Date:         Tue, 28 Sep 2021 08:32:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Interesting discovery, electric Power steering
Comments: To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <DB3419E0-73FC-48A2-89B8-21980B32F21C@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Hi Eric,

I too saw a van with electric steering. Restored 81, met in a parking lot. I didn’t drive it just moved the steering wheel :-)

Was a home brew, not a kit. If I remember correctly, unit was off a Pontiac solstice. Some fab needed for a mount etc. But it didn’t seem that hard to do.

Had a sensor to adjust steering effort according van speed. But it’s was not incorporated into van speedo or a separate speed pick up. Instead it was to a user adjustable knob on lower dash. The owner just set the amount of steering assist to his liking and left it at that setting.

I’ve often thought that if my ps system goes south it would be a viable alternative.

Alistair 

> On Sep 27, 2021, at 9:11 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
>        At a recent gathering, camp out with several VW friends one Vanagon caretaker showed us his power steering.  Interestingly, it was fully electric.  No hoses or pumps .  He had put in a manual rack then added the electric assist.  He loves it. 
> 
> It just made me think.  In the future maybe more of us might go that route.  It frees up horse power, removes some weight, takes away several likely failure points.  Also, would work nicely with a future electric vanagon. 
> 
> So, anyone else out there using electric power steering? 
> 
> Eric Caron 
> 85 GL Auto