Hey forum -I'm sure this topic has been covered many times before (in fact there is a thread on here with 377 replies dating back to 2005) but i'm considering pricing up a power steering unit for my 75 LH w/308 -Has anyone on here done or had one done recently? -Im not particularly mechanical myself but the guy who does my mechanical work reckons it would be a good idea (the 245 front tyres are a pain in the arse to turn while sitting still) -It would be good to be armed with a bit of solid info next time I talk to him -I hav'nt read the other thread thoroughly yet but it would be good to hear from someone thats successfully figured out a way to do a reasonably simple conversion with easily readily avaliable parts (probably jap I guess -dunno about Aussie but in NZ we have heaps of jap imports) -and something that dos'nt require too much modification -thanks in advance for any input
power steering unit for LH
Started by
_paulbrasell71_
, May 22 2012 07:38 PM
37 replies to this topic
#2
UCgazman
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Posted 22 May 2012 - 08:24 PM
Read it - http://www.gmh-toran...power-steering/ and if your lucky Axistr might still have some racks left!
I got mine -
I got mine -
#3
dattoman
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Posted 22 May 2012 - 08:27 PM
All the answers are in that thread
And the guys closing up shop... so get in now or you'll have to do it all over again yourself
The old way was with a Cortina p/s rack and mods to the crossmember... but Cortina racks don't grow on trees
Theres really no "easy" way
And the guys closing up shop... so get in now or you'll have to do it all over again yourself
The old way was with a Cortina p/s rack and mods to the crossmember... but Cortina racks don't grow on trees
Theres really no "easy" way
#4
_LXSS350_
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Posted 22 May 2012 - 09:26 PM
Lenny (Axistr) is the easiest and best path for pwr steering on an LH/LX. They are extremely good quality and great value. Sad loss for LH/LX owners now that he has closed up shop.
Edited by LXSS350, 22 May 2012 - 09:27 PM.
#5
_76S.L.R_
_76S.L.R_
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Posted 23 May 2012 - 08:46 PM
How much these Power Steering rack kits selling for??
#6
_LXSS350_
_LXSS350_
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 12:49 AM
Pretty sure its "all over" now ...... but read the thread and find any questions you have on what was done.
http://www.gmh-toran...post__p__454233
http://www.gmh-toran...post__p__454233
#7
_paulbrasell71_
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 06:45 PM
yeah I got in touch with Lenny (Axistr) and he said he had one unit left for $2700 -bit out of my price range though with GST and freight to NZ etc
#8
A9X
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 09:42 PM
Gotta give it a thumbs up at that rate, considering the recon rack, the engineering and peace of mind
#9
Posted 24 May 2012 - 10:00 PM
I don't disagree but the problem for us poor buggers on this side of the ditch is all that adds up to over $4K...
#10
A9X
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 10:17 PM
fair call
are there many of you left there?
are there many of you left there?
#11
dattoman
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Posted 24 May 2012 - 11:55 PM
Consider the alternatives and the research and engineering to go into making something else fit and work
If I was building a big tyres car and wanted to drive if often I'd consider this a wise investment and a once in a lifetime chance
If I was building a big tyres car and wanted to drive if often I'd consider this a wise investment and a once in a lifetime chance
#12
Statler
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Posted 25 May 2012 - 12:33 AM
4K? ....that's a lot of protein bars & gym time! lol
Might be easier to fit 7" on the front?
Might be easier to fit 7" on the front?
#13
_LXSS350_
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Posted 25 May 2012 - 12:56 AM
What happened to the good old days when Torana drivers had big fat front tyres and considered pwr steering a dirty word?
Lenny has turned Torana owners into pussy's.
Lenny has turned Torana owners into pussy's.
#14
Posted 25 May 2012 - 07:14 AM
As I said I don't disagree and I had intended on buying one at some stage in the future - but sadly there's no way that's in the budget for the foreseeable future and you are right about the once in a lifetime chance now...Consider the alternatives and the research and engineering to go into making something else fit and work
If I was building a big tyres car and wanted to drive if often I'd consider this a wise investment and a once in a lifetime chance
Nah, I have 17x9s with 255s and 4 degrees of caster on the front already, the steering isn't excessively heavy4K? ....that's a lot of protein bars & gym time! lol
Might be easier to fit 7" on the front?
Its not about the weight of the steering, its about the speedWhat happened to the good old days when Torana drivers had big fat front tyres and considered pwr steering a dirty word?
Lenny has turned Torana owners into pussy's.
#15
_LXSS350_
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Posted 25 May 2012 - 07:36 AM
Push the accelerator pedal to the floor (that lightens the steering effort needed). LOL 
Edited by LXSS350, 25 May 2012 - 07:37 AM.
#16
_LXSS350_
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Posted 25 May 2012 - 07:41 AM
Its not about the weight of the steering, its about the speed
Sorry I misread that. You want less wheel turns? What ratio rack you running?
