easyer for tight parking and such. However, it pretty much only helps there since at speed, too sensitive a "steering" could be more detrimental than helpful.

I remember way back when small japanese cars like the Honda started coming out with power steering. Even with the engine in front these vehicles were too light to have full on power steering. So they had a set up that the power steering cut off as yuo get to speed. Do some more research. Maybe your electric pump already has such a "cut off" switch or you can make one.

In the mean time and for whatever it is worth, I too have been told many a time "You just can't do that!" "It can't be done!" By some "experts" even! Then when I've come back to show them and they start asking me "How'd you do it?" I tell them to just try and find out for themselves!


Good luck on this project!
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Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[rubbachicken]

[lammyrider]

welcome to the samba rubbachicken and you thought that VZi could be aurgumentative
think you'll find the resto boys will think your an idiot and the custom boys think your a mad genious they dont hold back their opinions on here,see the rant section

[jeremyrockjock]

[mynameismud]

do what you like- it's yours.

i wonder if there was the same talk when people began running disc brake conversions, bigger engines, etc- who gives a damn. if that's what you want, more power to you. just keep that in mind when you try to sell it.
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[jeremyrockjock]

[rubbachicken]

whoa, it seems i must have found a forum for unmodified busses
and people with no desire to improve the handling of their pride and joy


i don't see it as devaluing my bus, it's a keeper, one day i'll be burried in it
abeed: putting pwer steering on it again ??
it's not about worn out steering componants, i have driven bay for years, when i get them every part of the steering is replace, i have found that each and every one of them wanders across the road so i figure this one will get an up date
Braukuche: pray tell, wht are the rest of the problems with my bus, appart from it's nutbag owner
again i ask, how many of you out there have modified the engine, trans nd the braking systems, so what's the big deal with wanting it to have better, more responsive, and POWER steering
i have an idea, if you don't like what i am doing, please do not waste you time and mine telling me i am wasting my time and riuning my split bus
to those with positive thought's about what i am trying to achieve, thanks for your thought's
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lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'

[scoot1958]

Some of the coolest trends in old automotive and motorcycle conversions have come out of Europe; I say you are one daring *.$.#. - GO FOR IT, and I want to see more pics throughout ...

Naysayers beware; classictint and I will be crawling under your busses at the shows to see who gives in and installs one of rubbachickens' "kits" when he gets the kinks worked out and goes into production!

STOCK: 60' SC, 60' VERT,

Slightly modified 81' Caddy

[classictint]