I shipped the EPAS (Electric Power Assist Steering) components to a fellow member of the Chilean Volvo Club, in Santiago Chile. Fernando installed it in his 122.


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john

I really like the idea of electric power steering, but the cost with that system is quite high and, at least at this point, the stock steering box is still being used.

Good used steering boxes are pretty few and far between and unfortunately, it is getting exceedingly difficult to locate new parts to properly rebuild the steering boxes. I am currently working on a parts estimate for a steering box rebuild for a customer and just the parts will cost over $600.00.

I'm absolutely positive it would cost less to have a company like Flaming River make a bolt on manual rack and pinion conversion kit instead of the electric column and a properly rebuilt steering box combined, and possibly for around the same price as just the electric steering column.

I contacted their tech department many years ago and back then, they said they were willing to make them, but they wanted a straight car to make measurements and to check fitment and they are in Ohio and I'm in SoCal.

Alternately, if someone could come up with a reliable way to replace the bearings for steering box shaft with removable bearing races. The main problem with the stock steering boxes is even if you have the stock bearings, the issues of damaged bearing surfaces on the shaft which are ground directly into the shaft usually has to be surmounted. The bearing surfaces get pitted and grooved over time and that will quickly damaged a new set of stock bearings if the surfaces aren't repaired in some way.

I looked into having the shafts repaired, but to make it feasible, I would have to have at least a dozen shafts repaired at a time and that would cost more than I was willing to spend. And besides, not having easy access to new stock bearings makes it unfeasible.




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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com

I sell the used EPAS components with the electronic adapter (made by Bruno in Portugal) for $250, plus shipping. There are a couple of options to make the installation easier.
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john

Hello John,

Wow, that's a lot cheaper than I thought.

I was basing my opinion on what I have seen in the past and that was the
EPAS kit for 122/1800 being sold out of Australia and those cost almost $2000.00!!

My brother wants to know if there is anyway to connect a speed sensor of some sort that would allow the steering to be adjusted automatically based on the speed of the car?
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com

There is an electronic adapter sold on eBay by seller darkperformance, which is speed sensitive. I have no experience with it.


http://vi.vipr.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=252666736213&t=1547725639000&tid=10&category=33588&seller=darkperformance&excSoj=1&excTrk=1&lsite=100&ittenable=true&domain=ebay.com&descgauge=1&cspheader=1&oneClk=1&secureDesc=0
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john

Eric;

It's fairly simple to generate a speed sensitive signal (not necessarily dependent on the Speedo gear)...a Hall Effect Sensor monitoring the Driveshaft, comes to mind immediately...the question is: Does this EPS Sys have an input for it, so that it can do something with that signal...?

Cheers

Yes, the EPAS has a connection for speed input. That is how the amount of assist functions in the original installation.
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john

doesn't the modern Mini Cooper have electric power steering ?

The first gen new Mini Cooper (2002-2006 for USA models) uses electrically powered hydraulic power steering.
That particular system's fatal flaw is that the electric motor and it's cooling fan are placed down low behind the engine exposed to the dirt, water and road salt beneath the car. Eventually the fan quits working, the motor overheats and burns up leaving many drivers suddenly without power steering.

--Will
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XC60 / Odyssey

I follow a Facebook page for '48-52 Ford F1 pickups. Quite a few of the folks use electric assist columns out of some Saturn, maybe the Vue? Seems a great option to have when you're adapting a modern OHC 5.0 into the space originally occupied by a flathead.

Yes, those steering columns come from the Vue, Equinox, or Torrent,
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john

Hi Mr. Sargent,

You Google image does not show. I entered the URL when logged into a Google account and the response is Google cannot find the image.

Curious, I searched for EPAS (Electric Power Assist Steering). I found these two articles in of an EPAS in Volvo p1800. Also in Santiago, Chile. Hope that helps.

Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) in P1800

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=341174









Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) in P1800

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=280558

Same images.

I guess EPAS cannot somehow install at the steering rack end of the steering shaft to reduce u-joint wear?

I have 2 240s without power steering. 1997 print Haynes 240 repair manual recommends Dexron II or III and so the rack seals failed in about a year in the 1990 240 li'l red wagon. I hit a curb when un-awake a snowy, dark morning in 2008 or so in the 1002 240. So, manual steering in both now. Give the U-joints a good oil soak recurringly. I may try the lanolin fluid film stuff next time.

I'll guess your Google image link may be from a search or display image cache when you are logged into Google, I guess? I dunno.

Hope that helps.

Sunday Morning Coffee Hangover (Really!) MacDuff.


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I was defeated posting pictures when I could not log back into the brickboard. I'll try again, but not tonight. The photos of the EPAS installed in that 1800E are ones which I hosted.

About seven or eight years ago I bought that 1800E and shipped it to a friend (Hugo Tagle K) in Chile. Hugo had always wanted a P1800 or 1800E, but once he owned one, he wanted power steering. There are no good hydraulic power steering systems to fit a P1800. The hydraulic power steering from a late 145 can be used, but they are scarce and need to be modified. I sourced the EPAS system here, and shipped it to Hugo in Chile. His son (Hugo Tagle F) installed it.

A video of the installed, functional system is here, https://youtu.be/S4S5kW9xcj8

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john

Thank you Mr. Sargent! Very nice!

As is you colleague's Volvo in the video.

Very much want a 120-130 series someday.
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Have any of you had experience with the completely rebuilt steering gearboxes from Tinus Tuning in the Netherlands? Here is the description from his website (tinustuning.nl):

"Steering rack overhaul PV, Amazon, 140 and 1800
Price: 600 to 800, - (incl 21% VAT) The steering rack is an often overlooked, but crucial part of the steering, and therefore the safety of your car. However, the worm gear steering shafts of the PV, Amazon, 140 and 1800 are also heavily subject to wear of the ball bearings, the plain bearings and also the worm wheel and counter wheel. Tinustuning has specialized in the very specific overhaul of these wheelhouses. We completely overhaul your wheelhouse, so that is something different than just a gasket set and new bronze bearing bush. The price depends somewhat on the model, but also on the time required for the overhaul. Therefore, inquire about the possibilities."

About $600-800 USD including 21% VAT, so probably about the same including shipping to the US.

Electric power steering: EZpowersteering.nl sells a system specifically for the Amazon (and also for the 1800) for, as I recall, about $1,000, shipping to the US included. A nice feature is that it is speed-sensitive, and that the gain can be turned up or down (to zero) with the twist of a knob. I'm installing an EZ system on my 123GT, and will be able to report results later this summer.

Dan