#18
Posted 25 May 2012 - 08:08 AM
Yep got all that. Less!
Anyway this wasn't my thread, didn't mean to hijack it...
Anyway this wasn't my thread, didn't mean to hijack it...
#19
axistr
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Posted 28 May 2012 - 08:31 PM
G'day Guys,
Thanks for the positive comments, Just to clarify a few things, an added bonus with this kit is it's easy to turn the wheel at all speeds. The big thing it has variable rack ratio and better lock, around two degrease left & right. It just makes the car handle so much better. I did some ratio checks ages ago and worked out to be around 15.-1. when driving the car you don't even think about moving you hands to turn, I just look where I want to go and the car just seams to turns in. Its like driving a late model Holden Commodore. Even with 14x245 tyres up front I have Zero bump steer. With power steering racks it's like having a big steering damper on you steering system which further enhances you steering.
I have spoken to two owners with the cortina setup both stating that it was a bit of a lemmon and had many issues, bump steer being the bigest problem and more turns lock to lock than the original torana rack for less steering lock. My rack people said the cortina racks were a lemmon when new in the Ford cortina's.
One owner replaced his K frame and went back to a LX rack. The other big plus with my system is it can be installed without doing any mods to the car, we fitted a kit last year to an original A9X, the owner wanted the vehicle to be bought back to original if needed at a later date to keep it's original value.
I thought most of the interest for power steering had passed but maybe not, I just have way to many things happening in my life at the moment and if I do decide to do any more it won't be for some time.
Many Thanks Lenny.
Thanks for the positive comments, Just to clarify a few things, an added bonus with this kit is it's easy to turn the wheel at all speeds. The big thing it has variable rack ratio and better lock, around two degrease left & right. It just makes the car handle so much better. I did some ratio checks ages ago and worked out to be around 15.-1. when driving the car you don't even think about moving you hands to turn, I just look where I want to go and the car just seams to turns in. Its like driving a late model Holden Commodore. Even with 14x245 tyres up front I have Zero bump steer. With power steering racks it's like having a big steering damper on you steering system which further enhances you steering.
I have spoken to two owners with the cortina setup both stating that it was a bit of a lemmon and had many issues, bump steer being the bigest problem and more turns lock to lock than the original torana rack for less steering lock. My rack people said the cortina racks were a lemmon when new in the Ford cortina's.
One owner replaced his K frame and went back to a LX rack. The other big plus with my system is it can be installed without doing any mods to the car, we fitted a kit last year to an original A9X, the owner wanted the vehicle to be bought back to original if needed at a later date to keep it's original value.
I thought most of the interest for power steering had passed but maybe not, I just have way to many things happening in my life at the moment and if I do decide to do any more it won't be for some time.
Many Thanks Lenny.
#20
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 28 May 2012 - 10:06 PM
My Cortina rack has less bump steer than the Torana factory rack and is definitely much quicker than the Torana rack. It was around the same turns lock to lock as the Subaru rack, I think it was 2.5 turns.
The Cortina rack does not have enough travel for full lock, from memory it was around 10 mm short either side. It did not matter much as Toranas are not very happy with full lock anyhow.
The only real downside of the Cortina rack is that you have to cut the k-frame.
The Cortina rack does not have enough travel for full lock, from memory it was around 10 mm short either side. It did not matter much as Toranas are not very happy with full lock anyhow.
The only real downside of the Cortina rack is that you have to cut the k-frame.
#21
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Posted 29 May 2012 - 06:57 AM
Lenny, if or when you do offer your power steer system again, I will purchase one from you. I should have done before but was parts collecting other things.
Ando
Ando
#22
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Posted 29 May 2012 - 04:52 PM
Me too! I had a few "financial" issues this year that stalled the project a little (ok a lot) or I would have already had one,
Not that I need it just yet, but keep my name on the list for when (if) you throw some more together, gives me time to get some money together again.
Not that I need it just yet, but keep my name on the list for when (if) you throw some more together, gives me time to get some money together again.
#23
Posted 29 May 2012 - 06:15 PM
Just found this in my web travels:
http://www.facebook....15412087&type=3
(PG Hydraulics is a company in Auckland)
http://www.facebook....15412087&type=3
(PG Hydraulics is a company in Auckland)
#24
_LXSS350_
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Posted 29 May 2012 - 07:28 PM
Nice find.Just found this in my web travels:
http://www.facebook....15412087&type=3
(PG Hydraulics is a company in Auckland)
#25
_paulbrasell71_
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Posted 30 May 2012 - 10:17 AM
Thanks 76lxhatch for the link to PG hydraulics in Auckland -I spoke to the guy there and they do a set up with a modifyed subaru rack -He was familiar with a place in Aussie that made a kit for around $2800 so I assume that must be Lenny -He said a kit would be around $3600NZ for the basics or up to $5k to drive in and out -still a bit out of my price range at the moment so in the meantime i'll take Statler's advice and do some gym time to help wrestle those 245 eagers out my driveway -ha ha
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