The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I'm looking to fit PAS to my 1980 Sprint. Have found a company called "easysteer" via google. Does anyone have any experience of them or could recommend an alternative or provide any advice on the subject. I'm based in South Devon. Alan

I can't comment on whether they are any good, or recommend alternatives, but I've be interested to know how you get on. Having driven "moderns" with PAS for many years, getting back into a Dolomite seems like hard work!

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I've seen a few threads on this board on fitting PAS, the unit from a Corsa crops up a lot of the time. One of the key things to get around is that the increased torque an electric motor exerts on the column that a pair of arms can not means you would need additional bracing.

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Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

I spoke to Easysteer at the NEC earlier this year and I believe Jon Jackson (trackerjack) has also been in touch with them. They do indeed do conversions for many cars including TriumphTRs but not so far for the Dolomite range. And the prices are mega scary! They were talking in the region of £3-4k to develop a working system with an eventual market price of around £2k for a kit.

I've been very interested in the idea of EPAS myself, and have dropped the plan I had to use an MGF system only because the car I was going to fit it to (a 1978 Sprint auto) is already heavily modified and modding the steering would put the finished car into BIVA territory, something I wish to avoid at all costs!

I've seen abandoned attempts and know of a few part completed installations that are still ongoing, but only one one completed and working install on the Magenta Sprint auto SGX67R (a car well known in Dolomite circles) This car has a Corsa unit installed where the clutch pedal would be on a manual and the motor itself protrudes so far down in to the footwell that it actually does secondary duty as a footrest for the drivers left foot! Whilst I admire the engineering tenacity in it's own right, it's not an "elegant" solution and obviously is only do-able on an automatic car. In fact a manual transmission install for EPAS seems extremely difficult to achieve, simply because there is not enough space for a column or motor any fatter than the slender original manual steer one between the brake and clutch pedals.

There has also been a possibility discussed of using a more conventional hydraulic PAS setup using a modified LHD Maestro PAS rack but I don't know if anyone has actually TRIED it, or where to get such a rack or even how to overcome the problem of where and how to install the pump to drive it.

So to me at least, the prospects seem pretty bleak. And the Dolomite is not really that hard to steer anyway, my main reason for wanting PAS was to make it easier for my disabled wife to drive it, a possibility that, with the passing of time, seems increasingly unlikely.

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

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I have the EZ system in my MGB and I see they do a kit for all TRs including the TR7, but not the saloons. http://www.ezpowersteering.nl/car/26/48/Triumph.html

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Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

wouldn't the kit for a TR7 fit the dolomite ?

ive bought the corsa column, so as soon as the Saab rad is fitted and exhaust is made finished the PAS us next on the list

I've moved this theread here because it was a technical question.

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Toledo Man

West Yorkshire Area Organiser & forum moderator
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Old Brickworks, Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1EA

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I have been in touch with EZ Power Steering from Holland and they have an agent based in Dawlish, Devon: Ideal for me! EZ have been recommended by other members on different vehicles.
They have done systems for Dolomites and have sent me photos of an installation. Looks very professional. Budget price for a Sprint is £2.5k
If anyone wants to see the photos sent please contact me on alan.purchase@virgin.net or phone Mike Waters on 01626862804 or 07967439596.

It was Mike Waters I dealt with. I opted to fit the system myself to the MGB. All it involved was exchanging the upper column for the one they sent, and doing some wiring. I can't remember the exact cost but it was about half what you have been quoted. It works really well.

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Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

i dont think this is a worry. The input to the steering parts ultimately starts at the steering wheel and its input from our arms/hands. Any power assistance is just that so it wont add any more stresses to the system. Bit like having a servo on the brakes, it doesnt change the brakes actual efficiency only helps your leg (ok it may take stress away from the feeble bulkhead a bit )
Cheers

Tony

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Membership 2014047

No, the servo is a different matter as the braking forces are acting on the calipers. The electric motor will need something to act against. We have our body weight and automatically brace when turning the wheel, the electric motor will need strong brackets.

A friend installed one in his 6 cylinder spitfire. He reckoned it was a LOT of work. This was a decent engineer by trade (not cars, more design) and gets stuff right. But saying that, when I drove his car I really prefer one without PAS, but understand it has its uses. But just do not expect it to be cheap or easy.

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Clive Senior
Brighton

Here is picture of the installation on my Sprint. Based on Corsa B.

I have recently collected my Sprint from EZ Power Steering in Dawlish after having their system fitted. It was well worth the cost. The system is speed sensitive and also allows you to "dial it out" whilst on the open road but once you are driving round town or parking bring it back in and a five year old could turn the wheel even when stationary.
It is a very well engineered installation and can be reverted back to standard if you have a purist interested in your car.
Mike Waters at EZ is an enthusiast and a mine of information. Would thoroughly recommend them.

Nice. Did they fit a speed sensor to the prop flange or somewhere else?

Tony

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Membership 2014047