Date:         Tue, 11 Sep 2001 04:55:36 +0200
Reply-To:     Jutta & Christian Knust <knust-net@GMX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jutta & Christian Knust <knust-net@GMX.NET>
Subject:      Retro fitting power steering
Comments: cc: tim@HARRISONLAND.CO.UK
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Tim,

according to Bentley's (p.48.6) the following suspension changes have been
made for the power steering:
- steering knuckles are different
coupling disc (between steering gear pinion and transfer gear connecting
shaft) has been replaced by universal joint.

You would need a power steering rack & pinion, which costs in the U.S. about
$310 as a remanufacured part, if you cannot deliver an old part in exchange.
Secondly, you'd need the pump plus mounting stuff, which sits in the engine
compartment, and the pressure hose and the return flow hose. Moreover you
will probably need a new disc on the crankshaft since the pump needs to be
driven by a separate belt Finally you might need approval by the authorities in
the U.K. and have the car documents properly amended.

Power steering is not as common on Vanagons in Europe as in the U.S. (a
buddy of mine is completely annoyed that my Westy has electric mirrors, AC,
powerwindows and power steering, since neither of that stuff was usually built
into the German version, therefore it might be somewhat expensive to get the
things. However, importing the stuff from the U.S. might be an option, since you
have not to put up with the somewhat weak Euro :-))

Cheers
Chris

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