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Car Forum / MINI / February 2004power steering on a mini
Anyone know if power steering on a mini is possible? Am disabled and would like to buy a mini, but if I have trouble steering I would like to be able to add power steering, or some other feature that would make steering easier. I have checked bank garage and they offer a power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so it's really no help to me. > Anyone know if power steering on a mini is possible? Am disabled and > would like to buy a mini, but if I have trouble steering I would like > to be able to add power steering, or some other feature that would > make steering easier. I have checked bank garage and they offer a > power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so > it's really no help to me. There was no factory fitted power steering in Minis. I have never even heard of after market power steering, so you're ahead of us there. The Mini has rack and pinion steering with very little room at the base of the column, so you'd have to do the conversion by fitting a power rack in place of the original. Finding one a suitable size with suitable reach would be difficult. Then you have to find room for the pump. >Anyone know if power steering on a mini is possible? Am disabled and >would like to buy a mini, but if I have trouble steering I would like >to be able to add power steering, or some other feature that would >make steering easier. I have checked bank garage and they offer a >power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so >it's really no help to me. Have you tried driving a Mini without power steering? It's not heavy. In fact, it's lighter than a lot of cars with power steering, plus you get more feel. Perhaps add a knob to the steering wheel if low speed parking manoevres are a problem. Regards, David Betts davidb@minilist.org The Mini Gallery: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=64635537103&n=1366070334 > >Anyone know if power steering on a mini is possible? Am disabled and > >would like to buy a mini, but if I have trouble steering I would like > >to be able to add power steering, or some other feature that would > >make steering easier. I have checked bank garage and they offer a > >power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so > >it's really no help to me. > Have you tried driving a Mini without power steering? It's not heavy. > In fact, it's lighter than a lot of cars with power steering, plus you > get more feel. Perhaps add a knob to the steering wheel if low speed > parking manoevres are a problem. If standard Mini steering is still a little too heavy, running relatively high front tyre pressures will help. Try adding about 4 to 6 psi to the recommended pressures. If you go too high, the car starts to feel skaty on wet roads, amongst other symptoms. If you talk to anyone old enough to have drive larger cars before power steering became common, you'll find they have a collection of coping strategies too for reducing steering effort. For example, steering is always lighter when moving, even if very slowly and steering back towards straight ahead from full lock is often easier when moving backwards. Get a mini with 10 inch by 4.5 or 3.5 inch wheels. Steering is easy peasy poo with them. Don't get 13" by 7" alloys with sticky tyres. The Muffin Man > Anyone know if power steering on a mini is possible? Am disabled and > would like to buy a mini, but if I have trouble steering I would like > to be able to add power steering, or some other feature that would > make steering easier. I have checked bank garage and they offer a > power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so > it's really no help to me. and of course fit a bigger steering wheel, those of us old enough to remember moggy minors as everyday transport will remember that they had HUGE steering wheels, have a look around at the next mini show you go to, as the cars get newer, the steering wheels get smaller... Jim > Get a mini with 10 inch by 4.5 or 3.5 inch wheels. Steering is easy peasy > poo with them. Don't get 13" by 7" alloys with sticky tyres. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so > > it's really no help to me. I remember a friend when I was 17 who bucked the trend in his 400quid scrapper and fitted (probably worth 200 quid) a 20" wooden rim fancy wheel. Very nice, it did make the play in his steering rack look much bigger than it was too ;) The Muffin Man > and of course fit a bigger steering wheel, > those of us old enough to remember moggy minors as everyday transport will [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > > power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so > > > it's really no help to me. > Anyone know if power steering on a mini is possible? Am disabled and > would like to buy a mini, but if I have trouble steering I would like > to be able to add power steering, or some other feature that would > make steering easier. I have checked bank garage and they offer a > power steering conversion but it's a bit pricey, and I'm in canada so > it's really no help to me. It is theoretically possible to fit one of the electric PAS systems from small cars - eg Vauxhall Corsa, Fiat Punto. BUT- a Mini on correctly inflated 145 tyres, with a largeish (Mark 1,2 or 3) steering wheel has very light unassisted steering - try it! TFP |
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